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Counselling Skills 1

Counseling Skills 1 and Counselling Skills 2 form a developmental sequence of study and provide underpinning knowledge and core skill development for the ethical and profession practice of counselling. This unit is a continuation and consolidation of the learning achieved in Counselling Skills 1. The unit assists in the student's developing understanding and integration of counselling theories and perspectives and contributes to the integration of the micro skills of counselling into the practice of the student. Students are guided to engage in critical reflection and self-examination, to monitor their counselling behaviour and identity, and address areas requiring further skill and/or knowledge development. The ethical, legal and social implications of counselling are explored extensively throughout this unit and are revisited in the unit Social, Legal and Ethical Issues studied in greater depth later in the course.

National Units of Competency offered within this module:
  • CHCCSL601A Work within a structured counselling process
  • CHCCSL602A Facilitate the counselling relationship
  • CHCCSL604A Reflect and improve upon counselling skills
Learning Outcomes:
  • Demonstrate advanced counselling interventions and explain the contribution of counselling to the therapeutic process.
  • Establish counselling goals and action plans with a client and outline a potential counselling contract.
  • Identify the range of attitudes, behaviours and skills that counsellors may be required to use when adjusting to different clients.
  • Manage the counselling role and discuss approaches for the appropriate referral of clients.
  • Describe the use of advanced accurate empathy in counselling, discuss how resistance may extend beyond the client to encompass others, discuss ways of using counter-transference to help clients and assess the impact of immediacy with clients.
  • Discuss the ethical and practical implications of note taking, audio-taping and video-taping counselling sessions.
  • Discuss managing stress within the helping professions, the importance of supervision and ongoing professional development.
Content Areas:
  • Beginning the first session and forming a counsellor/client relationship
  • Achieving advanced accurate empathy
  • Perceiving clients as individuals
  • Adjusting to counsellor/client differences
  • Exploring the past and connecting it to the present
  • Moving in and out of action with the client
  • Monitoring your work: observing, note-taking and recording
  • Relating professionally to, and knowing your limits and managing your caseload
  • Terminating the counsellor/client relationship
  • Reviewing and planning further self-development
The studies, combined with my previous work experience, have led me into a more satisfying role in an industry I know well. My studies have given me the confidence to manage a role where top notch "soft skills" are essential.
Pip Pearson
Graduate Diploma of Counselling