I was wondering if there was such a thing as a one-day course in very general counselling skills for therapists?
I regard myself as a good listener but don't always know what to say or how to react if people are upset. I have a lovely client who is going through a tough time and last night was very upset and at first just wanted to talk rather than have a treatment.. I listened but just felt I should do more than just nod my head in the right place, but also didn't want to impose my own thoughts and view because it's not my place to do so.
Any advice, thoughts most welcome.
Sx
Not sure about any 1 day courses but, it seems to me you did all right. One of the most important lessons I learnt was to be comfortable with not saying anything. We were told to use a lot of hmmm, and aaaah's and often repeating back to the client what they had just said - also shows you are paying attention. ie. He makes me so angry! - you would just say - Angry?.... If you are quiet (or nodding your head, or.....) they feel the have to keep speaking and that is what it is about.
Other than that - ask open question:
How do you feel about that
What does that make you feel like
How does (angry, happy or whatever) feel to you
Who makes you......
What would happen if......
What stops you.....
Can you think of a time.......
Oh yes - we were told never to start a question with WHY because people see that as a threat ( why did you not clean your room, why did you do it like that....... sure you get the drift!).
It is all about getting them to talk without you leading them. To me, at the end of the day it is not about the 'contents' of the story but about the client's emotions - doesn't matter who did what - lead them to their feelings, how they felt, what they are thinking etc. I think by just being able to talk it through without interuption often they have a lightbulb moment!
Another big thing is not to be scared to point them in the direction of somewhere they can get more help if needed. A list with the local AA, a centre for abused persons, etc. is very handy when needed.
Hope this helps a bit.
Brilliant, thanks Jo, your advice is really helpful. The list idea is great and I'll make some time to get that together.
Sx
Hi, I have attended a Listening & Responding one day course with McMillan Cancer Support after being offered it by CREST. This was excellent - several small modules and a chance to practise on each other. Perhaps you could contact McMillan direct or through (I think that's right)
Hi Sarah,
I think we all at times reflect on how a treatment went, especially when a client is feeling quite emotional. After a treatment I would look back and try to work out if I could have done something differently and what worked during that session.
When I trained as a reflexologist we were advised to buy a book entitled Practical Counselling and Helping Skills which I found helpful.
Later as my work developed and I was working with vulnerable clients with medical, social, housing, immigration issues I felt I needed to improve my skills, so I went on a counselling and counselling skills course.
If you contact the Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education (CCPE) they may be able to point you in the right direction for short counselling courses. I know short courses have been designed for people working in the healthcare professions.
I hope this helps
Luv Binah
x
:hippy:Sarah7,
taking the basic counselling course would help you . many colleges do them normally they are done over 10 weeks,we can all listen but how many actually hear?.
take care
Hi there!
I am a newbie and a qualified counsellor...
You can look up BACP website, and go on to one of their short 1 or 2 day courses on counselling skills..etc..
Alternatively SDS Seminars offers CPD courses including listening /counselling skills..
Their web is .
Hope I am allowed to give out useful web link for fellow members here?
with warm wishes
Vathani x
Hello Awakening Dawn
Hope I am allowed to give out useful web link for fellow members here?
It's perfectly fine to give an external weblink provided that link is not to your own website and is relevant to the topic of the thread, which this clearly is. 🙂
You will see from my edit line above that I made a minor correction in the link itself in order to get it to work. 😉
Holistic
Brilliant, thanks Jo, your advice is really helpful. The list idea is great and I'll make some time to get that together.
Sx
Hi Sarah,
I think that if you are the kind of person whose presence encourages others to talk, and that is what I heard you say, you should take that as guidance that you should train properly and use your gifts to the full.
Good luck!