Counselling Boys and Men Part 2 - Managing Boundaries in Counselling

In Episode 321 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly guide us through this week's three topics:

Firstly in 'Ethical, Sustainable Practice' we look at effective online counselling for neurodivergent clients.

Then in 'Practice Matters', Rory interviews Phil Mitchell about part two of his lecture on counselling boys and men.

And lastly in 'Student Services', Rory and Ken discuss managing boundaries in counselling.

Online Counselling for Neurodivergent Clients [starts at 03:41 mins]

In this section, Rory and Ken explore the unique considerations of offering online counselling for neurodivergent clients.

Key points include:

The rapid growth of online and telephone counselling since COVID-19 has made it mainstream in therapeutic practice.

Specific needs of neurodivergent clients in online settings, including difficulties with phone-based sessions and sensory preferences.

The importance of reasonable adjustments such as offering asynchronous communication (e.g. email) or allowing sessions without video.

Risk management considerations, especially with clients at higher risk of mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation.

The necessity of formal training for online and telephone counselling.

Practical tips:

Adapt language, session formats, and response times to suit neurodivergent clients.

Include reasonable adjustments in client contracts.

Obtain clear emergency contact details for safety.

Counselling Boys and Men Part 2 [starts at 29:05 mins]

In this week's 'Practice Matters', Rory interviews Phil Mitchell about counselling boys and men, focusing on Phil's two-part CPD lecture series.

Phil shares insights into:

The importance of using male-centred, action-oriented language to improve engagement.

Why traditional therapeutic approaches may not resonate with many male clients.

Research supporting a solution-focused, practical counselling style for men.

Marketing practices that effectively attract male clients to therapy.

Examples of language adjustments include reframing vulnerability as strength and emphasising problem-solving over emotional exploration.

Managing Boundaries in Counselling [starts at 55:33 mins]

In 'Student Services', Rory and Ken discuss managing boundaries in counselling:

Boundaries protect both the client and the therapist, providing a safe and structured environment.

Common boundary challenges for students include handling informal counselling requests from friends or family and unexpected encounters with clients outside therapy settings.

Strategies for addressing boundary breaches include revisiting contracts and consulting with your supervisor.

Flexibility in boundaries, such as allowing reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent clients, can support therapeutic success.

Practical advice:

Use clear, mutually agreed-upon boundaries as part of initial contracting.

When unexpected situations arise, discuss and revise boundaries in supervision.

Incorporate boundary management discussions into professional development and supervision sessions.

Links and Resources

Phil Mitchell

Counselling Skills Academy

Advanced Certificate in Counselling Supervision

Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide

Counsellor CPD

Counselling Study Resource

Counselling Theory in Practice: A Student Guide

Counselling Tutor Shop

Facebook group

Website

Online and Telephone Counselling: A Practitioner's Guide

Online and Telephone Counselling Course