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.

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.

BACP Ethical Framework.

I am an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).  The accreditation means that the BACP have authenticated my substantial level of training and experience to be working as a counsellor / psychotherapist.  Appropriately, my counselling work adheres to the BACP’s Ethical Framework (click to read BACP’s statement on Ethics for Counselling and Psychotherapy).

The BACP can suspend, deregister or remove accreditation from counsellors who fail to perform their work to the highest professional standards.

If you have a complaint or dissatisfaction about the counselling service I am providing for you, your first place to raise your concerns is with me and if we cannot resolve the matter together then the BACP will provide help and assistance to you if you wish to take the complaint further.

BACP Address.

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy,
BACP House,
15 St John’s Business Park,
Lutterworth,
LE17 4HB,
Tel: 01455 883300,
Fax: 01455 550243,
Minicom: 01455 550307,
Text: 01455 560606

http://www.bacp.co.uk/

PGP Public Key for iCounsellor.co.uk

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