These courses are for individuals who only want to take a basic Counseling Skills course.

Counseling Skills 1
The focus of this section of the course is on two fundamental aspects of counseling. First is the role of the counselor in empowering clients to find their own solutions as they become more fully responsible for their problems. Concepts covered under this topic include: doing no harm, honoring values and beliefs, suspending judgment, being honest, remaining dispassionate and honoring the client's choices. The second aspect is that of acquiring the broad variety of skills necessary for effective counseling. Foremost among these is the ability to communicate. This includes empathy, accurate listening, hearing what's really being said, clarifying, keeping focused, as well as recognizing and responding to different thinking styles and personality types. Topics covered in this context include: dealing with reactions and projections, the nature of belief systems, personality defenses, boundaries, feeling versus emotions, creating choice, conflict resolution, goal setting, monitoring change and building self dependence in the client. This is a powerful array of skills, which serves well, both in and outside the counseling setting.

Counseling Skills 2
With practice comes discernment- one of the most significant attributes of a skilled counselor. All the individual skills acquired to this point will now be combined into counseling sessions. This hands-on counseling experience in the presence of a coach will create comfort with new skills, while building a personal trust in assuming the role of counselor. Students will be developing their own style of working while beginning to build an ever growing repertoire of personal experiences which will serve as a foundation for future work. Practice time will be divided equally between playing the role of both counselor and client. Besides developing the obvious skill as a counselor, it is important to experience the perspective of the client for balance, sensitivity and a reality check. It is also an opportunity for objective observation of a variety of different counseling styles. This section of the course gives ample opportunity for student "clients" to explore some of their personal issues, thus ensuring that all participants remain in integrity by becoming a product of their product.  Other topics to be covered include: the dynamics of confidentiality, ethical helping, trusting your intuition, use of humour, including the spiritual essence, self care and burnout prevention.