Whether you are considering becoming a counsellor, have to provide some form of counselling as part of your job, or are simply interested in communicating well, Counselling Skills For Dummies provides the perfect introduction to the practical basics of counselling. Starting with a thorough guide to the qualities, knowledge and skills needed to become a ‘listening helper’, the book goes on to provide a framework for a counselling session, helping you to successfully manage a potentially daunting process.

• Focusing on Yourself First

• Introducing Counselling Skills

• Understanding Yourself through Personal Development

• Taking Care of Yourself • Maintaining Good Practice

• The Listening Helper

• Being a Listening Helper

• Qualities, Skills, and Knowledge for Listening

• Recognising Your Own Barriers to Listening

• Structuring a Helping Conversation

• Establishing a Helping Relationship

• Stage One: Beginning the Discussion

• Stage Two: Deepening Understanding

• Stage Three: Working with Action and Endings

• Understanding People and Problems

• Being Prepared for Common Personal Problems

• Understanding People from a Social Perspective

• Understanding Individuals from a Psychological Perspective

• Handling Challenges

• Coping with Different Types of Helping Conversations

• Dealing with Difficulties

• The Part of Tens

•Ten or So Key Counselling Skills

• Ten Resources for Improving Your Counselling Skills

• Ten Great Counselling Books

About The Author:

Gail Evans is a BASRT (British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy) Accredited, UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) Registered and Relate (the UK's largest provider of relationship counselling and sex therapy) Licensed Counsellor. She has over 30 years' experience of counselling. She was previously Head of the Counselling Studies Unit at Sheffield Hallam University, and now works as Programme Director at The Academy: Sheffield Psychotherapy and Counselling Education (SPACE), a new institute for teaching counselling and related subjects. Gail is also the co-owner of Cornerstone Counselling and Therapy Centre, based in Sheffield.