CPD: Introduction to Counselling Skills

CPD: Introduction to Counselling Skills — by Institute of Professional Counseling and Psychotherapy. Price £99. Online, self-paced, open to learners in the UK, Canada, USA and Australia. Enrol from this page using the Enrol / Buy button, then log in to your student account to study. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN This short CPD course introduces the core skills of a safe, ethical counselling relationship: active listening, empathy, unconditional positive regard, boundaries, contracting, and reflective practice. It is suitable for beginners, support workers, volunteers and professionals seeking continuing professional development. No prior qualification is required. LESSON 1 — What Counselling Is, and Is Not Counselling is a confidential, contracted helping relationship, not advice-giving, friendship or instruction. Learn the aims of counselling, how it differs from coaching, mentoring and therapy, and why the relationship itself is the main vehicle for change. Study tip: keep a learning journal from day one. LESSON 2 — Active Listening and Attending Attending means giving full, respectful attention through posture, eye contact, silence and minimal encouragers. Active listening means hearing words, feelings and meaning, then checking understanding. Practise paraphrasing without changing the speaker’s meaning, and summarising at natural pauses. LESSON 3 — Empathy, Congruence and Unconditional Positive Regard Rogers’ core conditions are explained in plain language. Empathy is sensing the client’s world as if it were your own, without losing yourself in it. Congruence is honest, grounded presence. Unconditional positive regard is warm acceptance that does not depend on the client pleasing you. LESSON 4 — Boundaries, Contracting and Confidentiality A clear contract covers session length, frequency, fees, cancellations, confidentiality and its limits, record-keeping and safeguarding. Learn why boundaries protect both client and practitioner, how to hold them kindly, and when to break confidentiality to protect safety. LESSON 5 — Questions, Reflection and Challenging Safely Open questions invite exploration; closed questions clarify facts. Reflection of feeling and content helps clients hear themselves. Challenge is offered gently, with evidence and permission, never as confrontation. Practise the sequence: listen, reflect, explore, summarise. LESSON 6 — Endings and Reflective Practice Good endings are planned, reviewed and acknowledged. Reflect on what changed, what was difficult and what you would do differently. Use Gibbs’ reflective cycle: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, action plan. READING AND RESOURCES Read: Rogers, On Becoming a Person; Egan, The Skilled Helper (listening and helping model); McLeod, An Introduction to Counselling. Free further reading: BACP ethical framework summaries and safeguarding guidance for your country. Keep notes on one case-style example (fully anonymised) for your reflective practice. QUIZ — WITH ANSWERS 1. What is active listening? Answer: Attentive, non-judgmental listening that checks meaning through paraphrase and summary. 2. Name Rogers’ three core conditions. Answer: Empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard. 3. Why is contracting important? Answer: It clarifies expectations, boundaries, confidentiality and safety before work begins. 4. Give an example of an open question. Answer: ‘What was that experience like for you?’ 5. When may confidentiality be broken? Answer: When there is serious risk of harm, safeguarding concern, or a legal duty. 6. What is a paraphrase? Answer: Restating the client’s meaning in your own words to check understanding. 7. Why is silence useful? Answer: It gives space to think and feel, and shows the client is not being rushed. 8. What does reflective practice do? Answer: It turns experience into learning and safer future practice. CERTIFICATE AND NEXT STEPS On completion you receive a CPD certificate of completion from the Institute. For further study, see Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy (£299) and Diploma in Counselling (£679). If you need help, use the course chatbot on this site or the contact/admissions form. This course is educational and does not replace professional supervision or crisis services; if you or someone else is at immediate risk, contact local emergency services.