Questions: How to ask questions. How not to. The therapist's most basic tool. 

What exactly is clinical technique and how do you improve it?

What exactly does a counsellor do with a client in a therapy session? Let's get a clearer idea of how therapy 'works'. You will come away with a surprisingly clear understanding of your job. 

Clinical errors: Big errors and little errors: what they are,  and what to do about them, how to avoid them. 

What kinds of stories work best in therapy? What kinds don't work well? Why? How to help your clients with telling their stories. 

Intakes: Why, why not? What is the goal in your first meetings?

What if you think your client isn't telling you the truth? 

Advice giving. What kinds of advice to give. What about when 'something has worked for you'/ 

Opinions and Judgments. What do we mean by "we're not judgmental"?  What to do with your opinions and judgments in session.  When, what, and how to disclose. 

Emotional patients, emotional stories, emotional counsellors: tears in session

Who does the work in a therapy session? What to do about clients who don't do the work. Can you 'fire' a client?

Diagnosis. How to work with it. What not to do. 

Relationship counselling: Who is the patient in relationship counselling? Taking sides. What to do when you're on the side of one of the partners. 

Relationship counselling: Parenting

Relationship counselling: cheating

Relationship counselling: sex, when and how to talk about it. 

Relationship counselling: the power of agreements

Relationship counselling: the power of consent

Relationship counselling: seeing individuals individually when you're also seeing the couple: risks and pitfalls to avoid. 

Dual reciprocal myths: People go into counselling to work out their own psychological problems vs. You can only help people with things you have mastered yourself.

Friendly chitchat during a session: why is it so uncomfortable and what to do about it. Chitchat during the walk from waiting room to office.

When patients ask you personal questions: how to answer? What are the risks? How to handle flirtatious hints, hugs and direct propositions from clients.

Personal disclosures: what is the best rule to follow?

Emailing and texting with clients in between sessions: risks, rewards, boundaries

Language: What to do about the uncertainty of language?

Homework: what kind, what for? Suggesting resources: pros and cons. 

Counsellor confidence: pros and cons: What is the source of a therapist's confidence? What do you need to know to be a confident therapist? How to handle your insecurities while working.

Being a knower vs being a learner: Should counsellors teach their patients?

What is a patient not allowed to do?

What to do when you love or desire your patient. What to do when you'd like to be friends with your client. 

Problems in starting and ending sessions.

Scheduling: myths and ethics around scheduling.