Who is the course
for?
This is an introductory course, which is open to anyone who
is interested in learning how to use counselling skills and who is
also interested in learning about themselves. These are skills that
can be used at work or in your own personal life. If you are considering
a career in counselling this course will also prepare you for taking
the Minster Centre’s ‘Foundation Course in Counselling’
in September 2010, or the Fast Track Foundation Course in March 2010.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
The skills you will learn on this course can be part of an ongoing CPD programme. In a work situation you are often faced with a problem that does not require just a practical solution. The ability to listen in a skilled way that enables a person to talk about an issue is often an important first step in finding a solution. This Introductory Course will both teach you these skills, and allow you to practice them so you feel confident to use them in the workplace.
What you will learn
Counselling skills can help you gain insight into how to deal effectively
and in a helpful manner with difficult or distressed people. On this
course you will learn the basic counselling skills, such as how to
accurately reflect back what the person is saying, summarising, and
asking open-ended questions. But you will also understand and practice
the skill of ‘active listening’. This is where you learn
to be with the person, and yet at the same time are able to step back,
rather than simply responding as you normally would. This involves
what are sometimes called the ‘core conditions’. Here
you will develop the ability to be with the person without introducing
your own agenda, to accept on their terms what they are saying, and
at the same time to be genuine yourself.
Content
Each session will be made up of three parts: theory, practice and
self development – a structure which reflects a central idea
in counselling that you need to understand the concepts, develop your
counselling skills, and to become more self-aware.
- In the theory part you will learn about counselling skills
and some key ideas in counselling theory.
- In the practice section you will divide into small groups
of three or four where you will practice these skills, with one person
in the role of listener, one as client and one or two as observer
to give feedback.
- And finally for personal development, there will be what is
called an experiential group. This is an opportunity to explore your
own response to the course, your interactions with other people and
where appropriate, the process of the group itself. This learning
process can happen at any point in the workshop, but the experiential
group is a place where in this can be explored in more depth.
The course emphasises an experiential style of learning. Central to counselling skills practice is the idea that to understand the experience of another person you have to first understand our own, and the course is structured so that students learn not only from what is taught, but also by actively engaging in the various exercises. Much of the learning is in small groups and there is an emphasis on students, where appropriate, sharing and reflecting on their own experience.
- A 500 word essay on what you have learnt from the course
- Feedback from the counselling skills exercises
On completion of the Course students will be awarded a Certificate in Counselling Skills
This is an open access course and anyone interested in learning about counselling skills can apply.
Course Dates - to be confirmed
We are running six courses this year; two per term. Each course lasts for 10 weeks and each session is 3 hours.
INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELLING SKILLS
| 10 Week Course Start-Date |
Monday Course |
Thursday Course |
Half Term |
| 4 October 2010 | 10am - 1pm | 25-29 October | |
| 7 October 2010 | 6pm - 9pm | 25-29 October | |
| 10 January 2011 | 10am - 1pm | 21-25 February | |
| 13 January 2011 | 6pm - 9pm | 21-25 February | |
| 9th May 2011 | 10am - 1pm | 30 May - 3 June | |
| 5th May 2011 | 6pm - 9pm | 30 May - 3 June |
The course costs £160 and is payable by cheque, credit or debit card. Please send your cheque with your application form. On acceptance, your cheque will be cashed or you will be contacted to provide card details.
The course is being held at the Minster Centre which is a 5 minute walk from Queens Park Tube (Bakerloo line) and Rail Overground Station and Brondesbury Park Station.
If you have any further questions or would like to apply for one of these courses please email: meg@minstercentre.org.uk
You can download an application form here
in Word.
You can download an application form here
in PDF.
The Minster Centre,
founded in 1978, is an independent educational charity, which offers
a variety of accredited qualifications in Counselling and Psychotherapy,
up to the level of MA in Integrative Psychotherapy and Counselling.
Our courses are validated by BACP, UKCP and Middlesex University.
The Minster Centre also has a low cost referral service for those
in need of counselling, as well as two projects: Families Without
Fear which works with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence
and The Mapesbury Clinic, which offers counselling and advocacy services
to refugees.
20 Lonsdale Road, Queen's Park, London NW6 6RD Tel: 020 7644 6240 email here
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