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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: Making only reflective statements.
This is the third of the videos mentioned and is intended for Counselling Students who wish to observe the action of only making reflective statements (paraphrasing, echoing, summarising etc).
Like the “open questions” session, this session too is unbalanced and whilst the counsellor is demonstrating that he is paying attention to the client, there can appear to be very little genuine interaction between client and counsellor. There is pressure on the client to be continually thinking about what he wants to say, and the counsellor could be seen to be having absolutely no input into the session 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.
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.
