Unit 3
Using Counselling Skills
Criteria 1, Part 3
Reflect of Own Practice.
3.1. Written reflective practice piece.
On 12th June 2024, I conducted a 30-minute counselling skills session with a volunteer Speaker; this
experience provided valuable insights into the impact of various Counselling techniques, as well as my own
strengths and weaknesses, as reflected below.
Beginning:
I began by establishing the therapeutic contract, outlining the Person-Centred approach, BACP Ethical
Framework, confidentiality boundaries, and the time limit. I checked with the Speaker they understood the
information I had given and asked if they had any questions. I aimed for a conversational tone to foster
rapport during the contract; and I used active listening and the core conditions, whilst conveying
congruence, as the Speaker began talking. The Speaker seemed receptive and comfortable, suggesting that
this approach effectively set a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
Middle:
The session progressed with active listening as a primary tool and I sought to understand the Speaker’s
concerns, observing open body language and mirroring their stance to further build rapport. Clarifying and
paraphrasing their words not only confirmed my understanding but also encouraged them to delve deeper
into their emotions and their responses emphasised the positive impact of these reflective skills.
Alongside verbal communication, I utilised non-verbal cues like nodding and expressions of concern to show
empathy and validate the Speaker’s feelings. I wanted to convey empathic listening by acknowledging the
Speaker’s feelings, particularly when piecing this together with their storytelling, although I didn’t always
achieve this. I paced the session thoughtfully and allowed space for emotions to surface, which in turn
sometimes prompted the Speaker to explore their feelings independently. The conversation progressed to
reveal deep emotion for the Speaker, who became visibly upset due to the nature of the content, which
suggested the therapeutic conditions were appropriate for them to explore their deeper feelings.
Ending:
As the session concluded, I acknowledged the time boundary and provided a compassionate summary,
emphasising both the emotional intensity and the insights gained. Despite being upset, the Speaker
confirmed the accuracy of the summary, affirming that it encompassed the entirety of their discussion. I
checked the Speaker felt comfortable ending the session before thanking them for sharing their experience.
Reflecting on the session, the Speaker’s response to active listening and reflection techniques highlights the
effectiveness of the skills I implemented. I feel that establishing a safe and supportive environment enabled
them to express themselves openly and delve into their emotions. The experience emphasised the
importance of empathic listening, pacing, and non-verbal communication in enabling a positive therapeutic
relationship and facilitating the exploration of sensitive topics. I feel as though I could have improved on
displaying empathic listening by, instead of just acknowledging my understanding of the Speaker’s feelings, I
could have explained better why I understand them, based on the content they had given. Overall, I feel this
was a successful session in which I displayed several Counselling skills successfully, to the benefit of the
Speaker; there is some room for improvement which I have acknowledged and onboarded in readiness for
future Counselling skills sessions.
Using Counselling Skills
Criteria 1, Part 3
Reflect of Own Practice.
3.1. Written reflective practice piece.
On 12th June 2024, I conducted a 30-minute counselling skills session with a volunteer Speaker; this
experience provided valuable insights into the impact of various Counselling techniques, as well as my own
strengths and weaknesses, as reflected below.
Beginning:
I began by establishing the therapeutic contract, outlining the Person-Centred approach, BACP Ethical
Framework, confidentiality boundaries, and the time limit. I checked with the Speaker they understood the
information I had given and asked if they had any questions. I aimed for a conversational tone to foster
rapport during the contract; and I used active listening and the core conditions, whilst conveying
congruence, as the Speaker began talking. The Speaker seemed receptive and comfortable, suggesting that
this approach effectively set a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
Middle:
The session progressed with active listening as a primary tool and I sought to understand the Speaker’s
concerns, observing open body language and mirroring their stance to further build rapport. Clarifying and
paraphrasing their words not only confirmed my understanding but also encouraged them to delve deeper
into their emotions and their responses emphasised the positive impact of these reflective skills.
Alongside verbal communication, I utilised non-verbal cues like nodding and expressions of concern to show
empathy and validate the Speaker’s feelings. I wanted to convey empathic listening by acknowledging the
Speaker’s feelings, particularly when piecing this together with their storytelling, although I didn’t always
achieve this. I paced the session thoughtfully and allowed space for emotions to surface, which in turn
sometimes prompted the Speaker to explore their feelings independently. The conversation progressed to
reveal deep emotion for the Speaker, who became visibly upset due to the nature of the content, which
suggested the therapeutic conditions were appropriate for them to explore their deeper feelings.
Ending:
As the session concluded, I acknowledged the time boundary and provided a compassionate summary,
emphasising both the emotional intensity and the insights gained. Despite being upset, the Speaker
confirmed the accuracy of the summary, affirming that it encompassed the entirety of their discussion. I
checked the Speaker felt comfortable ending the session before thanking them for sharing their experience.
Reflecting on the session, the Speaker’s response to active listening and reflection techniques highlights the
effectiveness of the skills I implemented. I feel that establishing a safe and supportive environment enabled
them to express themselves openly and delve into their emotions. The experience emphasised the
importance of empathic listening, pacing, and non-verbal communication in enabling a positive therapeutic
relationship and facilitating the exploration of sensitive topics. I feel as though I could have improved on
displaying empathic listening by, instead of just acknowledging my understanding of the Speaker’s feelings, I
could have explained better why I understand them, based on the content they had given. Overall, I feel this
was a successful session in which I displayed several Counselling skills successfully, to the benefit of the
Speaker; there is some room for improvement which I have acknowledged and onboarded in readiness for
future Counselling skills sessions.
