Level II Counselling Skills Session 3

The Helping RoleSession Three

Session Three

Adam Gibson and John Marsden

Counselling and Interpersonal Skills

Session Aims

The aim of this session is to:

Introduce learners to the boundaries around the helping role and the importance of contracting

Discuss the importance of providing effective feedback

Learning OutcomesBy the end of this session you will be able to:

1. Define the limits of the helping role2. Set boundaries for the helping

relationship3. Provide more effective feedback4. Identify CPCAB criteria

Last Session

1. Identified the qualities of a good

listener

2. Assessed your own listening skills

3. Described Honey and Mumford’s

learning cycle

4. Wrote an entry in your reflective journal

Contents of this Session

1. Ice-breaker2. Exploring the helping role3. In pairs – design a helping contract4. Reflect on “When I have received effective

feedback?”5. Discussion about giving feedback6. Contracting and feedback practise - in

groups of three7. Finding criteria for this session8. Ending with a “round”

Ice-breaker: Name Hopper

Exploring The Helping Role 20 minutes

In four groups

On flipchart paper list the characteristics of the following three types of helping:

• A helping friend• A professional helper• A therapeutic counsellor

Characteristics – the qualities, actions, beliefs and values of a person

Helping Role Worksheet

Meeting Criteria 1.1

Contracting 15 minutes

Having established what professional helping is, how do we contract for a professional helping relationship?

What would you include?

Comfort Break

FeedbackIdentify a time you got good feedback

Reflect on what made it useful?

Conclude: what

makes for good

feedback?

Planning for giving feedback

Think of a time when you received effective feedback

Discuss with your partner how it felt to receive effective feedback and how it helped you improve your skills.

What specifically was it that made the feedback effective?

How could you give even better feedback in the future?

Feedback 15 Minutes

Good Feedback is ...

TimelyIndividualSpecificBalancedFocused on behaviourComes from multiple perspectivesConstructiveEmpowering

Medals and Missions

Using Feedback

1. Review your feedbackWhat have you learnt?What will you do differently as a result?

2. Remember it’s one perspective3. Ask for clarification4. Ask for more specific feedback5. Get other perspectives6. Uncomfortable feelings are often a gift

Contracting Exercise 25 Minutes

In groups of three take turns to practise your contracting skills

Your aim is to establish a good professional helper/ helpee contract

When you have finished contracting, your “helpee” and your “observer” will give you feedback, practising their feedback skills using the “medals and missions” approach we have discussed today.

Criteria Achieved

Definitely1.1 Explain the nature of helping work and how it differs from other support

2.1 Set the boundaries of the helping interaction including the limits of confidentiality and time available

Possibly?1.2 Communicate limits of ability as a helper

Moodle

Home Enjoyment

Write a journal entry, reflecting on today’s session. What have you learnt about giving and receiving feedback?

ConclusionsIt is the end of this session and you are now

able to:

1. Define the limits of the helping role2. Set boundaries for the helping

relationship3. Provide more effective feedback4. Identify CPCAB criteria

Thank You Everybody!