COUNSELLINGTUTOR.COM !1

Congratulations! You have joined the fastest growing resource for students of counselling and psychotherapy!

You now have access to a huge database of content which includes audio and video resources, as well as a huge collection of written information all designed to help you achieve success in your chosen area of study.

Everything in the CSR is written and researched by qualified lecturers in counselling who have thousands of hours of teaching experience, and who, more than that, really want to help you succeed and achieve.

As a CSR member, you will receive regular content updates. We also look forward to seeing you in the bi-monthly live lectures, where you can ask the instructor questions on the topic being discussed.

This guide will explain:

How the CSR is structured

What each section covers

Who you can contact for technical support

Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly CounsellingTutor.com

COUNSELLINGTUTOR.COM !2

A WARM WELCOME TO NEW CSR MEMBERS

1. Theory

Counselling theory can sometimes appear a bit daunting. The use of unfamiliar words or complex sentence structure in books can be hard to understand and translate into assignment answers or even application of theory to practice.

This is where the CSR can really help you. In this section, differing theories are broken down into easy-to-understand ‘chunks’, with clear examples for you to follow.

Each piece of theory is explained without the use of ‘jargon’, using clear examples of why the theory is important and how it is applied.

There is also a wealth of information on how to compare and contrast different counselling approaches, a topic which is a feature in many assignments on counselling theory.

2. Skills

Developing a set of counselling skills is an essential part of counselling training no matter what level you are studying at.

With most counselling courses asking you to undergo a skills assessment, this section of the library is essential. Here you will find separate sections outlining each skill and how it is applied and the reason for its use.

There is even a ‘counselling skills passport’, which has feedback sheets you can download and use in group work to record and develop both you and your peer’s skills.

Whether you are just starting at an introductory level or whether you are studying HE, you will find the guidance invaluable in developing or enhancing your counselling skills.

COUNSELLINGTUTOR.COM !3

THE 9 MAIN AREAS IN THE CSR

3. Professional Practice and Considerations

Working to professional standards is an essential part of being a counsellor.

In this section, you will learn about areas such as how to address power imbalances or how your own life experience may impact the relationship.

Also covered are contracting, ethical problem solving, working with referrals and initial client contact.

Differing forms of supervision are explored, and their functions and how they help you develop as an effective counsellor or someone who uses counselling skills are also tackled.

4. Ethics, Culture and the Law

Learning about counselling is not all about theory and skills. Counsellors have to be mindful of how to work with and be respectful to individuals who may be different from themselves. They must also work ethically and within the law such as the UK Equalities Act dictates.

This section has information on subjects such as how you consider diversity and how that may impact a session, as well as how to apply ethics in a counselling setting.

Finally, there is information on the legal obligations counsellors have to consider when practicing in the UK and what happens if you need to break confidentiality.

This section also covers ethical considerations, such as what are your obligations under the BACP and other ethical frameworks.

All these areas are regularly asked for in assignments and raise awareness if you are practicing as a student counsellor.

5. Assignment Guidance

In this section, you will find tips and guidance on how to understand the terminology in assignments and what is being asked of you.

Higher-level thinking criteria such as evaluate and analyse can be confusing. Here you will find assignment structures broken down into accessible ‘chunks’, allowing you to work through each question to get the maximum assignment marks.

COUNSELLINGTUTOR.COM !4

6. Assignment Exemplars

Students have told us that one of the biggest challenges they face is structuring assignments, in a format that tutors refer to as ‘satisfying the awarding body or the university’s criteria’. Criteria is a set of assignment benchmarks you have to satisfy in order for you to receive a pass, merit or distinction in your assignment work.

In this section, you will find complete ‘exemplars’, portfolios of work that have been ‘passed’ by both tutors and awarding bodies.

You will be able to benchmark your assignment against ones that have already passed by comparing how you have structured your work and how much depth and detail you have written.

Remember, the exemplars are ones which have been passed by an awarding body, and as such, all the criteria in the assignment question have been met.

7. Research Guidance

Diploma and HE course specifications now expect you, the learner, to undertake research and present it to your tutors and peers.

In this section of the CSR, you will find a comprehensive set of resources to help you find authority websites that give accurate, factual primary and secondary research information on your chosen topic, as well as guidance on how to structure your time.

Also included are hints and tips on how to structure your presentation and work as a team, as well as how to design and execute an outstanding presentation that will gain the highest grade.

8. Lecture Library with Regular Biweekly (Every 2 Weeks) Live Lectures from Rory, Ken and Guest Lecturers

As part of the CSR membership, you will be able to participate in these biweekly lectures, live online from your device. The biweekly lectures happen live in the VLE. The lectures walk you through key theory, skills and professional development linked to your counselling study. The lectures run according to the UK academic year so there are no lectures during academic breaks. All lectures are recorded and added to your VLE, so if you are not able to attend, you still get the content.

COUNSELLINGTUTOR.COM !5

How does this work? Every two weeks, you will receive by email a clickable link from a counselling tutor. On Sunday evening at 7pm UK time, click on the link and you will be taken to the virtual lecture theatre via your smartphone, tablet or computer, as long as it is connected to the Internet.

When connected, you will join other learners in this virtual space as the lecturer discusses key aspects of counselling theory, ethics, skills and research.

Each lecture is designed to fit into the curriculum you are studying. Its aim is to help you expand and build upon the knowledge you learn in class, increasing the depth of your understanding and awareness in the field of counselling.

You will find that the lectures also help you in constructing and shaping your assignment content.

As a participant in the virtual lecture theatre, the lecturer will answer your questions on the subject being presented to help you get a firm and clear understanding of the topic. This will help you transfer your new knowledge into your classroom, assignments or counselling practice.

As mentioned, if you cannot make the live lecture, no problem. We understand that the live lecture times may not fit in with your schedule. Each lecture is recorded in high-quality sound and vision and then archived in the CSR, so you can access it at a time that suits you 24/7.

Playing back the lecture could not be simpler. Using your Internet-connected device, just log into the CSR, select the lecture, hit play, and the lecture will begin!

9. CPD and Special Interest

Sometimes you need access to theories and knowledge that are not covered in your learning centre’s curriculum. CPD course can be very expensive, so we have brought some of the top trainers in the world of counselling and psychotherapy to you in the form of hour-long podcasts that you can listen to.

Here experts in their fields discuss areas such as grief, supervision, metaphor, child and adolescent therapy. These resources are regularly updated.

You will also find in this section the Rory & Ken Podcast, which is our weekly term time broadcast, where we cover a wide range of topics related to the world of counselling and psychotherapy.

10. Support

For all support, first check the support tab in your CSR dashboard. If you are unable to find help, please email: ken@counsellingtutor.com

COUNSELLINGTUTOR.COM !6