A counselling cession and a helping session are two different settings. What makes the difference? Why is it important to know as you begin your journey in learning counselling skills?
The Counsellor
You probably understand who a counsellor is and even worked with one in the past. A counsellor is someone who has achieved several years of training. They will also be a member of a professional body, such as the British Association of Psychotherapy and Counselling (BACP), the National Counselling Society (NCS), or the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). As a member of one of these organisations, a counsellor is agreeing to abide but the rules, principles, and values set by the organisation. Often these are referred to as a code of ethics or ethical framework.
Managers, office workers, employers, can all use these skills to better enable learning and listening
You can find counsellors running their own private practise or employed by a health service provider. They may also work for charities or agencies offering mental health support and counselling. In addition, a counsellor will maintain their skills and techniques through regular professional development, not only for themselves but often as a requirement of their professional body. In addition, they should have appropriate insurance, receive regular supervision, and have their own clear contract of terms and conditions.
The Helper
A helper is someone who has trained on a CPCAB level 2 counselling skills course. They have learned how to use counselling skills and techniques. They can offer someone a place to feel heard or, if needed, signposted to further support. While we may think the term is a bit empty, it is there to serve an important purpose.
You may find that a colleague at work, perhaps a friend (though there is a question over this), or an acquaintance are trained in counselling skills and can offer you a safe and supportive space to talk through what bothers you. They have some basic skills that allow you to feel heard, uninterrupted, and a chance to talk confidentially. These are hugely powerful and helpful techniques that can dramatically help someone.
A helper can listen, can be non-judgemental, empathic, and signpost to further support
Typically, they would make it clear that they have trained on a CPCAB level 2 counselling skills course and have some counselling skills. And that they can listen but are unable to provide the level of support a trained counsellor can offer. This is important as it draws attention to the limits of the helper’s abilities and lets the other person know that they may be referred on to more suitable help. Nevertheless, a helper is a vital opportunity for a person to experience that undistracted time to explore and understand what is on their mind.
The Differences Between a Counsellor and a Helper
It is this distinction between a helper and counsellor that is worth understanding. Not only if you are seeking help but importantly if you are looking to train as a counsellor. Learning counselling skills as a helper on a CPCAB level 2 counselling skills course is your first step in that journey.
Broadly from this article you can take away that a key difference between a counsellor and a helper has to do with limits of ability. A helper, as we define it on our counselling skills course, can create a safe space to discuss a problem yet is limited to the help they can offer. In general, we tell our students that a helper can listen, can be non-judgemental, empathic, and signpost to further support. Whereas, by contrast, a counsellor, has a greater range of skills to contain, hold, and keep safe the other person. They will have training to provide a broader and deeper range of support. As well as be members of a professional body, signing up to their ethical framework.
Being a Helper with Counselling Skills
Those in a helping role can be found in any walk of life. Those who have trained in counselling skills can be used in a variety of situations. Managers, office workers, employers, can all use these skills to better enable learning and listening. The more we focus on these two than the common phrase ‘communication’, the greater chance all organisations can benefit.
What is important to understand is how a counsellor is different to a helper. That being a helper is something we train our learners to become through skills practise, listening techniques, as well as tackling the blocks and obstacles to being a helper.. A CPCAB level 2 counselling skills course is an ideal course for managers, employers, or HR teams not solely as a route to become a counsellor, but as a way for employees, reports, and other teams to feel heard in a non-judgemental, respectful way.
To discover how you can benefit from learning counselling skills, or want to enrol on our next course, click the link below.