Certificate in Skilled Helper
Counselling & Coaching Skills

(Cert. S. H. C. C.)

Distance Learning Course Details

   College accreditation: International Association for Distance Learning.
   Course accredited by Institute for Meridian Psychotherapy.
   Possibility of registration with certain other professional counselling and coaching bodies.
                   

Total recommended period of study: 1 to 3 months. Continuous enrolment. No time limit.

Cost: £250.00  (250 Pounds Sterling - for currency conversion see www.xe.com )

(Two FREE textbooks will be included for students from the UK.   Students outside the UK will need to buy the textbooks separately from on-line bookstores - approx. cost GBP 60.) 

Method of study 

Textbook study. Written assignments based on textbooks and exercises. Assignment questions are issued by email. Due to the nature of the workbook used, it will normally be easier for students to send their written assignments for the main part of the course to the college by post rather than electronically. Grades and feedback are issued by email.

Course overview

The Egan Skilled Helper Model is one of the most popular and practical models of counselling skills, guidance or coaching and is taught at many colleges and used in many formal and informal counselling settings including the workplace and voluntary helping.  This model provides you with a framework for navigating through a counselling or helping session or series of sessions and helps you to refine your skills at interacting with clients most effectively. 

The model consists of 3 steps or stages, further subdivided into elements that make learning and practice easier. The first stage concerns the present, and is the phase where the client’s story or situation is outlined. This process may be straightforward or may be confusing or emotional, needing help and clarification. The helper then encourages the client to look at the beliefs and perspectives built into the story. The client is helped to focus on the central aspect of the situation or where a change can take place to greatest effect.  

The second stage examines what is possible and in this phase the client starts to build visions or goals related to the preferred outcome.  

The third stage consists of developing strategies to reach the preferred goal and turning them into plans of action. 

The structure of the Skilled Helper model is very similar to some models of coaching and can be adapted for use by life and personal coaches. It complements many other models of counselling, talking therapy and coaching.  

Two textbooks are used for the course. One provides the theory and the other is a workbook which takes students through simulated case studies and practised examples of the skills involved.   

Students of this certificate course gain familiarity with the model and practice selected workbook exercises, giving details of fictitious clients,  to hone important communication, listening and counselling skills.  Delegates receive extensive written feedback on their work covering where and how they have made errors in interpreting the simulated cases and where they could have improved their communication with the "clients".  The simulated cases are drawn from a variety of settings including work-related scenarios.  (The amount of feedback necessary will be inversely proportional to how well the student has assimilated the necessary theory and skills).

Entry criteria and suitability 

Open entry. This course is suitable for trainee, established and volunteer counsellors, other therapists and helping professionals, life coaches, managers, clergy and anyone who wishes to improve his/her people-helping skills.

Qualification

Successful graduates will receive the Certificate in Skilled Helper Counselling and Coaching Skills awarded by UK College of Holistic Training which is a private UK qualification. The college is accredited by the International Association for Distance Learning. Course graduates may use the postnominal initials Cert.S.H.C.C.

This course is accredited by The Institute for Meridian Psychotherapy (which is linked to UKCHT) and graduates may apply for membership.

Graduates of the course will be eligible to apply to register with "Counselling", a registered charity - see www.counselling.ltd.uk, and on successful registration the graduate will be entitled to the style "CCC Registered Counsellor." (Applies to UK only. "Counselling" does not accredit or approve the UKCHT course.)

If you have other relevant qualifications in counselling you may also be recommended to apply for the appropriate grade of membership of the National Counselling Society (UK).  The National Counselling Society http://www.nationalcounsellingsociety.org/  will consider a wide variety of qualifications towards entry levels of membership and will advise on further study towards becoming an Accredited Counsellor.

We can recommend an international Life Coaching association that you can apply to join.

Prospective overseas students are responsible for checking whether they need any form of accreditation or licensing to practise as a counsellor or psychotherapist in their own country. UK College of Holistic Training is unable to give advice on local regulations in your country. However, "Life Coaching" by itself is unlikely to be regulated.

This diploma is accepted by Calamus International University (a non-UK, private distance university with private accreditation) for credit towards a degree.

Further information

Please see our FAQs page for general information about practising counselling and psychotherapy in the UK and elsewhere.