Introduction to Counselling Skills Level 2 – Full

This qualification is intended for candidates who want to:

• Learn basic counselling skills (listening and responding skills) in helping roles
• Find out more about counselling (this qualification won’t teach them to be a counsellor, but may help them decide whether or not they want to train as one);
• Improve professional and personal relationships

This qualification does not lead directly to an employed role. However, it could enhance an existing voluntary or paid role or increase the general employability of those seeking to enter the job market.

What you will learn

This is a course for people who wish to learn about and understand initial counselling skills to help and support others, at this level the relationship is described as between ‘helper’ and ‘helpee’. It doesn’t teach students to be counsellors but as suggested by the title it will introduce them to and leave them comfortable with, incorporating the use of the basic skills of the profession into supportive communication with others.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Know the limitations of the helping role and establish boundaries for helping work
• Use facilitative questioning and basic skills of reflection
• Identify the helpee’s needs and communicate empathic understanding
• Understand the importance of self-awareness in helping work and the importance of feelings in counselling
• Identify the elements of ethical counselling practice
• Understand when and how to signpost people to further support

This level 2 qualification is intended for learners who want to

• Learn basic counselling skills (listening and responding skills) for use in helping roles
• Find out more about counselling, the skills learnt are stand-alone but you will gain information about further levels of training and the options for a career in counselling
• Improve professional and personal relationships

The course format and content

• This qualification does not lead directly to a professional, employed role. However, it could enhance an existing voluntary or paid role or increase the general employability of those seeking to enter the job market
• The course consists of 32 guided learning hours in the training room plus a minimum of 21 home study hours working on set exercises and research for your portfolio
• In order to ensure that you make the best possible progress on your course, you will have regular feedback from your tutor, in a constructive and supportive environment and an hour of individual tutorial and review time as your portfolio nears completion
• The sessions will include explanation of first principles, the use of print, display and film materials, discussion and working with other students in experiential situations