LIFELINE/CHILDLINE’S APPROACH TO COUNSELLING

LifeLine/Childline is an organisation of skilled lay counsellors who are there to assist callers facing a crisis in their lives. Its role is to create a safe space for people to share what is happening in their lives. As its counsellors are non-judgemental, empathic, caring and non-directive, callers are enabled to find their own solutions. It is not LifeLine/Childline’s policy to impose the personal beliefs or convictions of the counsellors on callers.

THE TRAINING
The Communication and Counselling Skills course consists of nine weekly sessions of 3 hours each, offered both in the evenings and the mornings. The course is experientially based and trainees work in small groups facilitated by an experienced LifeLine/Childline Counsellor. Regular practice of the skills as they are acquired is built into the course. Trainees receive constant feedback on their skills from fellow trainees, their facilitator and other LifeLine assessors. As each trainee has a unique contribution to make to the group, attendance at ALL sessions is essential.

PARTICIPANTS WHO MISS MORE THAN ONE SESSION, MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR SELECTION AS A COUNSELLOR.

THE TRAINERS
All sessions of the Communication and Counselling Skills course will be presented by a team of LifeLiners who have experience in counselling and training. The course is monitored by the Training Manager and the LifeLine/Childline Training sub-committee.

REQUIREMENTS
THE PERSONAL GROWTH COURSE IS COMPULSORY BEFORE ATTENDANCE ON THIS COURSE AND THE COUNSELLING COURSE NEEDS TO BE DONE WITHIN A YEAR’S TIMEFRAME. IF MORE THAN ONE YEAR HAS ELAPSED BEFORE THE COUNSELLING SKILLS COURSE, THE PERSONAL GROWTH SECTION WILL NEED TO BE REPEATED.

As part of the course, trainees will be expected to make 5 practice telephone calls of about 30 minutes, two of which form part of the assessment process. If trainees go forward for selection, 2 further calls need to be made.

Total = 7 calls: 5 calls + 2 calls (if going forward)

If trainees do not have access to a telephone, the onus will be on the trainees to make face-to-face arrangements.

COURSE CONTENT
This course is designed to enhance communication skills and to develop the skills required for effective counselling.
The following topics are covered:

Observation skills
Attending behaviour
Self awareness
Questioning techniques
Reframing and interpretation
Reflection of content and feelings
Challenging and confronting
Depth and spiritual counselling
Giving and receiving feedback

A LifeLine training manual will be issued to each trainee
Attendance certificates will be issued on request.

WHO CAN ATTEND
This course is designed for people wanting to become LifeLine/Childline counsellors and first preference is given to these trainees. The course is open to those who wish to use these skills in their work or in the community. Trainees must have completed the LifeLine/Childline Personal Growth course NO LONGER THAN ONE YEAR of the start of the counselling skills course. Aspirant LifeLine/Childline counsellors are required to undergo a selection procedure.

LIFELINE SELECTION PROCESS
During the course trainees will make a series of calls and receive feedback on these calls. Trainees will counsel their facilitator and another LifeLine counsellor (at home facilitator). These two calls will be assessed against specified criteria and will form part of the assessment process. Feedback will be given after the call.

On completion of the course two more assessment calls will be done by LifeLine counsellors. They will be assessed on the same criteria, but no feedback will be given after the call.
Feedback may be requested after the selection interview.

The trainees book a time for selection interviews and are interviewed by a panel of LifeLine counsellors.

A file is compiled for trainees going through for selection, comprising of:

• Self assessments - part 1 and 2
• Group assessments - part 1 and 2
• Facilitator assessments - part 1 and 2
• Autobiography
• Application for membership and homework exercises
• 4 practice call assessments
• 1 practice face to face counselling assessment
• One Panel member is required to review all information pertaining to the trainee applicant. Other panel members meet the trainee applicant at the selection interview, having no prior details.
• On completion of the selection interview, the panel are required to reach an unanimous decision regarding the trainee’s suitability to join the LifeLine probation programme.

The decision is based on the strength of the interview, the interaction assessments given during the course and the LifeLine criteria for selection. If an unanimous decision is not reached a selection review panel will evaluate the application.
The decision reached after the selection process is final.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTION

• sense of self and spiritual depth
• competent in LifeLine/Childline’s approach to counselling
• availability for regular volunteer counselling duties no loss of significant other in the past year
• those in addiction recovery, must have been clean for at least one year
• Trainees selected are then invited to serve a period as probationers and are required to counsel regularly under supervision for seven months. In this time on-going training on specific topics is offered. During the probation period, probationer counsellors are assessed with regards to their development.

There is a final selection process before counsellors complete their probation period. The probation period terminates for successful probationers with a dedication ceremony during which the LifeLine pledge of service is taken.

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