Introduction to Counselling

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge is required. This is not a counselling training course, and it is not suitable for individuals who require support with personal issues. Anyone who believes they require support is strongly advised to seek professional help from a recognised and qualified person or organisation.

Content of Course

Day 1

1. What is counselling?

2. Active listening skills.

Day 2

3. Empathic responding skills.

4. Introduction to counselling models.

Day 3

5. Person-centred counselling and core conditions.

6. Psychodynamic counselling.

Day 4

7. Cognitive-behavioural counselling.

8. Transactional analysis.

Teaching method(s)

The course will be taught through a combination of tutor-led sessions followed by small group-work, and participant skills practice. Short film clips will be shown to illustrate concepts. The course is intended to be highly interactive.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Utilise active listening skills;

• Understand counselling from a range of perspectives;

• Explain Rogers’ three core conditions of counselling.

Sources

Core Readings

• McLeod, J., 2003. An Introduction to Counselling. London: McGraw-Hill.

Class Handouts

Class summaries and lecture notes will be provided.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.