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Role-played counselling sessions.
As part of a university project for Pete Allen-Worth, I was invited to be filmed performing some role-played counselling sessions.
We planned and recorded three demonstration sessions: (1) a display of integrated basic counselling skills, (2) asking only open-ended questions, (3) performing only reflective statements. The second & third videos are more geered towards counselling students, whereas the first is an appropriate “gives you a gist” of how counselling takes place. The part of the client is role-played by Liam Devaney.
Video: Asking only Open Questions.
This is the second of the videos mentioned and is intended for Counselling Students who wish to observe the action of only asking open questions.
Clearly, the session is unbalanced and the counsellor is working somewhat robotically. There is more pressure on the client to be continually thinking, and the counsellor could be seen to be leading the client (question … question … question …) rather than following the material as it unfolds.
Nevertheless, academically and ethically there is merit in demonstrating just a single technique and it’s impact upon the session.
About “open” questions.
An open question is one that prompts a response other than “yes” or “no” – so it’s inviting a medium to long answer. Open questions invite someone to think and reflect upon the question before responding, considering their feelings and thoughts over the question, to expand upon a subject matter. Open questions are a way for a counsellor to hand over lead of the session to the client.
Examples of open questions.
Questions that begin with: how, what, who, why, where (though some would disagree with the use of “why”, suggesting that it may have convey a punitive sense in the question).
Also:
- “Tell me about…” – such as “tell me about anger.”
- “Say more about that…” – such as “You spoke earlier about your first relationship, say some more about that.”
- “What would happen if…” such as “What would happen if you were able to alter that behaviour?”
To see the other videos, go to Counselling Demonstration.
Related Reading:
Next Steps in Counselling Practice: A students' companion for degrees, HE diplomas and vocational courses: A Students' Companion for Certificate and Counselling Skills CoursesFocuses on the practice of core counselling and professional skills, with vignettes, activities, notes from practice, full references, suggestions for further reading and a running glossary.
