Counselling Skills VII
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Students will read the required textbook or manual for each section below and answer a series of essay-type questions relating to the material in the textbook. They will submit their answers by uploading them to Moodle. The Instructor will evaluate the answers and give the student a mark. 80% is a pass for each section.
To pass, the student must attain an 80% average in all 3 courses. A certificate will be given to a successful student. The Instructor will provide support if needed for the duration of the program. Prospective students can challenge the sections below based on prior learning.
Wellness-Based Addictions Counselling (45 Hrs.)
Brief Course Description
Learning Objectives
- Use wellness questions and screening tools to evaluate the client and the client’s family’s needs.
- Implement as needed for each individual client and/or family wellness-based techniques related to mind, body, spirit, emotions, and connections working towards the prevention of relapse and facilitate wellness.
- Utilize interventions that are deeply grounded in developmental, culturally responsive, and strength-based perspectives.
- Approach addictions recovery from an “empowering the individual perspective” by involving the client in their own recovery. A reframing of life choices based on balance rather than perfection.
- Utilize a holistic relapse process which includes: steps of relapse prevention, self-monitoring, creating a wellness story, recognizing triggers and strength building.
- Evaluate the families wellness in addictions counselling.
Required course materials
Course Duration
45Hrs.
Homework Hours
This is a self-study course: homework is built into the 45 hours
Method(s) of Student Evaluation
Written Exam (open book)
Completion Requirements
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) (45 Hrs.)
Brief Course Description
Learning Objectives*
Upon completion of this course the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Integrate CBT into a wide variety of counselling styles and Counselling Practices.
- Utilize mindfulness-based CBT in their practice.
- Utilize CBT as a strengths-based process focusing on a client’s aspirations, values, goals, strengths, and resources towards the client’s goals and what is important to them
- Understand the research and history of the development of CBT.
- Integrate CBT therapeutic techniques into their practice, such as treatment planning, troubleshooting difficulties in therapy, etc.
Required course materials
Course Duration
45Hrs.
Method(s) of Student Evaluation*
Written Exam (Open Book)
Completion Requirements*
Written Exam Pass is 80%
Relational Integrative Counselling (45hrs.)
Brief Course Description
Learning Objectives*
Upon completion of this course the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- To move relationally from the initial engagement with a client through the moment-by-moment unfoldment of a client’s unique session to endings.
- Understand and utilize the meaning of relational and integrative in their own unique practice and how the processes offered in the course apply across many modalities.
- Utilize and deepen their understanding of how theory may be applied in relational and integrative ways.
- Deepen the therapeutic alliance through listening, sensing and making sense, nurturing the client counsellor relationship, ensuring safety, attuning empathically, being in relationship with a client’s shadow side, resourcing, using guided imagery, challenging and integrating.
- Applying theory in a practice.
Required course materials*
Relational Integrative Psychotherapy – Engaging Process and Theory in Practice by Linda Finlay 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Wiley Blackwell
Course Duration
45 Hours
Method(s) of Student Evaluation
Written exam (Open Book)
Completion Requirements
Written exam, pass is 80%.
Trauma-Informed Counselling (45Hrs.)
Brief Course Description
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of trauma-informed practice and intervention, based on the definitive “Handbook of Trauma-Transformative Practice.” Students will gain an understanding of the history and latest frameworks in trauma-informed practice, guided by leading international trauma experts. Key topics include:
- Interdisciplinary Approaches: Integration of trauma research, interpersonal neuroscience, and the lived experiences of victims and survivors.
- Polyvagal Theory: Examination of the social brain, oxytocin, and the healing power of love.
- Neuropsychological Insights: Understanding the roots of shame and its implications for trauma recovery.
- Community Focus: Strategies for healing inter/transgenerational trauma and enhancing communities’ capacity to end interpersonal violence.
Emphasizing a holistic approach, the course advocates for trauma-transformative practice, which prioritizes working with the whole person within their network of relationships. This innovative perspective shifts the focus from symptom management to fostering comprehensive healing and recovery. Through engaging lectures, case studies, and practical applications, students will be equipped to implement trauma-informed interventions effectively, promoting enduring positive outcomes for individuals and communities.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the neuroscience of trauma and trauma transformation.
- Integrate a variety of effective interventions of trauma -nformed practice.
- Be introduced to and study the works of leading world authorities on trauma, while also being offered actionable steps to help transform human suffering into ways one can connect and flourish.
- Understand how overwhelming adversity impacts development, influences our neural and relational connections, leaving us deeply impacted in the areas of trust, hope, and possibility.
- Integrate processes which will help us reimagine trauma- informed approaches in our own unique practice.
- Integrate processes that can put an end to intergenerational trauma and despair.
- Understand the healing power of Love in a trauma-informed Practice.
Required course materials
45 Hours
Method(s) of Student Evaluation
Written Exam (Open Book)
Completion Requirements
Supervision (200 Hrs.)
Brief Course Description
Consists of 200 hours of direct client contact sessions conducted by each student. 30 hours of participation in 2 -2 hour online supervision classes each month where client cases are brought for further skill development, reflection and exploration. 5 hrs. of communication with the Instructor.
Learning Objectives
- Self-reflect.
- Be clear about their current skills as well as assess areas they wish to grow into.
- Assess new clients to determine if they are within the student’s scope of practice.
- Navigate the firsts in client work and having a private practice. E.g.: Clients not showing up, clients introducing challenging situations in an established relationship, having to refer, saying No to working with a client, and many others.
- Explore client situations and students reactions from the perspective of “everything is therapy”.
- Learn techniques, and approaches from the supervisor and the group.
- Explore and deepen their understanding about timing, grounding, reflecting, using questions and creating a safe environment for clients and self.
200 hours (200 Direct Client Contact – 40 Class hrs. and 10 Teacher contact)
Teaching Methods*
200 hours of direct client sessions and 30 hours of online classes. 10 hours of direct one-on-one supervision with a supervisor, on Zoom or the phone.
Method(s) of Student Evaluation
Supervisor reviews 3 video recordings of actual client sessions for each student. Provides a one-on-one feedback evaluation to each student with grade for further refinement, accuracy and continued development.
Completion Requirements
200 hours of Direct Client Contact, 2 recorded sessions for review, and completed case notes for the 200 clients for review.
