In Episode 268 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts, Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly bring us this week’s three topics:

• Firstly with ‘Theory in Practice’, we look at what is post-modern counselling and its theories.
• Then in ‘Practice Today’, listen as Rory and Ken discuss recovered memory therapy.
• And lastly in ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with Mandy Gosling about the ABC grief model.

How to Protect Yourself as a Therapist - Working as an Interpreter for Counselling

In Episode 267 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly discuss this week's three topics:

Firstly in 'Theory in Practice', how to write a counselling CV.

Then in 'Practice Today', Rory and Ken discuss protecting yourself as a therapist.

And lastly in this week's 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Eniko Koncz about being an interpreter for counselling.

How to Write a Counselling CV [starts at 02:26 mins]

When it comes to putting together a CV, you want to be presenting the best of what you have to offer. In this section, Rory and Ken go through certain things you might include when writing your counselling CV:

Your CV should reflect who you are, your views, and your why.

Include your understanding of ethics, and your commitment to learning and personal development, your perseverance.

When writing a counselling CCV, include some of your hobbies or personal interests - this will assure the person reading your CV that you have an outlet for self-care.

Look if you have any transferable skills from things you've done in the past.

Your counsellor CV should open a window - you should be able to talk about the things on your CV, it should include things that invite conversation.

Include any areas of research you've done and been interested in.

When thinking of how to write your counselling CV, consider what they will want to hear - does anything you've done in the past fit in with their values? Do your research on where you're applying.

Include headings and highlight/bold certain words you feel are important. When someone is scanning over your CV, certain things should stand out to make them want to read your CV in full.

Have your CV proofread, read it to yourself out loud.

Ensure your contact details are easy to find on your CV.

Show your passion - add why you think you'd be a great fit with where you're applying.

Maybe add a letter along with your CV detailing why you are a great fit specifically for where you're applying and your reason for wanting the position.

Pay attention to detail.

How to Protect Yourself as a Therapist [starts at 24:18 mins]

Being a counsellor can come with risks, and it's important to take measures to avoid it as best you can. In this section, Rory and Ken discuss some of the dangers you may encounter, and how you might consider planning for them:

Have a separate work phone - you should separate personal from professional as much as you can, specifically in relation to how clients can contact you, this allows you to enforce certain boundaries.

Think twice about answering a call from a withheld number - if it is a client trying to contact you, they can leave a message and you can get back to them.

If you're seeing a client alone, do you have a system in place to account for risk? Consider having a 'buddy' - someone that you text when a client comes in, and when a client leaves. If they don't hear from you and can't get in contact with you, they can alert the police.

When working for an agency, there should be a lone working policy in place.

If the session is taking place at a client's home, or your own, has a risk assessment been made? Does someone know where you are?

Have a think about these situations and the measures you can put in place so you're prepared.

Working as an Interpreter for Counselling [starts at 39:33 mins]

In this week's 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with interpreter Eniko Koncz, finding out more on interpreting counselling sessions.

The key points of this discussion include:

Eniko can interpret both in Hungarian and in Russian.

She interprets both online, and in-person.

By interpreting a session remotely, this allows for more flexibility and less travel.

Ideally, the counsellor will be in touch beforehand to pass over some information on how...

In Episode 267 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly discuss this week’s three topics:

• Firstly in ‘Theory in Practice’, how to write a counselling CV.
• Then in ‘Practice Today’, Rory and Ken discuss protecting yourself as a therapist.
• And lastly in this week’s ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with Eniko Koncz about being an interpreter for counselling.

Moving to the Next Level in Your Counselling Journey - Can You Be Too Congruent?

In Episode 266 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly are back with this week's three topics:

Up first in 'Theory in Practice', we look at moving to the next level in your counselling journey.

Then in 'Practice Today', Rory and Ken have an interesting discussion about whether you can be too congruent

And lastly in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Mamood Ahmad about anti-oppressive practice in counselling.

Moving to the Next Level in Your Counselling Journey [starts at 02:25 mins]

Taking the next step in your counselling journey can be a scary thing, but in this section Rory and Ken break down some of the realities of this journey, and offer things for you to think about:

As you move up in your training, the difficulty will increase.

Think about what started you on this journey, did you want to make a difference?

If the why is strong, the how becomes easier.

When you feel yourself getting stressed or panicked - go back to your why.

Training will take up a lot of your time.

Your personal development might impact on your personal relationships.

There will be the academic side and the practice side - there will be a lot going on.

It can be done - many have done it before you.

Hold on to your why - it needs to be strong enough to not need feedback and thanks.

What is the route you want to take?

The skills you learn are transferable - you can put them to good use in other occupations and just life in general.

Can You Be Too Congruent? [starts at 18:57 mins]

In this section, Rory and Ken discuss the difficulty of knowing how far you can go with your congruence.

The main points include:

There is a fine line between congruence and being rude.

Everything you do should always be in service of the client.

What 'volume' is your congruence at - it's about knowing when you can turn it up.

It's about timing and knowing your client.

Being congruent in an empathic way - intertwining it with the core conditions.

Ask yourself who is this client? What is your relationship with them and where is the boundary of that relationship?

Anti-Oppressive Practice in Counselling [starts at 31:55 mins]

In this week's 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Mamood Ahmad on introducing difference, diversity, and inclusion using anti-oppressive practice foundations.

The key points of this discussion on anti-oppressive practice in counselling include:

Thinking about the wider social context of your client and how this affects them.

Allowing, and providing a safe space for people to talk about social problems and what they feel about that.

Part of working towards an anti-oppressive practice in counselling is being conscious of the power dynamic in your relationship with the client.

Can you talk about these things comfortably? Do you experience any anxiety or discomfort?

Thinking about and being aware of lived experience.

Realising that your world view isn't the only one.

Being open, willing to fix things, willing to learn.

Have heart and humility.

Consider internalised oppression/discrimination - feelings of inferiority.

Systemic thinking - being aware of bias and where it comes from.

Links and Resources

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

In Episode 266 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly are back with this week’s three topics:

• Up first in ‘Theory in Practice’, we look at moving to the next level in your counselling journey.
• Then in ‘Practice Today’, Rory and Ken have an interesting discussion about whether you can be too congruent.
• And lastly in ‘Practice Matters’, Rory speaks with Mamood Ahmad about anti-oppressive practice in counselling.

Barriers to Communication in Therapy - Interview with the NCS Chief Executive

In Episode 265 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly are back with this week's three topics:

Firstly in 'Theory in Practice' we look at barriers to communication in counselling.

Then in 'Practice Today', Rory and Ken discuss how to set up a therapy room.

And lastly in 'Practice Matters', we see the end of our 6-week-long series looking into the National Counselling Society (soon to be the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) by speaking with CEO Jyles Robillard-Day.

Barriers to Communication in Therapy [starts at 02:13 mins]

When it comes to communicating with your client, you can be met with a series of unexpected circumstances. Listen in this section as Rory and Ken discuss some of the barriers you might come across in counselling, and how you might go about tackling them:

Communication is the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings. If something gets in the way of those ideas and feelings being either shared, or received and understood, it's likely there is a barrier of some sort preventing this.

The different types of barriers:

External/environmental barriers - noise disruption (e.g. construction), a bad connection if working online.

Internal barriers - neurodiversity.

Cultural barriers - language, this may also include economic/class differences.

Topic barriers - are there any topics you feel uncomfortable talking about?

Jargon - occupation-specific vocabulary or even dialect.

Are there any topics of conversation that you find yourself shying away from? E.g. sex, sexuality, race, religion. If this is the case, you should look into why these subjects maybe make you feel shy/embarrassed/uncomfortable. If you feel uncomfortable discussing them, the client will too.

Barriers work both ways.

Clarifying - if you're not sure you understand what a client has said, clarify.

Practice recognising barriers and learn the different kinds. Think about what you might do if met with a barrier, this helps you be prepared for if it does come up in a session.

Recognise communication barriers in your own life, journal them, take them to supervision and think about why they might be there.

Seek CPD on subjects you're not sure on for a better understanding, this will help you to discuss them more comfortably with your client.

How to Set Up a Therapy Room [starts at 19:27 mins]

The space you conduct your sessions in will have a huge influence on how comfortable your clients feel with you. In this section on how to set up a therapy room, Rory and Ken discuss some things to keep in mind:

This is something important to consider both face-to-face and online.

When setting up your therapy room, keep in mind that the space should enact permission for the client to cry; they should feel like they're in a safe space.

Is the room private? Soundproof? Is confidentiality compromised in any way?

Is the space accessible? If not, for example if there are stairs, this needs to be made clear to your clients before they choose to take sessions with you.

Another consideration when setting up a therapy room is sensory accessibility. Is the room too hot or too cold? Is there a ticking clock? A flickering light? A strong smell?

Is there access to a toilet?

Making sure the space is neat and clean.

Working with the space you've been given, thinking of ways you can make it feel more comfortable.

Asking the client if the room is okay, if there is anything that makes them uncomfortable and if you can solve that. E.g. a client may be uncomfortable with seeing their reflection, in which case you would turn any mirrors you may have in the room.

When working online - think about your backdrop. Would it be beneficial to have a digital backdrop?

Keep your decorations neutral,

In Episode 265 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly are back with this week’s three topics:

• Firstly in ‘Theory in Practice’ we look at barriers to communication in counselling.
• Then in ‘Practice Today’, Rory and Ken discuss how to set up your therapy room.
• And lastly in ‘Practice Matters’, we see the end of our 6-week-long series looking into the National Counselling Society (soon to be the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) by speaking with CEO Jyles Robillard-Day.

Phenomenology in Philosophy and Counselling - NCS Campaigns

In Episode 264 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week's three topics:

Up first in 'Theory in Practice', we look at the philosophy of phenomenology and counselling.

Then in 'Practice Today', Rory and Ken speak about counselling a client you don't like as a person.

And lastly in 'Practice Matters', Rory is once again speaking with Meg Moss, head of policy and public affairs at the National Counselling Society (soon to be the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) about some of the campaigns the society is currently involved in.

Phenomenology in Philosophy and Counselling [starts at 02:34 mins]

Some people may find phenomenology as hard to understand as it is to pronounce, but in this section, Rory and Ken attempt to break it down and discuss how it applies to the therapy room:

Phenomenology is the structure of consciousness, how we perceive ourselves in the world.

This is something unique to you.

The challenge of counselling is suspending your own frame of reference, putting it aside, and looking at things from the clients' point of view.

How does the client see things?

Ask clarifying questions - what might be a happy occasion for some, may not be for others (e.g. a pregnancy or holiday such as Christmas).

During therapy, you are helping the client make sense of their reality and place within the world (their phenomenology).

'Dasein' - your being in the world, as a counsellor your aim is to understand this.

Personal Development - think about what you view as your own being in the world.

Counselling a Client You Don't Like [starts at 18:51 mins]

You may find that one day you have a client that you don't like or struggle to view with an unconditional positive regard. In this section, Rory and Ken discuss what you might do in this situation.

Take these feelings to supervision - try and find out why you are having these feelings.

Think about transference - does the client remind you of someone? Are you projecting the feelings you had towards someone from your past onto the client?

Are you getting nervous before a particular client comes in? Or feeling unusually excited?

Is the client using harsh language that clashes with your personal values?

Do they have opposing political views to you?

When counselling a client you don't like, think about how you will go about separating your personal values.

A client has come to you to explore or heal some sort of pain. It's sometimes possible that these strong views are a defense mechanism for something that is internalised for them.

Another way to work with a client you don't like in therapy is to reframe. Imagine yourself and this person in a different situation - how would you interact?

NCS Campaigns [starts at 31:21 mins]

In this week's 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Meg Moss from the NCS, soon to be NCPS, on the campaigning they take part in as a society.

The key points of this discussion include:

The society is currently aiming to highlight the role of counselling and psychotherapy in mental health provision to help stop the move into digitalisation and low impact assistance.

We are seeing an increase in funding for crisis services, but this alienates the people in the middle. People that low impact help isn't enough for, but aren't yet at the point of needing crisis services are left without support.

The NCS is not only looking at sharing this information with the current government and MPs, but looking at educating possible future government too.

They are attempting to spread this information and raise awareness widely.

There is the opportunity to utilise fully qualified private practitioners with far shorter waiting lists.

There seems to be an increasing lack of humanity in an area that is so human centered.

In Episode 264 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly take us through this week’s three topics:

• Up first in ‘Theory in Practice’, we look at the philosophy of phenomenology and counselling.
• Then in ‘Practice Today’, Rory and Ken speak about counselling a client you don't like as a person.
• And lastly in ‘Practice Matters’, Rory is once again speaking with Meg Moss, head of policy and public affairs at the National Counselling Society (soon to be the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society) about some of the campaigns the society is currently involved in.

Passing Your Recorded Skills Session - Breaking Confidentiality in Counselling

In Episode 263 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, your hosts Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly are back with this week's three topics:

Firstly in 'Theory in Practice' we look at passing your recorded or observed skills session.

Then in 'Practice Today', Rory and Ken take us through what happens if you have to break confidentiality.

And lastly in 'Practice Matters', Rory speaks with Camilla Hyland, the head of member services, and Kate Mahoney, head of professional standards from the National Counselling Society about the NCS's membership benefits.

Passing Your Recorded Skills Session [starts at 02:47 mins]

Being assessed is a stressful time for any student, but in this section, Rory and Ken offer some tips that might help to take some of the pressure off:

Remember that it's natural to be nervous, it's a challenging experience.

The secret is practice.

If it's your first experience with recording it'll make it more nerve-racking - try practicing with recording beforehand.

Start recording and listening back to your skills practice.

Meet up with peers and colleagues over Zoom and record your practice.

Evaluate your own skills sessions.

Welcome feedback and mistakes, you can learn a lot from them.

Try out a number of different skills.

The more you understand what happens when you apply a skill and understand what the skill asks of you, the easier you will find it to apply that skill.

The more you know, the less you fear.

Try working with people you don't know that well - this gives practice of being observed.

Look at the criteria of what they'll be looking for in the session - checking your endings etc.

If you're recording anything - see about using college equipment so that data can be disposed of correctly.

Know how many skills you need to demonstrate - using one skill won't be enough, even if you use it very well, and using too many may make the session feel disjointed and counsellor-led.

Work in a triad (a listener, a speaker, and an observer) - make sure you get the speakers feedback first to prevent it being tainted by the observers.

Take note of the skills you use and their purpose, make note of its role within the actual practice session, what affect did it have?

Breaking Confidentiality in Counselling [starts at 23:45 mins]

It's likely that at least once during your practice you will be required to break confidentiality, and it's important that you are prepared for this.

The key moments of this section include:

Deciding to break confidentiality requires clear thinking.

Look into what your contract says, legally you're required to break confidentiality in the event of terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering, and harm to self and/or others.

It's important that you make your exceptions to confidentiality clear in your contract and in your first session with your client - make sure they understand the contract they are signing.

The Caldicott Principles are an example of the steps you should take when breaking confidentiality. You should only use information that is required, sharing the absolute minimum.

Harm to self - when it comes to self-harm, it is up to you to decide where you draw the line and at what point you should share this information. You may just question the client to ensure they are doing this safely (using clean instruments etc.), you should also consider why the client is telling you this. Is it possible that they want you to tell someone?

The aftermath of breaking confidentiality: you will need to rebuild your therapeutic relationship. Be honest - let them know it was out of concern for them.

Does your agency have requirements on breaking confidentiality that are different to your personal ones? Make sure you add these to your contract.

Ensure you're writing in your notes if you have broken confidentiali...