A method of teaching counselling

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Communication Skills Training

Background:

• General practitioner teachers require effective methods for teaching counselling skills.
• Existing training methods may not adequately address the practical application of counselling in a short timeframe.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a teaching methodology for counselling skills for general practitioner teachers.
• To outline a structured approach to counselling skills training within a brief residential course format.

Main Methods:

• The course divided the counselling process into six stages and identified five key skills.
• Participants engaged in role-playing in trios, experiencing three distinct counselling interview roles.
• Training utilized real, unresolved personal problems of the participants for practical application.

Main Results:

• The structured, role-playing approach facilitated the learning and assessment of counselling skills.
• Experiential learning with genuine problems enhanced skill acquisition and understanding.
• The methods proved effective in a short, intensive course setting.

Conclusions:

• A brief, intensive course can effectively teach counselling skills to general practitioner teachers.
• A structured approach, role-playing, and the use of real-life problems are key components for successful training.
• The described methods offer a practical model for similar educational interventions.