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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 and counselling
skills. Detailed feedback on the exercises is
given by the course tutor (the amount of
feedback necessary will be inversely
proportional to how well the student has
assimilated the necessary skills).
The fee for
UK students includes the textbooks. Students
outside the UK will need to buy the textbooks
from an online bookstore (approx. cost GBP 60
plus postage)
Due to the
nature of the worksheets, student assignments
for this course must be returned by post only.
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