Counseling theory and practice 1
A practical guide to establishing trust and assessing the problem
The path to mastery of the counselling profession has clear developmental milestones. At the start of the process one is unconsciously unskilled; you do not know what you do know. With training one becomes consciously unskilled in that you are aware of how much you do not know. In time and with experience one becomes unconsciously skilled. One often risks settling into a professional comfort zone.
Within their comfort zone the practitioner is prone to stop critically assessing the effectiveness of their practice methods, challenging the relevance of the theory and beliefs that support their practice, and becoming complacent in their ongoing skills development.
In a society that continues to change and evolve there is always the risk of becoming extinct if one doesn’t keep up with change.
This course invites the counselling professionals to step into the next stage of personal and professional development, allowing them to become consciously skilled. They can develop a clear conceptual understanding of what they do, how they do it, and what values and belief systems guide their practice. The course also aims to refine and deepen both the understanding and conscious application of essential counselling skills.
In the comlemantary course, Counseling theory and practice: Creating and facilitating spaces for change, we will further explore the theories and skills used to achieve this end.
What you can expect from this course:
Reflection
You will be invited to pause and reflect on: the needs that being a counseling professional has met for you. The motivation that drives your ongoing commitment to the profession. The parts of you that facilitate your growth and those that stand in the way.
Critical Analysis
Through the lens of Carol Meyers framework for Analysis you will critically evaluate your current treatment modal and consider its relevance within the current communities that you work.
Person Centred framework
You will be challenged to consider two aspects of the person centred framework in this training. Carl Rogers core environment for change and Egan's process of change. Each will be presented as a template for you to consider how you create an environment and facilitate a process of change for the clients you work with.
Systemic patterns within the counseling relationship
Being in relationship with a client implies that the counselor both influences and is influenced by the relationship. In this course you will explore the effect of transference and counter transference in the counseling relationship.
Communication theory
Moving beyond the semantics of communication you will be invited to a deeper exploration of the parts of your story that create noise when trying to hear and understand the story of others. You will be challenged to refine your skills and techniques of presence in the counseling relationship.
Skills development
You will be challenged through in-depth role play to move beyond unconsciously skilled to consciously skilled in five skill sets namely attunement, listening, responding, summarizing and question formulation.
Learning Units
This course consists of the following Learning Units:
Learning Unit 1
In LU1 the learner will be introduced to Carol Meyers framework for analysis, which breaks down the building blocks to any theoretical model. This framework will be used to guide the learner through a self-reflective process to explore their existing assumptions and ideas about counseling.
Learning Unit 2
LU2 presents the learner with an introduction to the person-centred framework. It focuses specifically on the key values that drive a person centred relationship and counseling process. The discussion will draw from the work of Carl Rogers core environment and Egan’s counseling process.
Learning Unit 3
LU3 challenges the learner to deepen their understanding of communication theory. Specifically reflecting on the personal obstacles (internal noise) that may inhibit effective communication in therapeutic spaces.
Learning Unit 4
LU4 explores the skills required to build and deepen relationships of trust with clients. In this unit the learner will be introduced to Egan’s steps of demonstrating empathic presence and Dan Siegel’s building blocks to attunement.
Learning Unit 5
In LU5 the learner will be introduced to the skills of listening. Through theory and practice the learner will develop an understand of how effective listening is used as a tool to deepen the rapport with his or her client.
Learning Unit 6
LU6 will explore a set of skills that demonstrate the counselor's attentiveness in the counseling process. They will consider the non-verbal skills and the specific techniques that demonstrate and deepen understanding.
Learning Unit 7
In LU7 the learner moves beyond the initial relationship building phases of the interview process and starts to consider the skills needed to create a flow within the session and to sustain communication in cases of clients who struggle to engage in the counseling process. The learner will further consider both verbal and non-verbal techniques of encouraging the clients to share their story.
Learning Unit 8
In LU8 the learner will explore the dynamics within the transactional relationship that forms between the client and the counselor. They will assess this relationship from a systemic perspective and consider both how they impact the system and in turn are impacted by the system.
Learning Unit 9
LU9 will focus specifically on the functions of summarizing within the therapeutic relationship.
The Facilitator
Anthony Hawthorn
Anthony Hawthorn is a Social Worker (Clinical Social Work) in private practice, Social Work Supervisor and Facilitator, with a postgraduate qualification in Clinical Social Work, Master's in Business Leadership and certification as TRE provider.
With more than 20 years of counselling and facilitation experience, he is passionate about the professional development of students and professionals alike. He has extensive experience in developing and facilitating various counselling courses, having trained mental health professionals, students, medical students, and lay counsellors over the course of his career in counselling and various counselling issues such as counselling courses, trauma work, couples work, counselling individuals who experience an affair, divorce counselling, working with blended families, and dealing with loneliness.
Anthony focuses his practice on clinical services (including counselling and supervision), developmental services (including developing training courses, facilitation, and professional development), and management coaching (both privately and with corporate clients).
How this course will be presented
Online Facilitation
This course is facilitated live, online. You will interact with the facilitator and like- minded professionals online via the Zoom application. Basic use of the Zoom application is free. You will need to ensure that you have access to the internet and data, a working webcam, microphone and speakers. This course is interactive and experiential in nature. It is not a lecture style webinar. The course consists of short sessions which allows you to attend even with a busy schedule. All of the sessions will need to be attended to complete the course.
Dates and Times
Course 1: 8, 10, 15, 17, 22 July 2026
09:00-14:30
Cost
R 3800.00 pp (Members pay R3200 pp - Save R600)
Continual Professional Development (CPD)
SACSSP: 17 CPD points for Social Workers
HPCSA: No CEU's at present
What to expect upon completion
After you have successfully completed this course, by attending all the online sessions and completing any additional activities, or evaluations; you will receive a certificate of completion. The relevant CPD points/CEUs will also reflect on the certificate (for courses that carry CPD points/CEUs).