More than Listening: Counseling Skills

Course Author: Denise Hess, BCC
This course, More than Listening: Counseling Skills, will provide the learner with key background and skills practice in order to better attend to the psychological needs of those under their care through brief psychotherapeutic methods, psychological first aid, family systems theory and grief counseling.

By the end of this course the learner will be able to:

  • Describe the difference between chaplaincy/pastoral counseling and secular counseling
  • Describe the process of short-term counseling appropriate in the health care setting and methods of application
  • Define appropriate supportive responses to traumatic events so that persons can manage the situation and respond appropriately
  • Demonstrate understanding of family systems theory
  • Demonstrate understanding of grief and bereavement theories and their application, including anticipatory, acute, and traumatic grief.
Course Outline
  1. Introduction to Counseling Skills
  2. Providing Person-Centered Care
  3. Brief Therapy: Solution Focused Counseling
  4. Responding to Traumatic Events: Psychological First Aid
  5. Caring for the Family System: Bowen Multigenerational Theory
  6. Family Systems Theory
  7. Companioning the Grieving: Theory and Practice of Grief Support
  8. Summary
  9. References
Number of Continuing Education Hours: 25
Credit towards Board Certification Requirements: 1
Aligns with the following Quality Indicators in What is Quality Spiritual Care in Health Care and How Do You Measure It? (HCCN. 2016).
  • Structural Indicator 1.A. Chaplains as certified or credentialed spiritual care professional(s) are provided proportionate to the size and complexity of the unit served and officially recognized as integrated/embedded members of the clinical staff.
  • Process Indicator 2.C. An assessment of religious, spiritual, and existential concerns using a structured instrument is developed and documented, and the information obtained from the assessment is integrated into the overall care plan.
  • Process Indicator 2.E. Families are offered the opportunity to discuss spiritual issues during goals of care conferences.
  • Process Indicator 2.G. End of life and Bereavement Care is provided as appropriate to the population served.
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