Introductory
Basic Counselling Skills
This practical course teaches core counselling techniques—active listening, empathy, open questions, reflection, rapport-building, brief motivational interviewing, trauma‑informed practice, cultural safety, boundary setting, crisis de‑escalation and ethical documentation—specifically for Canadian counsellors and healthcare workers in addiction/recovery. Participants leave able to engage clients more effectively, conduct focused assessments, create safety plans, document sessions and make timely referrals.
Lifetime accessCertificate of completion16 lessonsMobile & desktop
Motivational InterviewingTrauma-Informed CareCommunicationCounselling SkillsCultural CompetencyAssessment & ScreeningCrisis InterventionDocumentation & Ethics
$60CAD
6 CEU hrs
What you'll learn
Apply core micro-skills (attending, active listening, empathy, open questions, reflection and summarizing) to improve engagement and rapport.
Use brief motivational interviewing (OARS, eliciting change talk) in short contacts to support readiness for change.
Conduct focused, person-centred screening and brief assessments to identify substance use, co-occurring concerns and immediate risks.
Design and document practical safety plans (overdose, suicide, intimate partner violence) and know when to escalate to crisis services.
