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Counselling Skills (Foundational)

Key Facts

Study Load: 2 Days
Location: Hawthorn East, Victoria
Delivery Mode: In-Person
Intake: Triannual
Fees: $247.50-495

Course Overview

This two-day introductory course is aimed at individuals who are either: 1) currently working in a role assisting growth and development in others and would like to further develop their skills, or, 2) interested in learning more about counselling and potentially looking to take the first step towards a new career.

In this program, participants will learn the core counselling skills required to become effective in assisting clients to build strengths and resilience, and strategies for positive change. Through hands-on exercises and supported role-plays, students will experience and get to apply the knowledge, processes and core skills required to become an effective ethical counsellor.

Participants may wish to build on the foundations developed in this workshop, and enrol in our Counselling Skills (Intermediate) professional development and training opportunity.

Please note, this course does not qualify participants to work in a professional setting as a counsellor.

What does this course offer?

Via a mix of group learning, role-plays, exercises and education sessions, following the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Recognise the similarities and differences between counselling and coaching
  2. Understand how to foster psychological safety for clients
  3. Demonstrate core principles of a person-centred therapeutic alliance
  4. Demonstrate active listening skills
  5. Develop awareness of client non-verbal communication
  6. Apply a range of questions including ‘scale ruler’ questions
  7. Understand the difference between reflecting content and reflecting emotions
  8. Demonstrate paraphrasing, summarising and ‘check-ins’
  9. Understand the principles and process of caringly challenging clients
  10. Consider self-awareness in the counselling process.

Depending on the needs and counselling experience of the group members, the above learning objectives may be modified accordingly.

Course Structure

Delivery Method

This course is delivered from 9.00am until 4.30pm, across two consecutive days. It is delivered face-to-face at 391-393 Tooronga Road, Hawthorn East VIC 3123.

 

Upcoming Course Dates

Course dates for 2025 will be released soon. To be notified of when enrolments are open, please submit your interest here.

Our Trainers

Dr Renzo Vittorino

Renzo is the Course Director of the Graduate Internship Program at The Cairnmillar Institute. Renzo has extensive leadership and clinical experience spanning over 30 years. He has experience in working with individual and families, community, and organisational development. Renzo has extensive experience in the development and delivery of programs and training in trauma informed practice including the recently implemented Trauma Informed Leadership Program delivered to managers of Area Mental Health Services in Victoria in partnership with Centre for Mental Health Learning and Department of Health.

Further Information

Fees

Our course fees are inclusive of GST. Participant materials include a 20-page workbook as well as a certificate of completion.

Take advantage of a 15% discount on the combined cost when you enrol in both the Foundational and Intermediate Counselling Skills professional development and training programs within the same transaction. Simply use the coupon code “CSBundle” at checkout to unlock this exclusive offer.

Standard Enrolment: $495
Concession*: $445.50
External Student or Cairnmillar Alumni: $350 
Cairnmillar Student:
$247.50

*Our programs attract a 10% concession for health care card holders, pensioners and people receiving benefits. Those applying for concessions must provide a copy (photo evidence is accepted) of their social security card, or health care card together with their application, via email to [email protected].

FAQ

Cairnmillar can offer this or other tailored courses for your organisation’s needs. If you have a group of 10 or more participants, we can come to you or deliver the workshop online. For further information, email the Professional Development Team at [email protected] or phone 03 9813 3400.

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