When I trained as a counsellor in the early 2000s, the message felt simple. Talk through the contract, note it in your records, and you’re fine. Written contracts were not talked about. We explained boundaries verbally, maybe had some information on a leaflet or website, and that was considered good enough. Fast forward twenty years, […]
Do counsellors really need a written contract? Read More »
Unconscious bias isn’t a weakness. It’s the brain’s quick shortcut. In therapy, those shortcuts can quietly shape how we assess risk, set goals, listen, and end. This post discusses unconscious bias in the counselling room as well as suggesting some supervision questions to explore it to help protect the relationship and improve the counselling journey
Unconscious bias in the therapy room: a practical guide for counsellors Read More »
When you’re thinking about starting counselling, it’s natural to wonder: Can I trust this person? Will what I say stay private? What happens if something goes wrong? That’s where counselling ethics come in. They’re the quiet structure in the background that help therapy feel safe, respectful and transparent. In this post I’ll explain what I
How counselling ethics keep your therapy safe Read More »
I have been a counsellor for 15 years. I have grown and developed. This blog post looks at what has changed and how I have grown.
The growth of a counsellor….. Read More »
Working Therapeutically with Syrian Refugees As part of Refugee Week, I thought I would share my experiences of working therapeutically with the Syrian Refugees on the Resettlement programme. This programme is based here in Sheffield with the Refugee Council. When working as a humanitarian worker, I enjoyed working with different communities. I worked with displaced
Working Therapeutically with Syrian Refugees Read More »
Positive Supervisee Relationship A positive relationship between supervisor and supervisee is important. Millar, Holloway and Henderson (2014) say that encouragement is at the heart of a counselling supervisory relationship. They emphasise the need to build an equal relationship. So how is a positive relationship between supervisor and supervisee achieved? Maintaining ethics A contract between the counsellor and supervisor
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A few years ago after gaining the certificate in counselling supervision it led me to reflect and re-evaluate my own supervision sessions. Was I getting the best out of my supervision? My supervisor and I had an open and frank discussion about the different aspects of my own supervision. We focused on what I have
What makes a good counselling supervisor? Read More »
Self-disclosure in counselling means a counsellor sharing personal information about themselves during a session. In many approaches, self-disclosure is used carefully, because the focus is meant to stay on the client. The worry is that self-disclosure can sometimes: shift attention away from the client blur boundaries influence the client’s decisions change the balance of the
Self-disclosure of a counsellor:helpful or distracting? Read More »