Overview
Accidental Counsellor is aimed at those who would like to be able to safely and effectively support friends, family, work colleagues, and strangers who are in distress or experiencing a crisis.
The course will provide you with basic skills and a structure to enable you to provide immediate support and assistance using the Lifeline ‘Recognise, Respond, Refer’ model.
Key Messages
- The ‘Accidental Counsellor’ role is the first aid only role. It is important to be aware of the boundaries in this role – which will depend on whether you are in a work, friendship, family, or another context – and not offer long-term support.
- People in distress want someone to listen to them, they don’t want advice.
- Remember that the person in distress is the expert in their own life – and they have the ability to find the best way forward.
- The ‘Accidental Counsellor’ role is the first aid only role. It is important to be aware of the boundaries in this role – which will depend on whether you are in a work, friendship, family, or another context – and not offer long-term support.
- People in distress want someone to listen to them, they don’t want advice.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this training participants will be able to:
- Apply the principles of Recognise, Respond, Refer
- Demonstrate key crisis communication skills
- Confidently and safely ask about suicide
- Create a meaningful self-care plan
