Counselling Techniques

This Course is Taught By:
Iona Lister

Her Background: Licentiate, Speech and Language Therapy, UK, Diploma in Advanced Counselling Skills.

She has been a clinician and manager of health services for fifteen years, and a trainer for UK-based medical charities, focusing on psychosocial issues, mental health disorders, and also the promotion of communication skills for people in helping roles. As a freelance writer, she contributes articles for magazines, has written four published books, and has written course material on coaching and counselling related fields.


Lesson Structure: Counselling Techniques BPS206

There are 8:

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy l: Freud (& Erikson); Jung
Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy ll: Adler
Humanistic/Existential Approaches I: Gestalt Therapy; Fritz Perls
Humanistic/Existential Approaches II: Person-Centred Counselling; Carl Rogers
Rational Behavioural Therapy: Albert Ellis
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Aaron Beck
Behavioural Therapy
Solution-Focused Counselling

Practicals:

Explain the principal differences between Adlerian and Freudian theory, the key concepts of Adlerian theory, and the 4 stages of the Adlerian counselling process.
Understand the chief elements of the Gestalt approach, to discuss resolution of problems and to describe different effects and techniques of Gestalt therapy.
Delineate the person-centred approach to counselling; to understand its principles, goals, assessment techniques and appropriate application.
Explain Albert Ellis’s views and the evolution of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), the stages involved in developing a rational philosophy of life, and the different techniques used by REBT’s.
Discuss the differences between Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and REBT, to define the main ‘cognitive distortions’, and to demonstrate an awareness of modifications to CBT
Develop an appreciation of the characteristics of contemporary behavioural therapy and different problem-solving techniques adopted by behavioural therapists.
Explain the role of solution-focused counselling in modern therapy and the strategies used to generate solutions.
Explain the concept of dream analysis.
Describe Erikson's modification to traditional psychoanalytical theory .
Explain an object-relations interpretation of the origin of ‘narcissistic’ and ‘borderline’ personality disorders.
Explain the difference between Freudian and Adlerian theory.
Define the key concepts of Adlerian theory including: personality, goals and lifestyle.
Explain the concept of superiority v inferiority.
Describe the 4 stages of the Adlerian counselling process, i.e:
developing the counselling relationship;
exploring the individual;
encouraging self-awareness;
re-education
Discuss the pros and cons of Adlerian therapy as applied to the counselling process.
Define Gestalt therapy.
Explain the importance of elements of human nature to the Gestalt approach.
Discuss ways in which dilemmas can be resolved using the Gestalt approach.
Explain the ‘effect of contact’ and the ‘effect of energy’.
Discuss the use of confrontation.
Describe different techniques of Gestalt therapy.
Discuss the pros and cons of Gestalt therapy as applied to the counselling process.
Define person-centred counselling.
Outline the principles of the person-centred approach.
Discuss how the impact of the counselling process is assessed.
Discuss suitable areas of application.
Discuss the pros and cons of the person-centred approach as applied to the counselling process.
Define REBT.
Explain Ellis’ views on ‘human nature’.
Describe Ellis’ theory of personality.
Discuss the stages involved in developing a rational philosophy of life.
Describe different techniques used by REBT’s.
Discuss the pros and cons of REBT as applied to the counselling process.
Discuss the differences between CBT and REBT.
Outline the main ‘cognitive distortions’ as set out in CBT.
Discuss the goals of CBT.
Describe modifications to CBT (known as CBM).
Outline the 3 phases involved in CBT.
Discuss the pros and cons of CBT as applied to the counselling process.
Define the main characteristics of behavioural therapy.
Describe different techniques of behavioural therapy including:
relaxation training;
systematic desensitisation;
exposure therapies;
assertion training
Discuss the pros and cons of behavioural therapy as applied to the counselling process.
Define solution-focused counselling.
Describe how to engage the client.
Describe how questions are used to construct pathways for change.
Discuss strategies used to generate creative solutions.
Discuss the pros and cons of solution-focused therapy to the counselling process.


This course is accredited by ACCPH and allows you to join as a professional member after completion. Membership allows you to add the letters MACCPH after your name (post-nominals).