Advanced Counselling Skills is designed as a course that develops more advanced assessment and counselling skills for working with diverse clients and groups. Skills in case conceptualization and suicide risk assessment, crisis counselling skills and advanced skills in working with themes, narratives and blind spots, are introduced. Skills for working with the therapeutic relationship are outlined, including the careful use of self-disclosure, immediacy, reframing and normalizing. At a basic level word “skills” refers to the interpersonal tools counselors need to possess or acquire, in order to communicate effectively with clients: listening and attending; paraphrasing and summarizing; asking questions; encouraging clients to be specific and offers forms of challenge when needed. Students will also develop solution-focused counselling skills, relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety, and telephone and web-counselling skills. The learning activities provide opportunities for self-reflection and ongoing practice with peers in triad groups.

Technical and practical skills obtained through this course include: 1. Students will learn and demonstrate advanced skills such as immediacy, challenge, and self-disclosure. These skills will be modeled and practiced as part of the weekly class meetings. 2. Students will learn about counselling strategies through exposure to these methods: (a) in the readings, (b) in class discussions and (c) in role plays. 3. Students will learn about the ethical practice of counselling in a variety of contexts through role plays and discussion during class time. [Students are strongly encouraged to reread the American Counseling Association’s Ethical Standards at the start of the class.]