Unit 3
Using Counselling Skills
Criteria 1, Part 1.
Understand the process of a Counselling Skills Session
1.1. Identify three stages in the Counselling Skills session.
A Counselling session's structure is key to ensuring the Client’s safety, boundaries, understanding,
expectations and comfort, and consists of beginning, middle and end:
Beginning: The Counsellor will start a session by explaining the Therapeutic contract (model of
therapy, ethical framework, confidentiality, time boundary, etc.), as well as outlining the Counselling
process, and beginning to establish rapport. Through active listening, empathy, as well as
congruence, and unconditional positive regard (the core conditions), the Counsellor creates a safe
space for the Client to explore their concerns and issues.
Middle: Building on the established rapport, the Counsellor applies reflective skills, such as
paraphrasing, summarising, and restating, alongside the core conditions. This encourages open
communication and allows the Client to delve deeper into their emotions and experiences. Pacing
and managing silence are used to ensure the Client feels heard and respected, while attention to
verbal and nonverbal cues helps the Counsellor gain a more insightful understanding of the Client's
situation. The Counsellor will use focusing of the key themes and emotions to further assist the
exploration.
End: As the session nears its conclusion, the Counsellor reiterates the time boundary and
compassionately summarises the session's content, highlighting the emotions, struggles, and insights
that have emerged. This summary helps to consolidate the Client's understanding and progress; the
Counsellor checks with the Client to ensure they feel understood, comfortable, and safe before
concluding the session.
By following this structured approach, the Counsellor creates a therapeutic experience that is both
supportive and productive, enabling the Client to feel understood, empowered, and motivated to
continue their journey toward growth and healing.
1.2. Explain the importance of opening a session appropriately.
A well-executed opening in a Counselling session is more than a formality as it sets the tone for the
entire process, fosters trust, collaboration and empowers Client to actively engage in their healing
process. By adhering to ethical guidelines and incorporating best practices, the Counsellor creates a
safe and productive space where Clients feel heard, understood, and supported on their journey
toward well-being.
In accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework, Counsellors are ethically obliged to prioritise Client
well-being and ensure informed consent. A thoughtful opening aligns with these ethical principles by
creating a clear and respectful therapeutic environment. (BACP, 2018)
The opening of the Counselling session appropriately is important as the use of a contract is
incorporated at the start of new sessions, with reminders throughout the process. The contract
includes setting time boundaries, confidentiality, the recognised ethical framework (such as BACP),
, the Counsellor’s chosen therapy model, the Counsellor’s role, risks and overall safety. This is
important for setting the tone for the relationship, whilst encouraging trust, rapport and
safeguarding; through the opening, the Counsellor displays care, sensitivity and purpose which is
important for the therapeutic process to comfortably and safely begin.
Additionally, an appropriate opening is important as the Counsellor will immediately begin using
Counselling Skills, such as attentiveness, active listening and the core conditions, which further
develop the Client-Counsellor psychological contact, whilst initiating the therapeutic work.
I have experience of opening a Counselling Skills session (Peer Observational Report, 2024), where I
have been observed using skills such as attentiveness, checking the speaker’s understanding and
rapport building, in a warm and welcoming manner. Within this report, I have also been observed
explaining the contract to the Listener and used the core conditions throughout this 30-minute
session.
1.3. Define the following skills which could be used in a session:
Attentiveness and rapport building
Active listening, including minimal encouragers
Managing silence
Empathic listening
Effective questioning
Paraphrasing and summarising
Focusing
Immediacy
Working at an appropriate pace
Checking understanding with the speaker
Within a Counselling session, the effective use of skills can contribute to creating a therapeutic
environment which helps an individual feel heard, understood and supported on their journey of
self-discovery, whilst promoting the overall effectiveness of the process.
Attentiveness and rapport building: This skill involves being fully present and engaged in what the
Client is saying, whilst demonstrating genuine interest. It is the ability to listen to the verbal and non-
verbal body language of the Client whilst being active in the therapeutic space to establish a
connection, trust and openness. Attentiveness and rapport building is important for creating a safe
and supportive space which allows for open and meaningful conversation about the issues a Client is
experiencing.
Active listening, including minimal encouragers: A fundamental skill for Counsellors, involving
focused attention on the Client's words, Active Listening is understanding the Client and responding
appropriately; creating an environment free from judgment or reaction which fosters empathy,
rapport, and respect within the Counselling session.
Verbal cues like "I see" and "I understand", along with non-verbal cues such as nodding and smiling
(SOLER), encourage the Slient to share openly. These minimal encouragers, both verbal and non-
verbal, create a safe space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings, thus strengthening the
therapeutic relationship.
Using Counselling Skills
Criteria 1, Part 1.
Understand the process of a Counselling Skills Session
1.1. Identify three stages in the Counselling Skills session.
A Counselling session's structure is key to ensuring the Client’s safety, boundaries, understanding,
expectations and comfort, and consists of beginning, middle and end:
Beginning: The Counsellor will start a session by explaining the Therapeutic contract (model of
therapy, ethical framework, confidentiality, time boundary, etc.), as well as outlining the Counselling
process, and beginning to establish rapport. Through active listening, empathy, as well as
congruence, and unconditional positive regard (the core conditions), the Counsellor creates a safe
space for the Client to explore their concerns and issues.
Middle: Building on the established rapport, the Counsellor applies reflective skills, such as
paraphrasing, summarising, and restating, alongside the core conditions. This encourages open
communication and allows the Client to delve deeper into their emotions and experiences. Pacing
and managing silence are used to ensure the Client feels heard and respected, while attention to
verbal and nonverbal cues helps the Counsellor gain a more insightful understanding of the Client's
situation. The Counsellor will use focusing of the key themes and emotions to further assist the
exploration.
End: As the session nears its conclusion, the Counsellor reiterates the time boundary and
compassionately summarises the session's content, highlighting the emotions, struggles, and insights
that have emerged. This summary helps to consolidate the Client's understanding and progress; the
Counsellor checks with the Client to ensure they feel understood, comfortable, and safe before
concluding the session.
By following this structured approach, the Counsellor creates a therapeutic experience that is both
supportive and productive, enabling the Client to feel understood, empowered, and motivated to
continue their journey toward growth and healing.
1.2. Explain the importance of opening a session appropriately.
A well-executed opening in a Counselling session is more than a formality as it sets the tone for the
entire process, fosters trust, collaboration and empowers Client to actively engage in their healing
process. By adhering to ethical guidelines and incorporating best practices, the Counsellor creates a
safe and productive space where Clients feel heard, understood, and supported on their journey
toward well-being.
In accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework, Counsellors are ethically obliged to prioritise Client
well-being and ensure informed consent. A thoughtful opening aligns with these ethical principles by
creating a clear and respectful therapeutic environment. (BACP, 2018)
The opening of the Counselling session appropriately is important as the use of a contract is
incorporated at the start of new sessions, with reminders throughout the process. The contract
includes setting time boundaries, confidentiality, the recognised ethical framework (such as BACP),
, the Counsellor’s chosen therapy model, the Counsellor’s role, risks and overall safety. This is
important for setting the tone for the relationship, whilst encouraging trust, rapport and
safeguarding; through the opening, the Counsellor displays care, sensitivity and purpose which is
important for the therapeutic process to comfortably and safely begin.
Additionally, an appropriate opening is important as the Counsellor will immediately begin using
Counselling Skills, such as attentiveness, active listening and the core conditions, which further
develop the Client-Counsellor psychological contact, whilst initiating the therapeutic work.
I have experience of opening a Counselling Skills session (Peer Observational Report, 2024), where I
have been observed using skills such as attentiveness, checking the speaker’s understanding and
rapport building, in a warm and welcoming manner. Within this report, I have also been observed
explaining the contract to the Listener and used the core conditions throughout this 30-minute
session.
1.3. Define the following skills which could be used in a session:
Attentiveness and rapport building
Active listening, including minimal encouragers
Managing silence
Empathic listening
Effective questioning
Paraphrasing and summarising
Focusing
Immediacy
Working at an appropriate pace
Checking understanding with the speaker
Within a Counselling session, the effective use of skills can contribute to creating a therapeutic
environment which helps an individual feel heard, understood and supported on their journey of
self-discovery, whilst promoting the overall effectiveness of the process.
Attentiveness and rapport building: This skill involves being fully present and engaged in what the
Client is saying, whilst demonstrating genuine interest. It is the ability to listen to the verbal and non-
verbal body language of the Client whilst being active in the therapeutic space to establish a
connection, trust and openness. Attentiveness and rapport building is important for creating a safe
and supportive space which allows for open and meaningful conversation about the issues a Client is
experiencing.
Active listening, including minimal encouragers: A fundamental skill for Counsellors, involving
focused attention on the Client's words, Active Listening is understanding the Client and responding
appropriately; creating an environment free from judgment or reaction which fosters empathy,
rapport, and respect within the Counselling session.
Verbal cues like "I see" and "I understand", along with non-verbal cues such as nodding and smiling
(SOLER), encourage the Slient to share openly. These minimal encouragers, both verbal and non-
verbal, create a safe space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings, thus strengthening the
therapeutic relationship.
