TheDepartment of Social Work organized a certificate course in ‘Basic Skills inCounselling & Psychotherapy’ for second-year MSW students. The course,spanning a duration of 30 hours of training (January – February 2026). A totalof 35 students participated in the course. The course was handled by Dr. Sr.Sherin Joseph, Clinical Psychologist. She has done her PhD in ClinicalPsychology from University of Santo Tomas Manila, Philippines.
Thecourse was structured into five modules, covering theoretical and practicalaspects of counselling. The first module introduced students to the field ofcounselling, discussing fundamental concepts, types of counselling, and theessential characteristics of an effective counsellor. The second module focusedon the core skills required for counselling, including active listening,physical presence, appropriate posture, eye contact, and adherence to ethicalcodes. The third module explored the different stages of counselling, fromrapport-building to assessment, goal-setting, action planning, and terminationwith an evaluation phase.
TheApplication of Therapies in Counselling covered various counselling approachesand therapeutic techniques, including Gestalt Therapy, Rational EmotiveTherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Transactional Analysis.Additionally, it introduced strength-based approaches, eclectic approaches, andmindfulness-based stress reduction techniques. The final module was dedicatedto practical training, where students participated in role-playing exercises ascounsellors and counselees. These sessions provided hands-on experience incounselling stages, therapy applications, and diverse problem-solvingstrategies.
Thecertificate course provided students with a valuable opportunity to enhancetheir understanding of counselling theories and practical applications. Throughinteractive sessions, students gained insights into the challenges ofcounselling and how to effectively intervene in various situations whilemaintaining ethical standards.
