Counselling skills assessments

Course trainer feedback

Engagement (This refers to the way a student demonstrates involvement with the training and a commitment to the learning process.): Joe, you’ve been very engaged throughout the process, involving yourself by sharing, asking questions and risking trying out the new skills in the practicum group.s
Proficiency (This refers to the technical ability to master the principles, models and skills being taught): Joe, you’ve done well and learnt steadily through the course, arriving at a good level of proficiency for this stage of the course. Well done!
Maturity (This refers to the development of emotional, psychological, moral and spiritual capacities to fulfil the learning outcomes): Joe, from what I’ve seen of you in this course, you’ve persistently displayed a good level of self-awareness and reflectiveness, and related to your peers in a responsible and thoughtful fashion.

LO 6 An ability to reflect psychologically and symbolically, showing a curiosity towards meaning, life purpose and historical patterns: Demonstrated throughout, esp. in the Gilmore Group practicums where you have demonstrated an ability to help the client reflect psychologically.
LO 7 A competence in the use of core counselling skills, including the ability to begin to implement the qualities essential to a counselling relationship: Demonstrated, again in the Gilmore Group practicums, where you have made a good start in learning the qualities needed to cultivate the therapeutic relationship.
LO 9 An awareness and sensitivity to the complexity of intra and inter-personal dynamics, including recognition of projections and defensive patterns: Not so fully demonstrated on this module, as not directly addressed in the course content, but as above, plenty promising potential to build upon and step into this awareness of projections etc. going forward.
LO 10 An ability to give and receive feedback and take responsibility for the learning process: Demonstrated throughout in the Gilmore Groups, where you have consistently offered clear, insightful and helpful feedback

One key strength (knowledge, skill, quality) that I observed during semester 1 was: Reflections - gentleness of presence and care towards his clients. Part of ILO 2 CS 1
A relevant example of this strength is: Diad 1 - through much blue sky shiny narrative, Joe picked up the word ‘relieved’ the client used for using new behaviour which opened up the clients experience, not only their story.
Diad 2 - single word reflections, mirroring clearly words emotively expressed by his client e.g. “should” “tenseness” “angry”

One key development area (knowledge, skills, quality) that I have noted in semester 1 is: Trust his experience to share, working it all out is not his only resource. ILO - 1.9
A relevant example of this is: Diad 2 - clunky jump to offer contrast reflection without any summary to bring context.
Feedback as observer - speaking for the client instead of sharing his experience of and to the counsellor.