Person-Centred Counselling: Ending Appropriately and Sensitively

It seems apt that one of my final learning journals before the completion of the course is one on endings. In this journal I am going to explore how to end the helping interaction appropriately.  In particular, I will be highlighting the importance of sensitivity around ending helping sessions, the value of summarising, and the [...]

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Self-Awareness in Counselling Training

An essay written as part of my counselling training. Development of Self-Awareness   Counsellor self-awareness, which encapsulates self-knowledge and self-insight, has long been recognised as being a critical component of a successful therapeutic process (Brown and Lent, 2009: 306). Indeed, it has even been hailed necessary for ethical practice (Rubin, 2000: 270).  The aim of [...]

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Counselling: Listening and Responding Skills

A learning journal from my counselling course. In this learning journal I am going to demonstrate appropriate use of a range of listening and responding skills to facilitate the helping interaction, as well as demonstrate appropriate use of questions.  I am combining my exploration of these competencies as I feel they are very closely related.  [...]

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Counselling: Helping the Client Verbalise Concerns

A learning journal for my counselling course. In this learning journal I am going to explore the difficulties the helpee might have in verbalising concerns and prioritising them, so that I can better help them to identify and focus on their concerns. The first issue that comes to mind when I think about this is the [...]

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Boundaries in Person-Centred Counselling

My learning journal of 6th March 2012 for counselling training: In this learning journal, I am going to be discussing the competency of: Maintaining the boundaries of the helping role throughout the session. In particular, I am going to reflect on my understanding of the relevance of boundaries in the helping role (e.g. disclosure, relationship, [...]

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Ethics in Counselling: Confidentiality

A learning journal as part of my counselling training: Confidentiality is inherent throughout the BACP ethical framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy.  It can be found in two of the key ethical principles, namely: Being trustworthy (i.e. honouring the trust placed in the counsellor).  According to the BACP ethical framework, counsellors who adhere [...]

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Counselling Boundaries: Time

A learning journal from my counselling training: After attempting to meet competency 2.1 – Establish boundaries as a helper in a particular setting and within the limits of time available – at the beginning of this course, I can now see why my last journal on this topic was insufficient. It is only now that [...]

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Body Dysmorphic Disorder after Weight Loss

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition whereby the individual is preoccupied with their image, in particular with any perceived flaws in appearance.  Traditionally associated with individuals who want to have a limb amputated due to it feeling foreign and not part of them, it is now recognised that people with eating disorders or weight [...]

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Counsellor Training: The Importance of Personal Life History

Thinking over my life history can be difficult, but also empowering. From a young age, I was always the parent within my family.  My father was an alcoholic and I recall countless hours spent wiping away my mother’s tears and trying to cheer her up.  I was desperate to rescue her and make everything ‘ok.’  [...]

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The Mindful Counsellor: Article Review

‘Being with what is’ by Rebecca Crane and David Elias Article Review  The article, ‘Being with what is’ explores the use of mindfulness practice for counsellors and how it can become an integral and informative part of the therapeutic relationship. Mindfulness has primarily been used for stress reduction, but there has been a growing interest [...]

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