Laboratory on Basic Skills in Counselling

Singapore University of Social Sciences

Laboratory on Basic Skills in Counselling (COU299)

Synopsis

This skill-based course is conducted in the Training Laboratory to enable students to learn and practise micro-skills that are essential in counselling encounters. Students will master basic and advanced counselling skills in different phases of the counselling process. Besides micro-skills training in the different phases of the counselling process, students will also learn how to develop the qualities of an effective counsellor in building therapeutic relationships with their clients. They will also learn how to critically evaluate and examine the impact of personal values and beliefs on the counselling process. Students will learn how to provide and receive feedback on counselling interventions. Skills practice that is conducted will take into consideration the multicultural context of Singapore society.

Level: 2
Credit Units: 10
Presentation Pattern: EVERY REGULAR SEMESTER

Topics

The important ingredients of evidence-based counselling relationships; Values that drive counselling relationships
Attending behaviour: Attending behaviour in action; Observation skills
Micro-skills in counselling: Use of questions; Encouraging, paraphrasing and summarising
Micro-skills in counselling: Reflecting feelings
The five stages of the micro-skills session: Session using ony basic attending and listening skills
In-class scripted role-play
In-class scripted role-play
Advanced counselling skills: Focusing
Adavnced counselling skills: Empathic confrontation
Advanced counselling skills: Reflection of meaning and interpretation/reframing
In-class scripted role-play
In-class scripted role-play
The use of self-disclosure and feedback in counselling

Learning Outcome

Examine the importance of micro-skills in counselling (B4)
Discuss factors that contribute to building a positive therapeutic alliance with clients (B2)
Analyse different micro-skills that are appropriate at different stages of counselling (B4)
Apply communication skills that are helpful in counselling (B3)
Appraise the impact of poor communication on clients (B4)
Demonstrate micro-skills and attending behaviours in counselling (B3)
Develop strategies towards becoming an effective counsellor (B3)
Examine and evaluate one’s own effectiveness in the use of micro-skills in counselling (B4)