Trained volunteers are the cornerstone of LifeLine’s counselling services. Adequate effort should go into the selection of suitable people, proper training and ongoing supervision.LifeLine has always ensured a quality counselling service, and has developed self-regulating mechanisms to maintain high professional standards. As such, LifeLine’s lay counsellors are recruited through a strict selection process, and receive on-going training, supervision and de-briefing.
Practising Counselling Skills
1. It is possible to learn quite a lot about a skill by discussing it and by seeing it live or on videotape. But to really master the skill requires repeated practice.a. Use an actual personal life ‘problem’
b. Role-play a ‘problem’ that you have observed troubling someone else or which you have heard about.
c. Ask yourself, if I had this problem:
- How would I feel? e.g. anger, fear, shame, guilt, depression.
- What sorts of things would have happened to me?
- Who else is involved in this problem and how are they involved? e.g. spouse, children, relatives, friends, boss, colleagues.
- What is my general background of experience?
2. When playing the role, respond naturally to the counsellor.
Share those things that seem appropriate. Do not deliberately try to make
it difficult or easy for the counsellor.
3. Concentrate on applying the skill.
The purpose of the role-play is to practice a particular skill, not to solve a
problem. Avoid rushing in with a solution.