CHCCSL001 – Establish and confirm the counselling relationship
Overview
This module is designed to provide you with an introduction to counselling. The basic counselling processes and techniques that you will learn in this unit offer a framework from which you can structure your own counselling sessions and may assist you in later units when you study more specific counselling strategies and approaches.
Trigger warning:
This module may include content that deals with sensitive and emotionally challenging topics. Some of the topics covered in this course may include trauma, abuse, addiction, mental health issues and relationship difficulties. These topics may evoke strong emotions, memories or reactions in some learners. It is important to prioritise your own self-care and seek support as needed.
If you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed, please do not hesitate to reach out to your trainer, student services or a mental health professional for support. The following services may be helpful:
Section 1: Introduction
In the first section of this module, you will be introduced to the profession of counselling. You will learn about the purpose of counselling and how it has evolved as a helping profession. This section of the module also introduces you to person-centred principles and basic counselling techniques that can be used to facilitate the development of a positive counsellor-client relationship.
Section 2: Counsellor Responsibilities
This section of the module will provide you with an introduction to key counsellor responsibilities and practice considerations. You will learn about client rights within the counselling process, the counsellor’s responsibilities, and some key practice issues that shape how a counsellor works with their clients.
Section 3: Initiating the Counselling Process
The final section of this module draws upon the understanding you have developed from the previous sections and illustrates the application of such knowledge and skills in the first counselling session. Particularly, you will learn to establish rapport with clients, help clients understand the counselling process, explore clients’ concerns and facilitate the development of a counselling plan that documents the direction of the counselling process.
Unit Title
CHCCSL001 – Establish and confirm the counselling relationship
Unit Purpose
This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to use a structured approach to counselling to determine, establish and confirm the nature of the counsellor-client relationship according to the agency’s counselling model.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this unit.
Content
Section 1: An Introduction to Counselling
Section 2: Counsellor Responsibilities
Section 3: Initiating the Counselling Process
Resources/Readings
Readings A – H are located directly after the learning material for this module.
Suggested Hours
Although everyone will work at their own pace, we suggest you allow approximately 100 hours to complete this unit competently, including seminars, tutorials, assignments, and any practical activities.
Time Frame
The recommended time frame this unit is no more than four (4) weeks.
Assessment
This unit will be assessed by completing the CHCCSL001 Assessments and an associated practical assessment.
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
| Element | Performance Criteria |
|---|---|
| 1. Using a structured approach to counselling |
1.1. Analyse existing client information prior to commencement of counselling session 1.2. Use initial session to gather additional client information as a foundation for counselling process 1.3 Select and use communication techniques that support the initial counselling session objectives. 1.4. Follow a structured approach to counselling based on client needs and expectations |
| 2. Establish the nature of the helping relationship |
2.1 Provide information that assists clients to understand the nature of the counselling service on offer 2.2 Clarify, confirm or modify client expectations of the counselling service 2.3 Identify client anxieties about the counselling process and explore with clients 2. 4 Acknowledge and show respect for client’s immediate concerns 2.5 Clarify both expectations and commitment to the counselling relationship and confirm with clients 2.6 Identify indicators of client issues beyond scope of own role and report or refer according to presenting issue and organization requirements |
| 3. Confirm the helping relationship |
3.1 Explore options and approaches for the relationship with clients according to individual needs 3.2 Agree priorities and develop a plan for counselling in collaboration with the client 3.3 make documented agreement with the client that addresses disclosure and organization requirements 3.4 Seek assistance from interpreters or other persons according to communication needs |
Knowledge Evidence
The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:
- Legal and ethical considerations for the initial stages of counselling, and how these are applied in individual practice:
- Codes of conduct/practice
- Contract requirements, formats for contracts and key information for inclusion in a counselling contract
- Discrimination
- Duty of care
- Human rights
- Mandatory reporting
- Practitioner/client boundaries
- Privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
- Records management
- Rghts and responsibilities of workers, employers and clients
- Work-role boundaries – responsibilities and limitations of the counsellor role
- Work health and safety
- The counselling process, including:
- What clients have a right to expect
- Principles of person-centred practice
- Purpose of counselling
- How counselling has evolved as a helping relationship
- Place of counselling within the helping services
- Scope and nature of the counselling relationship, including professional limitations
- Impact of own values on the counselling relationship
- Counselling planning, its scope, and techniques for creating a counselling plan, including requirements for:
- Safety and reporting issues
- Reporting of clients own identified priorities
- Observations of client requirements
- Involvement of other agencies/referral information
- Special needs information
- Goals
- Evaluation strategies
- Communication techniques, including:
- Effective use of body language
- Paraphrasing
- Reflecting feelings
- Open and closed questions or probing
- Summarising
- Reframing
- Types of issues with which clients may present, the extent to which these fall within the counselling scope of practice, and options for referral, including for:
- Alcohol and other drugs
- Domestic and family violence
- Homelessness
- Mental illness
- Problem gambling
Performance Evidence
The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:
- Conducted an initial session with at least 3 different clients presenting with different issues, to establish, confirm and document the nature of the helping relationship, including:
- Followed the structure and process of a counselling interview
- Developed counselling plans that include required:
- Safety or reporting issues
- Recording of clients own identified priorities
- Observations of client requirements
- Involvement of other agencies/referral information
- Special needs information
- Goals
- Evaluation strategies
- Used communication techniques, including:
- Effective use of body language
- Paraphrasing
- Reflecting feelings
- Open and closed questioning or probing
- Summarising
- Reframing
