Introduction to person-centred counselling
| Delivery | 12 weeks, one evening a week, 6.30pm-9.30pm |
| Dates | Tuesday 7 January to Tuesday 1 April (half term break 18 February) 2025 |
| Venue | Network Counselling and Training, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS |
| Cost | £345 |
About the course
Based largely on the work of Carl Rogers (the founder of person-centred counselling), this course introduces you to the key aspects of the person-centred approach, including the conditions necessary for therapeutic change, the significance of the counselling relationship and the importance of self-awareness.
The person-centred approach to counselling trusts that it is the client who knows themselves best and that the counsellor’s task is not to advise or guide the client but rather to enable the client to make contact with their own inner experience and so find their own solutions to their problems. Person-centred counselling skills can help us improve our personal and professional relationships through developing our ability to listen and respond to others effectively, and through increasing our self-awareness.
We explore what it means to be non-directive and introduce you to a range of foundational person-centred counselling skills. We also look at the importance of counselling ethics in shaping our practice, including issues relating to power and difference. And finally, we touch on the spiritual dimension of person-centred counselling as well as the necessity for self-care as a counsellor.
Who is this course for?
The course is open to anyone who has an interest in working with people and in finding out about the theory and practice of person-centred counselling. You do not need any previous experience of using listening or counselling skills.
If you are interested in training as a counsellor, this course acts as a suitable introductory level course which will enable you to progress on to Advanced Certificate level counselling training.
And if you have attended Network’s other evening course “Being There” (our introduction to listening and counselling skills) and are looking for another short course to develop the skills and theory you learned there, then ‘A Way of Being’ may well be for you.
What form will the sessions take?
The course runs over 12 evenings, from 6.30 to 9.30pm.
All course materials will be made available online.
You will have the opportunity to:
- Increase your understanding of person-centred counselling theory through weekly seminars and discussions.
- Practise and develop a range of person-centred counselling skills in small experiential groups.
- Expand your self-awareness, not only through the course as a whole but also through working on short exercises designed to gently extend and challenge your self-understanding and self-acceptance.
What additional work will I be asked to do?
You are asked to keep a personal learning journal throughout the course to encourage you to reflect on your learning experiences. You are also required to do a small amount of preparatory reading before each session.
In addition, you are invited to complete three short written assignments – an essay and a personal development profile (both 1,000 words) and a brief self-assessment of your counselling skills. You may choose not to complete the written work, in which case you will be awarded an Attendance Certificate instead of the full Course Certificate.
Please note:
As part of the counselling course training, as well as learning counselling skills and theory you will be invited to reflect upon your own life. This can feel personal and revealing and requires you to be feeling reasonably emotionally robust. We suggest you consider the impact that significant life experiences (such as a close personal bereavement, mental health issues, personal illness or recovering from addiction) have had on your life, and how these may impact you whilst on a counselling/listening course. If necessary, we encourage you to join the training when time to rebalance has passed and you feel ready for the course.
How much does the course cost?
Course fee: £345 (with the option to pay in three instalments)
Cancellation policy: If a confirmed booking is cancelled up to 14 days prior to the start of the course a refund of the full amount (minus deposit of £25) will be made. After 14 days prior to the start of the course the full fee remains payable. If the course is cancelled by Network at any point, all fees will be refunded.
How do I book?
Simply fill in the short application form online, and we will get back to you. (If you would prefer to apply via an electronic .Word version, please contact Sue Woodhead-Marsh.)
If you would like any further information, please contact our Training Coordinator – sue.woodhead-marsh@network.org.uk.