Counselling Skills For Dummies Paperback - 2013 - 2nd Edition

From the rear cover

Learn to:

• Develop the knowledge and skills to become a 'listening helper'
• Discover the framework for a counselling session
• Create a positive relationship between listener and speaker
• Improve understanding of yourself to break down barriers to listening

Learn the practical skills to become a 'listening helper'

Actively listening to people in distress, and having healing dialogues with them, is fundamental to what a counsellor does. Whether you're considering becoming a counsellor, are called upon to provide some form of counselling in your job, or you'd simply like to improve your listening and communication skills, this book gets you up and running. Counsellor and therapist Gail Evans provides you with the practical tools to become a 'listening helper' and supplies you with powerful strategies for successfully navigating what can be a challenging process.

• Listen to yourself first - discover if counselling is the right path for you and how to overcome your personal barriers to being a 'listening helper'
• See the whole person - learn to understand people within the context of their whole lives and the social and psychological forces that shape their experiences
• Identify the problem - find out about the types of problems you'll encounter and how to read the signs and symptoms of distress
• Have a game plan - use a proven three-stage process for beginning a helping conversation, going deeper to identify the problem, and moving towards resolution
• Be prepared - discover strategies for dealing with unplanned or unexpected conversations in a variety of contexts and media

Open the book and find:

• Ways to overcome your own barriers to listening
• Common personal problems counsellors deal with
• A framework for structuring helping conversations
• Expert advice for dealing with difficult or dangerous situations
• Tips for counselling friends and family
• Fascinating real-life case studies