180 – Teenage Brain Development

02/13/21 • 47 min

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180 - Teenage Brain Development Idiosyncratic Empathy - Interview with ACTO Chair Episode 180 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast opens with Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly discussing the skill of idiosyncratic empathy. Then, in 'Digital Counselling Revolution', Rory interviews Adrian Rhodes, Chair of the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online (ACTO). Finally, in 'Practice Matters', we have another guest - this time Kairen Griffiths, speaking about teenage brain development. Idiosyncratic Empathy (starts at 1.30 mins) In the Student Check-In, Ken and Rory explore idiosyncratic empathy, which is particularly relevant in both skills practice and written assignments. Areas of this topic covered in the discussion include what it is and what it is not, examples of interventions that would show strong idiosyncratic empathy, and examples of those that would not (for example, 'rescuing' responses). Understanding the term 'idiosyncratic empathy' can be made easier by breaking it down into the two words it comprises. The term was coined by person-centred therapist Jerold Bozarth, who asserted that empathy was dynamic, changing in line with the individual client and their specific situation. This takes empathy to a deeper level, beyond the mere reflection of words to a more personal and individualistic level that is different in each therapeutic relationship. In other words, empathy is as varied as the different clients we are likely to meet. You can download a free handout on idiosyncratic empathy here or through Counselling Study Resource (CSR). And if you're keen to learn more about this important skill, you might like to get hold of a copy of Ken's book, Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide, which includes a whole chapter on idiosyncratic empathy. In the CSR, you can also hear explanations of the full range of counselling skills - with audio files illustrating them in simulated sessions. Interview with ACTO Chair (starts at 17.10 mins) BESTSELLEROnline & Telephone Counselling Book Available in Paperback and Kindle Includes FREE COMPANION COURSE that you can do online to underpin and strengthen your learning Click Here to See More In Rory's interview with ACTO Chair Adrian Rhodes, you can hear about: the history of ACTO its founding members ACTO's purpose membership levels and what they mean benefits of ACTO membership similarities and differences between face-to-face and online therapy the therapeutic relationship when working online client presentations for which online therapy is particularly helpful. You can read more about ACTO on its website, which there are plans to develop in the near future. You might also like to consider our full course, Online and Telephone Counselling, which has already trained thousands of therapists in online working. We are a recognised ACTO Online Training Provider and this course enables counsellors who successfully complete it to join ACTO at Level 1, with a subsequent option to take the assessment for ACTO Level 2 Professional Membership. Teenage Brain Development (starts at 32.40 mins) Rory talks to Kairen Griffiths, who has recently recorded a fascinating lecture for Counsellor CPD on teenage brain development. Kairen and Rory talk about what you need to know to be able to work with teenagers or their carers, including: how and when the teenage brain develops the ways in which the development of the teenage brain may affect mood and behaviour. The lecture will be invaluable for counsellors working with teenagers and also for those working with adults whose presenting issues relate to teenagers, supporting you to be able to offer ideas and strategies to help both these client groups. Free Handout Download Idiosyncratic Empathy Click Here to Download Free Handout Links and Resources Advanced Certificate in Counselling Supervision Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide Counsellor CPD Counselling Study Resource

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179 – Counselling Research Projects: Tips for Students

179 - Counselling Research Projects: Tips for Students New Book from Counselling Tutor - Peek into Rory's Practice In episode 179 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly offer tips for students on succeeding in their counselling research projects. There's then an exciting announcement in 'Digital Counselling Revolution' about a brand-new book from the team. Finally, in 'Practice Matters', the presenters launch a new feature - 'Peek into Practice' - which they illustrate through a conversation about Rory's experience as a school counsellor. Counselling Research Projects: Tips for Students (starts at 1.50 mins) All practitioner-level counselling training courses include a research project as one of the final-year assessment requirements. This piece of work is regularly discussed in our Facebook group. Rory and Ken offer some tips on how to go about counselling research projects: Be sure you can deliver your project in the time allowed, making sure you choose a topic that is of a manageable size. Think about where and how you will do your secondary research (i.e. reviewing the current literature describing other people’s research findings) and primary research (i.e. gathering your own data). Try to resist getting bogged down in data-gathering, as there is also work to be done after this stage: analysing it, pulling out conclusions and preparing your presentation. If your counselling research project is a pair or group work, then split the work between you for efficiency. If you are in a group, think about agreeing a chair who coordinates the work. Remember that your work will be measured on the written report you provide and your presentation, so invest some time in preparing these. Ken concludes this segment of the podcast by running through some tips on how to present in a way that gets your message across clearly and holds the audience’s attention. Rory has produced a handout entitled ‘The Importance of Research in Counselling’, which you can download here or via the Counselling Study Resource (CSR). New Book from Counselling Tutor (starts at 15.00 mins) BESTSELLEROnline & Telephone Counselling Book Includes FREE COMPANION COURSE that you can do online to underpin and strengthen your learning Click Here to See More Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, online and telephone therapy has been experiencing a period of rapid growth. Counsellors need to ensure that they have trained to meet clients' call for remote therapy at this time and in the future. Rory and Ken are pleased and proud to announce the launch of a new book to add to Counselling Tutor's other publications. Online and Telephone Counselling: A Practitioner's Guide is aimed at qualified counsellors and at students who are in placement or working towards this. This new book acts as a guide, walking you through the theory, ethics, law and practice of adding online and telephone counselling to your practice. It includes: the paperwork templates you will need for your online practice access to an online companion course, 'Introduction to Online and Telephone Counselling', to strengthen and underpin your learning. The book is available on Amazon and via the Counselling Tutor Shop. You might also like to consider our full course, Online and Telephone Counselling, which has already trained thousands of therapists in online working. Again, this is open to qualified practitioners or to students who are either in - or about to start -placement. Peek into Rory's Practice (starts at 26.45 mins) In this new feature, we will talk to practitioners in the world of counselling and psychotherapy about their practice life. To illustrate this, Rory kicks off by telling us about his time as a school counsellor, including: his daily routine what type of clients he saw how clients were referred to him the challenges of his work environment the rewards of his work.

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181 – Neuroscience and Counselling

181 - Neuroscience and Counselling Stages in the Counselling Relationship - Referrals in Online Counselling In Episode 181 of the Counselling Tutor Podcast, Rory Lees-Oakes and Ken Kelly talk about the different stages in the counselling relationship. 'Digital Counselling Revolution' then examines the process of making referrals in online (as opposed to face-to-face) counselling. Last, Rory interviews Maggi McAllister-MacGregor about a new lecture she has recently produced for Counsellor CPD on neuroscience and counselling. Stages in the Counselling Relationship (starts at 1.30 mins) Being aware of stages of the counselling relationship and the skills required at each of these is an important element of passing the advanced skills assessments that form part of all practitioner-level counselling training courses. The counselling relationship can be seen as having three phases: beginning middle end Ken and Rory talk through the challenges and rewards of each stage, and the skills that are particularly pertinent at each. If you're not already a member of the Counselling Tutor Facebook group, why not come along and exchange views on this topic with other students, practitioners, tutors and supervisors in the world of counselling and psychotherapy? While the field of counselling is an area for scientific research, so that we have an evidence base on which to base our practice, Rory notes that it is also very much an art. He uses the analogy of the theatre to illustrate the three phases of the counselling relationship, from the characters' first appearance on stage to their leaving at the final curtain. Of course, for some clients, there may be a sequel - either with the same counsellor or with another agency, through the referral process. You can also download a free handout on the stages in counselling here or through Counselling Study Resource (CSR). Referrals in Online Counselling (starts at 18.05 mins) BESTSELLEROnline & Telephone Counselling Book Available in Paperback and Kindle Includes FREE COMPANION COURSE that you can do online to underpin and strengthen your learning Click Here to See More Ken and Rory discuss how different the referral process can be in online versus face-to-face counselling. Perhaps the biggest difference is that in face-to-face work, you will generally be working with clients from the local area, and so you can develop a detailed knowledge of local agencies and individuals there who may be helpful. Once you are working online, however, clients may live at the other end of the country, and so you will naturally be less familiar with possible referral routes and processes. Ken and Rory describe solutions to this, including the search tool on Helplines Partnership's website, which allows you to search for UK agencies by keyword, topic and region. If you are actually making a referral yourself, rather than simply signposting clients to agencies for self-referral, it's vital to ensure that you follow the Caldicott Principles. This important set of principles was developed in 1997 following a review (chaired by Dame Fiona Caldicott) of how the NHS handled confidential patient information. This topic is covered in more detail in our new book, Online and Telephone Counselling: A Practitioner's Guide, and our course, Online and Telephone Counselling, which has already trained thousands of therapists in online working. Neuroscience and Counselling (starts at 31.15 mins) Rory talks to Maggi McAllister-MacGregor about neuroscience in the world of counselling and psychotherapy, including: how long the discipline of neuroscience has been around technological developments in the last 20 years what neuroscience can tell us about how the human brain functions the brain-body connection the role of the vagus nerve neuroscience in trauma application of neuroscience to counselling practice psychoeducation of counselling clients, and effect on psychological contact