Counselling Connection

Counselling Microskills are specific skills a counsellor can use to enhance their communication with clients. These skills enable a counsellor to effectively build a working alliance and engage clients in discussion that is both helpful and meaningful. Here are some examples of microskills which are commonly utilised in counselling practice: Read More

"Neither a man nor a crowd nor a nation can be trusted to act humanely or to think sanely under the influence of a great fear." (Bertrand Russell) Myrmecophobia Phalacrophobia Hobophobia Acrophobia Pentheraphobia Hypengyophobia Venustraphobia Ailurophobia Gamophobia Ophidiophobia Arachnophobia Hydrophobia Alektorophobia Philophobia Logophobia Testophobia (try to guess what fear each of these words correspond to - answers are at the end of this post). Do ... Read More

“Relapse prevention began with the work of Marlatt and Parks (1982) and Marlatt and Gordon (1985) who noted that after success with the treatment of various behavioural problems – such as smoking, drinking, overeating, drug addiction, obsessive compulsive disorder and gambling – clients very often fell back into their old

Influencing is part of all counselling. Even if the counsellor only used attending skills to actively listen to the client, being genuinely heard by another person can influence a person’s behaviour. Influencing skills take a more direct approach to client change, with specific alternatives for actions that can promote change quicker ... Read More

By accurately observing non-verbal behaviour, a counsellor can gauge the affect her/his words and actions have upon the client. Skilled client observation also allows the counsellor to identify discrepancies or incongruities in the client’s or their own communication. When is it used? Observation is a skill that is utilised throughout the entire counselling ... Read More