Overview
Basic counselling and communication skills form the foundation of therapeutic support.
They are essential when working with:
- Learning disabilities
- Mental health conditions
- Neurodevelopmental differences
Key principle:
Effective support must go beyond traditional “talk therapy” and be adapted to:
- Cognitive processing differences
- Emotional regulation needs
- Communication styles
🧠 Core Counselling Skills (Micro-Skills)
These are the essential building blocks of effective support.
👂 Active Listening
- Fully focusing on the person
- Observing body language
- Hearing both spoken and unspoken meaning
👉 Goal: Make the person feel genuinely heard
❤️ Empathy
- Understanding emotional experience
- Reflecting feelings without judgement
- Connecting emotionally without taking over
👉 Key difference:
Empathy = understanding
Not fixing or judging
❓ Open-Ended Questioning
- Encourages explanation
- Uses “how” and “what” questions
- Avoids yes/no answers
Examples:
- “How did that make you feel?”
- “What happened next?”
🪞 Paraphrasing & Summarising
- Restating what the person said
- Checking understanding
- Clarifying meaning
👉 Helps prevent misunderstandings
🤝 Listening & Communication in Practice
Effective communication depends on creating safety and trust.
🧱 Building Trust
- Non-judgemental attitude
- Warm communication style
- Consistency and reliability
👉 Strong therapeutic relationships improve outcomes
🎯 Attunement
- Awareness of tone and pace
- Matching communication style to the individual
- Using supportive body language
🤫 Managing Silence
- Allowing pauses in conversation
- Giving time to think
- Reducing pressure to respond quickly
♿ Adapting for Learning Disabilities & Mental Health
People with learning disabilities may experience:
- Difficulty processing complex language
- Challenges with abstract thinking
- Emotional expression difficulties
🧩 Key Adaptations
🗣 Simplify Language
- Use short sentences
- Avoid jargon
- Be concrete and clear
🖼 Visuals & Repetition
- Use pictures or symbols
- Repeat key ideas
- Break tasks into steps
🌱 Person-Centred Approach
- Focus on strengths
- Respect preferences
- Support independence
👨👩👧 Caregiver Involvement
- Include support workers if needed
- Respect privacy and autonomy
- Balance independence with support
🧠 Core Principle
Support should always be:
- Accessible
- Respectful
- Individualised
- Strength-based
📖 2. Easy Read Version
What are counselling skills?
They help people:
- Talk about feelings
- Feel understood
- Get support
Key skills
👂 Listening
- Pay attention
- Look at body language
❤️ Empathy
- Understand feelings
- Be kind and non-judgemental
❓ Asking questions
- Use “how” and “what” questions
- Let the person explain
🪞 Checking understanding
- Repeat what you heard
- Make sure it is correct
Good communication
- Be kind
- Be patient
- Give people time
Helping people with learning disabilities
- Use simple words
- Use pictures if needed
- Repeat information
- Focus on strengths
🧾 3. Printable Checklist
Counselling Skills Checklist
Listening Skills
- ☐ I listen without interrupting
- ☐ I notice body language
- ☐ I focus on meaning
Communication Skills
- ☐ I use simple language
- ☐ I ask open questions
- ☐ I check understanding
Emotional Support
- ☐ I show empathy
- ☐ I avoid judgement
- ☐ I stay calm and patient
Adaptation Skills
- ☐ I adjust communication style
- ☐ I use visuals if needed
- ☐ I support individual needs
📊 4. PowerPoint Outline
Slide 1: Title
Basic Counselling & Communication Skills
Slide 2: Overview
- Foundation of support
- Used in mental health & disability care
Slide 3: Active Listening
- Focus fully
- Observe body language
Slide 4: Empathy
- Understand feelings
- No judgement
Slide 5: Open Questions
- “How” and “what” questions
- Encourage sharing
Slide 6: Summarising
- Repeat key points
- Check understanding
Slide 7: Building Trust
- Safe environment
- Non-judgemental approach
Slide 8: Communication Adaptations
- Simple language
- Visual supports
- Step-by-step support
Slide 9: Key Principle
- Person-centred support
📝 5. Level 1 Quiz
Multiple Choice
1. Active listening means:
A. Talking most of the time
B. Fully focusing on the person
C. Giving advice immediately
✔ Correct: B
2. Empathy means:
A. Judging behaviour
B. Understanding feelings
C. Ignoring emotions
✔ Correct: B
3. Open-ended questions:
A. Need yes/no answers
B. Encourage explanation
C. Are closed questions
✔ Correct: B
4. Good communication includes:
A. Interrupting
B. Patience and clarity
C. Ignoring body language
✔ Correct: B
True or False
5. Silence can help people think.
✔ True
6. Jargon helps understanding.
❌ False
7. Support should be adapted to the person.
✔ True
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