The Difference between a Counsellor and a Helper
- Ben Jackson
- Oct 13, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 8
A counselling session and a helping session are two different settings. What makes the difference? Why is it important to know as you begin your journey in learning counselling skills?
The Counsellor
You probably understand who a counsellor is and even worked with one in the past. In a rather clumsy nutshell, a counsellor is someone who has achieved several years of training. They will also be a member of a professional body, such as the British Association of Psychotherapy and Counselling (BACP), the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), or the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). As a member of one of these organisations, a counsellor is agreeing to abide but the rules, principles, and values set by the organisation. Often these are referred to as a code of ethics or ethical framework.
You can find counsellors running their own private practise or employed by a health service provider. They may also work for charities or agencies offering mental health support and counselling services. In addition, a counsellor will maintain their skills and techniques through regular professional development, not only for themselves but often as a requirement of their professional body. In addition, they should have appropriate insurance, have their own clear contract, and receive regular supervision.
Managers, office workers, employers, can all use these skills to better enable learning and listening
On that last point, it is worth clarifying what is supervision. Firstly, to alleviate any concerns, it is not someone who will come into the therapy session and oversee the counsellor. Nor is a supervisor a line manager. A supervisor in a counselling context is someone who is a qualified counsellor and who has undertaken further training to become a supervisor. The supervisor's role is as a support, a reference, to offer the counsellor space to explore and better understand their own process within the counselling work. The significance and importance of a supervisor cannot be underestimated.
The Helper
As defined by Gerard Egan in his book The Skilled Helper, the helper is typically someone who has trained on an introductory counselling skills course, such as a CPCAB Level 2 Counselling Skills course. They have learned how to use counselling skills and techniques safely and effectively. They can offer someone a place to feel heard or, if needed, signposted to further support. While we may think the term carries less weight, it is there to serve as an important distinction.
You may find that a colleague at work, a friend, or an acquaintance are trained in counselling skills and can offer you a safe and supportive space to talk through what bothers you. They have some foundational skills that allow you to feel heard, uninterrupted, and a chance to talk confidentially. These are hugely powerful and helpful techniques that can dramatically help someone.
A helper can listen, can be non-judgemental, empathic, and signpost to further support
Ideally, they would make it clear that they have trained on a CPCAB Level 2 course and have some counselling skills. They would explain they can listen and hold space for that individual whilst also explaining the limits of their support. This is important because it draws attention to the extent of the helper’s abilities and lets the other person know that they may want to consider seeking more qualified help. Nevertheless, a helper is a vital opportunity for a person to experience that undistracted time to explore and understand what is on their mind.
The Differences Between a Counsellor and a Helper
It is this distinction between a helper and counsellor that is worth understanding. Not only if you are seeking help but importantly if you are looking to train as a counsellor. Learning counselling skills as a helper on a CPCAB Level 2 Counselling Skills course is your first step in that journey.
Broadly from this article you can take away that a key difference between a counsellor and a helper has to do with limits of ability. A helper, as we define it on our counselling skills course, can create a safe space to discuss a problem yet is limited to the help they can offer. In general, we tell our students that a helper can listen, can be non-judgemental, empathic, and signpost to further support. Whereas, by contrast, a counsellor, has a greater range of skills to contain, hold, and keep safe the other person. They will have training to provide a broader and deeper range of support. As well as be a member of a professional body and abide by their ethical framework.
Being a Helper with Counselling Skills
Those in a helping role can be found in any walk of life. Those who have trained in counselling skills can be used in a variety of situations. Managers, office workers, employers, can all use these skills to better enable learning and listening. The more we focus on these two than the common phrase ‘communication’, the greater chance all organisations can benefit.
What is important to understand is how a counsellor is different to a helper. Being a helper is something we train our learners to become through skills practice, listening techniques, as well as tackling the blocks and obstacles to being a helper or Skilled Helper. For a moment, consider the impact these skills could have on your day to day relationships. How would your personal relationships transform if you held space the other person? Equally, provide you with the skills and tools to be heard. It doesn't feel too hard to imagine that a CPCAB level 2 Counselling Skills course is also ideal for managers, employers, or HR teams. They too can learn the skills that offer understanding, non-judgment and respect. And in their own create transformation.
Discover how you can benefit from learning counselling skills, or want to enrol on our next course, click the link below.