Counselling Skills: A Practical Guide for Counsellors and Helping Professionals
Counselling Skills: A Practical Guide for Counsellors and Helping Professionals by Fiona Ballantine Dykes is a comprehensive and accessible resource that explores the essential skills and approaches required to become an effective counsellor or helping professional, blending theory with practical application to support learners and practitioners alike. The book provides a solid foundation in core counselling skills such as active listening, empathy, questioning techniques, reflecting, summarizing, and building rapport, while also emphasizing the importance of developing self-awareness and professional boundaries. Dykes integrates contemporary approaches and demonstrates how counselling skills can be applied across a wide range of contexts, not just within formal therapy but also in everyday helping roles, making the guide useful for social workers, healthcare professionals, educators, and anyone in a supportive capacity. The text addresses both the art and science of counselling, helping readers to understand not only how to use specific techniques but also why they work, grounding practice in psychological theory and evidence-based methods. Through practical exercises, real-life examples, and reflective prompts, readers are encouraged to develop their skills gradually, enhance their capacity to communicate effectively, and foster meaningful, supportive relationships with those they work with. Additionally, the book tackles complex but crucial issues such as cultural sensitivity, ethical practice, confidentiality, and the impact of personal values, guiding professionals to practice responsibly and with compassion. Ultimately, this guide serves as both a training manual for those beginning their journey in counselling and a refresher for experienced practitioners who wish to strengthen and refine their skills, making it a valuable contribution to the field of counselling and helping professions.
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