Core Skills

in Counselling
Need to know (main skills) :

Basic Counselling Skills:

1. Active listening - displaying full understanding of what

the client is saying. The therapist can use short words
or sounds such as ‘umm hmm’, ‘oh’, ‘yes’ to indicate
that they are actively listening to the client

2. Paraphrasing - using same or similar words in a

shorter sentence to affirm that full understanding is
achieved

3. Reflection - accurate describing of the client’s feelings

and emotions based on what is perceived from the
client

4. Silence - using appropriate moments of silence that

can help the client to gather their thoughts, add more
words to what has been said earlier, reflect on their
own thoughts, ideas, words, come to certain
conclusions

5. Clarification - asking the client to clarify any vague or

ambiguous thoughts, feelings or behaviours
Advanced Counselling Skills:

1. Reframing - encouraging the client to see their

situation from a different perspective, typically in ‘a
more positive light’.

2. Psycho-education - providing information to the client,

where the therapist is in ‘a teaching role’. Information
can be related to various psychological theories and
treatments, where the therapist explains to the client
e.g. ‘how’ and ‘why’ they work, etc

3. Confrontation - confronting the client about their

behaviour. Confrontation should be done in an
empathic and gentle way, balancing good
communication skill and professional theoretical
approach
Recommended literature:

1) ’Introduction to Counselling Skills: Texts and Activities’ (2012) by

Richard Nelson-Jones

2) ’An Introduction To Counselling’ (2013) by John McLeod

Recommended websites:
‘The Counsellors’ Guide: Counselling Skills’. Access from: http://
www.thecounsellorsguide.co.uk/CounsellingSkillsCategory.html

‘What is Counselling and Psychotherapy: BACP’: https://

www.bacp.co.uk/student/what.php

Copyright © Elmira Strange