Counselling course offers an opportunity to hone those vital communication skills in the workplace, reports Ken Mann

BUILDING solid business and work relationships starts with a sound technical understanding of the dynamics of good communication. If we use driving as a useful analogy, a failure to correctly interpret signs is dangerous and verbal collisions are potentially terminal.

Say it quickly and it's all glaringly obvious - so why do so many of us do without an additional test of our skills, risking an accident during important interaction with associates and colleagues?

There is no clear answer to that question - other than the traditional human failing of familiarity breeding contempt. Looking at it in simple terms, your granny may have held a clean driving licence for 50 years or more but it may be that she would miss the cut for an interview as a Formula 1 driver.

Most of us have latent talents ready for development or further honing - and that's where the University of Strathclyde Centre for Lifelong Learning's Certificate in Counselling Skills could give an important edge.

Accredited by COSCA - Scotland's professional body for counselling and psychotherapy - it is not in itself designed as a licence to practice counselling as a discipline but instead is aimed at people who, for example, seek a practical advantage in working within teams, leaders of teams and those responsible for cutting deals at any level.

Course Leader Audrey Cuthel says: "There is no minimum entry requirement - just a genuine interest in counselling skills and a commitment to study, participate and practise skills.

"The course is assessed by written and practical means, therefore effective verbal and communication skills are necessary for successful completion. IT skills are also desirable. But I would underline that this course is open to all applicants who wish to learn how to use counselling skills for personal or professional purposes, or to enhance counselling skills that they already possess.

"People working in a variety of capacities will find it useful. For example, teachers, nurses and NHS support staff, social workers, social care staff, human resources professionals, funeral directors, mental health workers, welfare officers, speech therapists, and helpline advisors would find it ideal.

"Participants find it worthwhile exploring the communication and listening abilities they presently have

in order to develop and enhance their skills.

"That can lead to more purposeful and effective connections.

"Likewise, those who take the course for personal development reasons often find that their relationships with friends, partners and family become more satisfying."

If political leaders on the international stage and their diplomats can get it wrong, then imagine the damage caused by the less well exposed. Sometimes it can be that the intention conveyed by the speaker was instead re-interpreted by the recipient in a default scenario that creates an unhelpful mismatch in understanding - causing barriers to be erected.

Study on this topic is intended to avoid such situations while learning new perspectives on more positive and pro-active co-operation.

As mentioned, the programme is not a licence to practice, but can be viewed as the initial step in professional training.

In order to become a practising counsellor, those undertaking this course would need to advance to studies towards obtaining a Counselling Diploma.

Cuthel confirms that the Certificate course is now considered an entry requirement for most Counselling Diploma courses.

If time is difficult to find in your diary, then the University has taken this into account.

The Centre for Lifelong Learning has been delivering the Certificate syllabus for more than a decade and understands how best to assist participants to navigate around other commitments.

The study method is by part-time weekly sessions and occasional Saturday classes. In total there are four modules; skills, knowledge, self-awareness and ethical considerations necessary to become an effective listener and counselling skills practitioner.

The course leader explains: "Included in the course content is an exploration of key aspects of the five major counselling approaches - the Psychodynamic Approach, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, the Person Centred Approach, Transactional Analysis and Gestalt Therapy."

The latter is an experiential form of psychotherapy that emphasises personal responsibility. It was originally developed in the 1940s and focuses on process (what is happening) rather than content (what is being discussed).

Starting in September, the programme is for the first time, being run on a Friday morning, complementing the Tuesday evening alternative.

The daytime provision is intended to be desirable to non-working, day-release and to retired people.

Prospective participants should note that the Tuesday evening class will commence on September 1 (6.30am to 9pm) and the Friday morning class will commence on September 4 (9.15am to 11.45am).

There will be two Saturday sessions required for the Tuesday class and four for the Friday class - the latter arrangement resulting from public holiday dates.

Interested applicants should contact the Centre for Lifelong Learning, University of Strathclyde, for further information and more detail on how they might benefit. Information on costs and funding options will also be available.

● For more information, contact the Course Secretary Joanne Dobbs on 0141 548 3485 or visit www.strath.ac.uk/cll/cpd/counselling