Counselling skills courses

Are you a good listener? Do you like helping people? Learn tools and strategies for supporting others while maintaining your own boundaries and holding others with dignity and respect. These counselling skills courses are for anyone who wants to improve their helping skills. They are the prerequisite for the Nanaimo Family Life Association Volunteer Counselling Training Program and apply to a wide range of work and volunteer settings.

Counselling Skills Level I

This course is open to anyone interested in learning basic skills that form the foundation of helping relationships. You’ll take part in hands-on learning exercises and role plays. Emphasizes development and practice of helping skills such as

  • attending
  • paraphrasing
  • reflecting
  • clarifying
  • questioning
  • summarizing

You must attend the first and last class and complete 20 out of 24 course hours to receive your Statement of Course Completion. Classes held in the Fall are online, and classes held in the Spring are in-person at the Nanaimo Campus.

Dates

Tuesday, January 7, 14 21, 2025; 5:00-9:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, January 25 &26, 2025; 9:30am-4:00pm

Details

Delivery: In-person at the Nanaimo Campus
Schedule: 5 sessions
Instructor:  Karen Max
Course Code and Section:  HHCO 010 S25W70
Cost:  $250 + GST

Cancellation Policy - please note that there is no refund for withdrawing from the course within 7 days of the start date. Please see our Professional Development and Training refund policy.

Sign up for Counselling Skills Level IIf you are a VIU employee, please register as a student using your student number.

Counselling Skills Level II

In this course you will continue to practice and integrate the full range of skills presented in Counselling Skills Level I and II. Become familiar with a stage model of phases of counselling. Develop basic understanding of some common counselling theoretical models and further develop your own personal style of helping.

You must attend the first and last class and complete 20 out of 24 course hours to receive your Statement of Course Completion. Classes held in the Fall are online, and classes held in the Spring are in-person at the Nanaimo Campus.

Dates 

Tuesday, November 5, 12, 19, 2024; 5:00-9:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, November 23 & 24, 2024; 9:00am-4:30pm

Details

Prerequisite: Counselling Skills - Level I or permission
Delivery: Online (Teams)
Schedule: 5 sessions
Course Code and Section:  HHCO 020 F24W71
Cost:  $250 + GST

Dates

Tuesday, February 11, 18, 25, 2025; 5:00-9:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, March 1 & 2, 2025; 9:30 - 4:00pm

Details

Delivery: In-person at the Nanaimo Campus
Schedule: 5 sessions
Instructor: Karen Max
Course Code and Section: HHCO 020 S25W70
Cost: $250 + GST

Cancellation Policy - please note that there is no refund for withdrawing from the course within 7 days of the start date. Please see our Professional Development and Training refund policy.

Sign up for Counselling Skills Level II

Questions?

Email PDT.HHS@viu.ca

A smilling woman with long hair.

"The Counselling Skills courses gave me the tools I needed to increase my abilities to be a more effective helper in my work and everyday life. The courses were a perfect blend of learning and skills practice. In fact, I loved these courses so much that I am now doing a Masters in Counselling so that I can make this my life's work"

Joy Knudsen