Advanced Counselling: Core Skills & Approaches
A 3 month workshop on Micro-skills, Powerful Probing & Personal Counselling using Neurolinguistics & Gestalt Psychotherapy
About the Programme
Advanced Counselling: Core Skills & Approaches is an advanced level course. The 3 month program is directed at a curriculum that teaches attitudes, behaviours and skills prerequisite to the advanced course and to life in general. The ACCS&A programme offers a sound foundation in counselling theory, skills and practices, that serves as a crux for personal growth, professional practice and for advanced learning.
The course is designed for Practitioners, Mental Health Professionals, Psychologists, Enthusiasts from the space of mental health who wish to work as Intervention Professionals in the field of Personal Counselling, Therapy, and Coaching. It is also for those professionals who aspire to acquire Advanced-skills & Powerful Probing Patterns to enhance their performance in the role that they already occupy in their workplace, e.g., teachers, HR professionals or leadership coaches, etc.
Objective of the Certificate Programme
The educational objectives of ACCS&A are as follows:
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To develop awareness and sensitivity to social realities and individual’s subjective realities in the context of their ecosystem of individuals and society.
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To understand the difference between counselling practice as a profession and the use of interpersonal relations and counselling skills in other professions that supports human potential and holds space for them as they navigate through their life and offerings.
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To develop competencies for use of interpersonal and advanced counselling skills ethically and safely.
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To develop awareness and sensitivity about the process of individual change and personal growth with regard to self and others.
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To develop personal qualities and competencies to plan and engage in relevant support and supportive interventions.
"IN ORDER TO EMPATHIZE WITH SOMEONE'S EXPERIENCE YOU MUST BE WILLING TO BELIEVE THEM AS THEY SEE IT AND NOT HOW YOU IMAGINE THEIR EXPERIENCE TO BE"
- BRENÉ BROWN
Syllabus
Pre- work:
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Counselling and Introduction to Fr. Dick’s model
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Introduction to Psychology
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Sensitivity to diversity and inclusion
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Basic life skills :
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Personal care and ethics
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Processes of counselling
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Pre-reads and excerpts
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Empathy, unconditional positive regard & congruence.
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Active and reflective listening
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Backtracking and summarising
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Assertiveness and being appropriate
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Autonomy and decision making
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Silence
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Each of the above pre-work topic comes with intext questions (MCQs or subjective based on the nature of the topic). These are merely indicative, and not for evaluation purposes.
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There would be a 50-mark final paper at the end of the pre-work. Again, this would be merely indicative, and not for evaluation purposes.
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The pre-work and its assessments are required to attend the basic class on counselling skills and approaches.
Class Syllabus:
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Module 1: Foundations of Presence and Practice
This module offers an advanced dive into counselling practice, blending core skills with deeper self-awareness and presence. Grounded in an eclectic approach from the lens of Gestalt school, it refines microskills like active listening, reflection, and summarising, as well as behavioural communication such as assertiveness, and boundary-setting. Participants will explore sensory acuity, transference, perception, and the role of silence in presence.
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Module 2: Working with Blocks in Therapy
This module explores how humans take in, organise, and recall information ie, the internal processes that shape memory and perception. It introduces the GDD model (Generalization, Distortion, Deletion) and the Meta Model as tools to identify and recover blocked patterns. Participants will examine how linguistic and psychological blocks emerge in therapy and how they can be addressed. The module also covers how experiences are stored in the body and how they can be elicited and worked with.
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Module 3: Structures of Change and Therapeutic Direction
This module introduces key models for therapeutic intervention, including the SCORE model and meta outcome elicitation. It covers stages of counselling, how to end the therapeutic relationship, and how to identify secondary gains and the positive intention behind behaviour. Participants will learn linguistic patterns for shaping well-formed outcomes and explore common reasons as to why clients come into the space of therapy. The module also provides tools to uncover early promises, values, beliefs, and internal blocks, helping clients make more aligned and sustainable shifts.
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Module 4: Therapist Care and Self-work
This module explores compassion fatigue and burnout, highlighting the importance of self-care in therapeutic work. It introduces reflective practices and rituals for ongoing wellbeing, and emphasises the role of supervision and self-work in sustaining ethical, effective counselling over time.
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Module 5: Application and Integration
This module addresses common questions that arise in therapeutic practice, including working with resistance, navigating closure, termination, and follow-up. It offers space for super revision, allowing for deeper reflection and integration, supporting practitioners in refining their approach and clarifying their next steps in the counselling journey.
Evaluation and Certification
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One peer review lab with the chief moderator and peer reviewer
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One literature review
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Six practice sessions based on basic skills of counselling
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Written integration paper (objective and subjective)
The evaluation will be conducted 30 days after the live session. Participants will be conveyed the date & timing of the same in advance.
Please note: The final integration paper, which is integral for earning the course certificate, will be subjected to a rigorous plagiarism check. Originality in the work is crucial for maintaining the academic integrity of this course. Any instances of plagiarism could impact your certification and are a breach of our course guidelines.
Learner Outcomes:
By the end of the programme, the learners will be able to:
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Demonstrate advanced skills of counselling session behaviours and attitudes.
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Display through role-plays initial rapport building with the client in the first 15 mins.
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Establish therapeutic alliance with the client through empathy, listening skills, responding, paraphrasing, reflection, observation and silence.
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Establish and sustain the boundaries in the helping situation/roles.
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Participate in self-reflection by using feedback to enhance interpersonal and counselling skills with clients and peers in the class.
Skills Lab:
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Calibration through Sensory Acuity and eliciting the client’s preferred modality of representation, assimilation and processing.
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Rapport building.
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Backtracking and feedback communication.
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Intervention skills through rapport.
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Cultivating skills of silence, active listening, and empathy.
These therapeutic skills are essential whether you find yourself in a school or university, a community mental health clinic or hospital, or private practice. The microskills framework has been taught throughout the world of business, law, and medicine and used by UNESCO and others with disaster survivors, refugees, and AIDS workers. These skills are also basic to interpersonal communication--they can make a difference not only in client lives, but also in your own relationships with others. (Ivey et al., 2018)
Reference:
Ivey, A. E., Ivey, M. B., & Zalaquett, C. P. (2018). Intentional Interviewing and Counseling: Facilitating Client Development in a Multicultural Society (9th Ed.). Cengage Learning.
This qualification is intended for candidates who want to:
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Learn basic interpersonal and counselling skills (listening and responding skills) in helping roles.
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Find out more about the processcounselling.
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Improve professional and personal relationships.
Please note: This training program is not a certification for becoming a counselor as it is in no way making you one. This is a skills training course for people who would like to add core counseling skills to their practice.
Upcoming batch in September 2025.
Date: Tuesdays and Fridays, starting on 9th September, 2025.
Time: 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Intake: 40 participants
Eligibility: Graduate in any discipline from a recognized University.
Medium of Instruction: English
Age: 21 and above
Program Fees & Enrollment
Faculty and Chair
Dr. Anuradha Sovani
Dr. Anuradha Sovani is a Psychologist and Psychotherapist, as well as a former professor and head of the Department of Psychology, SNDT Women’s University. She has also served as Dean, Faculty of Humanities, and formerly headed the Department of Applied Psychology at the University of Mumbai. She is currently a Trustee and Consultant at the Institute for Psychological Health, Thane, and serves on multiple ethics committees, including Jaslok Hospital and the Association of Adolescent and Child Care India.
Her work spans teaching, training, POSH consultancy, addiction prevention, and community mental health. A recipient of numerous awards, including the Dr. R.D. Lele Oration and a Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Sovani continues to mentor, publish, and develop innovative tools and programs for mental health outreach.
Dr. Konrad J Noronha
Professor Konrad J. Noronha, SJ, PhD (USA), MS (USA), MTh (Delhi), BHMS (Pune) is the Assistant Director of Premanjali Counselling Services, Mumbai, and Founder–Director of the Center for Safeguarding and Human Formation at De Nobili College, Pune. He serves as Convener of the Safeguarding Team of the Jesuit Conference of South Asia and the Jesuit Counsellors and Psychologists Forum, and is visiting faculty at Jnana Deepa Pontifical Athenaeum, Pune, and Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi.
His work spans counselling, teaching, safeguarding, and integrating psychology with spirituality. Author of Spirituality in Practice and Ethical Issues in Life and Ministry, he has led numerous talks, workshops, and retreats, and contributed to articles, book chapters, and peer-reviewed publications. He heads and advises committees at local, national, and international levels.
Aarti Asrani
Aarti is a TEDx Speaker, Bestselling Author, Law Of Attraction & Consciousness Coach, NLP & Gestalt Master Practitioner, Psychotherapist, & a Health & Wellness Consultant. With over 24 International Certifications in her field, she has authored four books.
Aarti has helped people across the globe to overcome health, life, and emotional issues like finance, stress, migraine, depression, separation, vertigo, anxiety, fear, addictions, and more.
Anagha Pandit
Anagha Pandit is a clinical psychologist with 14+ years of experience providing compassionate and evidence-based mental health care.
Anagha specializes in working with adolescents, young adults, and adults, tailoring her therapeutic approach to meet the unique needs of each individual. By drawing from a variety of therapeutic interventions, she offers comprehensive and personalized intervention.
Anil Thomas
Anil is an internationally certified NLP Master Practitioner and Gestalt Therapist. He owes his therapeutic skills to Dr. Richard (Dick) McHugh; SJ. Ph.D.
Anil is a mentor for the 'International Journal of Neurolinguistics & Gestalt Psychology' (IJNGP)
Anil conducts the 'Global Certification Courses' based on the Classic (original) code, integrating the depth alchemy of New code and the 3rd description. He has authored more than 10 books in the space of Neurolinguistics, Mental Health, and Gestalt Therapy. To date, Anil practices therapy and conducts LAB sessions with the Master Practitioners, allowing him to continue to contribute and learn simultaneously.
Ritika Jain
Ritika Jain is a Counseling Psychologist with an MSc in Clinical Psychology. She works integratively with approaches like Gestalt Therapy, CBT, and ChestDOT, through a trauma-informed, queer-affirmative lens.
Her practice supports individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, burnout, and relationship concerns.
Ritika also facilitates creative, experiential workshops focused on emotional well-being and personal growth.
She believes healing happens through both therapy and meaningful connection.
Frequently asked questions
1. Can I enroll in this course without a Psychology background? Yes. This course is open for all (above age 21), background in psychology is not compulsory to attend this course.
2. What is the fee structure and payment plan? The total course fees are Rs. 21,000 (all inclusive). However, the early bird registration fee is Rs 15000 (all inclusive) check availability before making the payment.3 months no cost EMI option is available only on Credit Cards.
3. After this course will I become a counselor? No. This training program does not certify you as a counselor but focuses on enhancing skills. It's for those wanting to integrate Neurolinguistics and Gestalt Psychotherapy micro-skills into their practice.
4. What happens if I miss assessments or fail to pass them? Assessments are crucial for obtaining the certificate. If you miss or fail them, you can reappear for the assessments with the next batch at no additional cost.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
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The early bird discount fee is INR 15000.
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No refunds against cancellation will be processed.
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Registrations are non-transferable.
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The full amount should be paid before beginning the pre-work.