Counselling Theory
Unit A3.T/601/7567 | Understanding the context for the use of counselling skills | Assessment: Khadra Mohamed | Portfolio of work. Word Count 3,500 +/- 10% |
A3 (1) Understand what is meant by counselling skills |
A3 (1.1.) Define counselling skills What is a counselling skill, one application of the word ‘skills’ pertains to areas of skill, for instance listening skills or disclosing skills. Another application refers to level of competence, for instance, how strong your skills are in a particular area. Competence in a skill is best viewed not as an either/or matter in which you either possess or do not possess a skill. Rather, within skills area, it is preferable to think of helpers as possessing different levels of strength. In all skills areas you are likely to possess a mixture of levels of strength. For instance, in the skills area of listening, you may be stronger at understanding clients, but less strong at showing your understanding. Similarly, in just about all areas of their functioning, clients will possess a mixture of skills of differing levels of strength. A third application of the word ‘skill’ relates to the knowledge and sequence of choices entailed in implementing a given skill. The essential element of any skill is the ability to make and implement sequences of choices to achieve objectives. For instance, if you are to be good at listening deeply and accurately to clients, you have to make and implement effective choices in this skills area. The object of counselling skills training and supervision is to help trainees, in the skills areas targeted by their training programmes, move more in the direction of making choices that reflect strength. For example, in the skills area of active listening, the objective would be to enable you to make stronger choices in the process not only of understanding clients but also in showing that understanding to them.
The key difference between someone using counselling skills and a qualified
A3 (1) Understand what is meant by counselling skills |
A3 (1.1.) Define counselling skills What is a counselling skill, one application of the word ‘skills’ pertains to areas of skill, for instance listening skills or disclosing skills. Another application refers to level of competence, for instance, how strong your skills are in a particular area. Competence in a skill is best viewed not as an either/or matter in which you either possess or do not possess a skill. Rather, within skills area, it is preferable to think of helpers as possessing different levels of strength. In all skills areas you are likely to possess a mixture of levels of strength. For instance, in the skills area of listening, you may be stronger at understanding clients, but less strong at showing your understanding. Similarly, in just about all areas of their functioning, clients will possess a mixture of skills of differing levels of strength. A third application of the word ‘skill’ relates to the knowledge and sequence of choices entailed in implementing a given skill. The essential element of any skill is the ability to make and implement sequences of choices to achieve objectives. For instance, if you are to be good at listening deeply and accurately to clients, you have to make and implement effective choices in this skills area. The object of counselling skills training and supervision is to help trainees, in the skills areas targeted by their training programmes, move more in the direction of making choices that reflect strength. For example, in the skills area of active listening, the objective would be to enable you to make stronger choices in the process not only of understanding clients but also in showing that understanding to them.
The key difference between someone using counselling skills and a qualified