Unit 04: Counselling skills and personal development
This unit focuses on enhancing both the technical abilities and personal growth of individuals pursuing counselling. It underscores the importance of self-reflection, a crucial practice for counsellors, to ensure they understand their own emotions, behaviours, strengths, and areas needing improvement.
The unit aims to equip learners with practical counselling skills such as active listening, empathy, and effective communication. It delves into the practical application of these skills in real-life scenarios, making learners adept at handling various client situations professionally and ethically.
Additionally, the unit places significant emphasis on personal development. It encourages learners to engage in continuous self-assessment and reflection, fostering a deeper understanding of their motivations, values, and potential biases. This self-awareness is vital for maintaining effective and supportive client-counsellor relationships.
By intertwining the technical and personal aspects of counselling, Unit 04 ensures that learners not only develop the necessary skills to support their clients but also grow personally and professionally. This integrated approach promotes the overall effectiveness and ethical standards of future counsellors, making it a cornerstone of the counselling curriculum.
1. Know how to develop self-understanding
- 1.1. Identify own values and beliefs
- 1.2. Outline how values and beliefs could have an effect on helping relationships
- 1.3. Identify own motivation for helping others
- 1.4. Identify own blocks to listening and learning
- 1.5. Describe benefits of giving and receiving feedback for personal development
2. Know personal qualities relevant to the helping roles
- 2.1. Identify own personal skills and qualities which are strengths in relation to a helping relationship
- 2.2. Identify areas for development in personal skills and qualities in relation to helping relationships
- 2.3. Describe how to develop skills and qualities in the future
3. Know how to meet own support needs
- 3.1. Identify own support needs in order to contribute to a helping relationship
- 3.2. Describe how to access own support
- 3.3. Outline how personal and/or professional support can be used to highlight issues arising from the use of counselling skills
4. Know how self-reflection contributes to personal development
