Page 9 - Part A

Counselling Skills

Carl Rogers identified three ‘core conditions’ for growth that are practised as skills by
counsellors. These skills are:

1. Unconditional positive regard

2. Genuineness

3. Empathetic understanding.

Gerard Egan thought that as well as possessing the core conditions, counsellors also
needed to help clients make decisions, clarify and set goals, and to support them in
implementing their actions. To this effect, he developed a Three Stage Model:

• Stage 1 – Getting the story

• Stage 2 – Development of possibilities for change

• Stage 3 – Strategies for change and closing the session.

These core conditions and stages can now be explained in terms of the skills that
counsellors require in a counselling situation.

1. Unconditional positive regard

For a person to be able to grow and achieve their potential, they need to be valued for
themselves. In order to develop this as a skill, counsellors have to be able to separate
the actions and beliefs of the client from the client as a person.

The effective counsellor has to display an attitude towards the client that says,
‘I accept you as you are’, even when they may not agree with the client or even when
they may be disgusted at their actions.

R Further Research: Unconditional positive regard

Use the link below to find out more about unconditional positive
regard. Make notes in the space below.
https://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/counselling/unconditional-positive-
regard-what-it-is-and-why-you-need-it.htm

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