Basics of Counselling - Foundation Skills

Question 1

While there are various models of counselling such as CBT, Gestalt, Person-centred etc, they all rely on good…

Answer 1

foundational skills or micro-skills.

Question 2

What is a microskill?

Answer 2

a small element of conversational behaviour which can improve the therapeutic alliance.

Question 3

Active listening can enhance the

Answer 3

relationship

Question 4

What are the cons of learning microskills?

Answer 4

Counselling competence diminishes after each micro-skill training because trainees tend to focus on the skill rather than the relationship.

Question 5

Describe Joining?

Answer 5

tuning in or being on the same wavelength as the client

Question 6

Describe how a counsellor listens with interest?

Answer 6

1. Minimal responses
2. brief invitations to continue
3. non-verbal behaviour
4. Voice
5. Silence

Question 7

Describe minimal responses.

Answer 7

Reaffirming that you listening - can include mm-hmm, ah-ah, I see, yes, ok, really…or can be a disagreement or agreement accompanied by facial expressions, tone, eye movements though this should be done sparingly as clients generally want to be heard rather than agreed or disagreed with.

Question 8

Difference between being emphatic and agreeing?

Answer 8

Emphatic involves hearing, understanding, and valuing the person. While agreeing, may be useful at times, it may be counterproductive in that valuable tools are not learned. More useful to listen and understand without judgment.

Question 9

Describe invitations to continue…

Answer 9

Then … And … Tell me more … Can you tell me more? … Would you like to tell me more? … Would you like to continue?
Counselling

Question 10

What is non verbal behaviour?

Answer 10

1. matching non -verbal behaviour
2. physical closeness
3. the use of movement
4. facial expression
5. eye contact

Question 11

Describe matching non-verbal behaviour

Answer 11

posture mirroring -if a counsellor causally mirrors the posture, this may change a persons emotional state. Could lead to the client then following the counsellors example.

Question 12

Appropriate matching of non-verbal behaviour can help the…

Answer 12

joining process.

Question 13

There are major differences in comfort levels related to physical closeness from

Answer 13

different cultures

Question 14

It is a matter of judgement in knowing how comfortable the other person is so as to not

Answer 14

invade their personal space.

Question 15

The use of movement such as leaning forward can be useful to show that a counsellor

Answer 15

that a counsellor is joining in an emphatic way.

Question 16

Facial expressions should show interest, care, and concern and avoid

Answer 16

giving the impression of negative judgements.

Question 17

Eye contact gives a clear message that you are attending to what they are saying preferably in a

Answer 17

socially and culturally acceptable way.

Question 18

In using our voice to convey a message, we need to be aware of the effects of

Answer 18

clarity and volume
speed of speaking
tone of voice

Question 19

The use of silence can be useful to

Answer 19

allow the client to think in silence and process what has been said.

Question 20

Rapid movements by a counsellor can be

Answer 20

distracting

Question 21

Minimal responses can be both

Answer 21

verbal and non verbal

Question 22

A counsellors primary function is to deliberately and intentionally

Answer 22

listen

Question 23

Joining is enhaced by matching

Answer 23

nonverbal behaviour such as posture, tone, speed and eye contact

Question 24

Deliberate listening with interest involves the use of

Answer 24

minimal responses, brief invitations to continue, non-verbal behaviour, use of voice and silence.

Question 25

The counsellor also needs to draw out the information actively by

Answer 25

reflection of content or paraphrasing.

Question 26

Paraphrasing is expressed in the counsellors own

Answer 26

words

Question 27

Why is it important to give the person time to think?

Answer 27

some people seeking help will make fairly short statements before pausing and others may talk with energy for several minutes before pausing. It is best to give each person time without rushing them.

Question 28

Reflection encourages the person to continue exploring their own

Answer 28

thoughts and ideas

Question 29

Parroting is not the same as reflection where you repeat the client word for word, and is likely to fracture the

Answer 29

relationship

Question 30

What is reflection of feelings vs paraphrasing?

Answer 30

reflecting back emotional feelings while paraphrasing involves reflecting back information or content.

Question 31

What is the difference between feelings and thoughts?

Answer 31

Feelings are emotional and felt in the body while while thoughts are at head level.

Question 32

What happens when we avoid our feelings?

Answer 32

we rarely feel better or reach a resolution

Question 33

sExpressing emotional feelings can be

Answer 33

cathartic.

Question 34

Describe catharsi

Answer 34

the release of emotions can heal you feel better and heal.

Question 35

When is catharsis not effefctive?

Answer 35

people who are in touch and overwhelmed by their emotions is unlikely to find catharsis release. CBT may be more useful

Question 36

Describe how feelings and thoughts can be explained in words?

Answer 36

Feelings are most often expressed by one word. For example, a person can feel ‘angry’, ‘sad’, ‘depressed’, ‘frustrated’, ‘miserable’, ‘tense’, ‘relaxed’, ‘happy’ or ‘frantic’. Each of these feelings is expressed by one word, whereas thoughts can only be expressed by using a string of words.

Question 37

Give some examples on how to reflect back feelings

Answer 37

You feel angry or You’re angry. You’re feeling happy or You feel happy or You’re happy.

If I were you I think I might feel … If that had happened to me I think

Question 38

Describe when we might give permission to cry!

Answer 38

Sometimes people need permission to cry, because in many cultures crying, particularly by men, is considered to be unacceptable.

Question 39

Counsellors Response to reflection of feelings?

Answer 39

Sometimes a new counsellor will experience high levels of anxiety or heightened emotional feelings themselves, as a consequence of a person’s response to reflection of feelings. In this case, you will need to deal with your own emotional feelings that will be generated by being in the presence of someone who is crying.

Question 40

Describe being ready to burst.

Answer 40

At crisis times in our lives, the emotional pressure builds up until we are ready to burst. In this state our thought processes are often blocked or distorted, and we are unable to cope. With cathartic release, the pressure returns t normal and rational thinking resumes

Question 41

When reflecting content it can be useful to use a statement such as

Answer 41

I’ve heard you say
What I’ve heard you say is
I get the impression that
I’m getting the idea that..

Question 42

Reflection of content and feelings can be combined into

Answer 42

one statement