What Student Counsellors Say about the Basic Counselling Skills Book
Counselling had always been a huge draw for me and I wasn't sure if I had the confidence to peruse it. That is until I read your book: Basic Counselling Skills. From the first page I was drawn in and 'got' everything you were saying.
I feel that counselling is a vocation and an absolute honour and privilege to help someone in that way.
Thank you for your expertise. Your work has pushed me in the direction I needed.
- Carol
Just to say I have a copy of your book Basic Counselling Skills and it has been my constant companion through my Level 2 training and now onto Level 3.
A lovely, supportive, clearly written guide that has helped me so very much.
Thank you.
- Caroline
I've just bought, and devoured, your book. Fantastic, thank you!
I'm in my first year of Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (PCT) down in Tonbridge, Kent. Loving every minute, despite [inevitable] challenges.
Your book has allowed me to refresh and refer back. I've especially loved the chapter on the seven stages of the counselling process, really useful.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know!
When is Advanced Counselling Skills coming out?!
- Aveline
"Your book is just what I personally needed--a collection of skills explained in simple terms; a toolbox for field practice and for those already active in the trade."
I've just bought, and devoured, your book. Fantastic, thank you!
I'm in my first year of Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (PCT) down in Tonbridge, Kent. Loving every minute, despite [inevitable] challenges.
Your book has allowed me to refresh and refer back. I've especially loved the chapter on the seven stages of the counselling process, really useful.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know!
When is Advanced Counselling Skills coming out?!
- Aveline
I have got your book, and I think it is amazing. I have found it very beneficial regarding my skill work and it's helped me a lot with my counselling theory assignment as well.
- Natalie
It's easy to understand and it gets straight to the point of answering questions that I need to be aware about without "going around the houses"--that is important when you're working to deadlines and time is limited.
- Karen
Thanks for helping us make our lives less stressful... I never understood why when our profession is about reducing stress in people's lives that the training is so stressful and draining, seems counter intuitive, so your book and Rory's sessions help the whole process seem more congruent.
- Georgina
I really appreciate the service to us students. Your book is just what I personally needed--a collection of skills explained in simple terms; a toolbox for field practice and for those already active in the trade...
- William
"I sat and read the first chapter quietly before my first client last month and it gave me a great sense of calm and feeling of ‘I can do this’, so thank you!"
Thank you for writing a book in understandable English!
Your book really has enhanced my understanding of counselling skills. I am currently in my first year of the Diploma, having already taken a counselling skills course last year. Your book and podcasts are invaluable to my reflective journals and weekly assignments.
- Lesley
I sat and read the first chapter quietly before my first client last month and it gave me a great sense of calm and feeling of ‘I can do this’, so thank you!
- Kate
I have used your book to complete my CPCAB level 2 and I am partway through CPCAB level 3. What I like about your book is that is has the answers to my questions without having to trawl through pages of information. It’s information that I can just connect to and understand.
- Marie
The "ah-ah, now I get it" moment I have been looking for. Clear, precise guidance. I wish I had this book when I started my counselling studies.
This book should be in every counselling students library.
- Gary
I am doing my first recorded session tonight and the very first section of your book, "Opening a session", has already been enormously valuable.
- Corne
Your book is well-organised, clear and easy to understand; the contents page makes it easy to find what you are looking for. I haven’t completed it as yet, but the minute I started reading it, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for. Clear and concise and offers relevant information that will support me during my training. The links are particularly helpful.
Great book, thank you.
- Barbara
"What I like about your book is that is has the answers to my questions without having to trawl through pages of information. It’s information that I can just connect to and understand. "
I'm really glad I bought your book as I feel it will provide a useful source of information for my teaching.
I teach a counselling skills course, and your chapters on counselling skills is very easy to read and then disseminate to the learners.
Very glad I bought it.
- Tracy
I have now finished your book and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am looking forward to referencing from it in my skills assignment!
You must be very proud of it and rightly so.
- Vicky
Really enjoying reading the book. It is easy to read, full of useful information and links. A useful resource to the various levels of study.
- Carmal
The book is fantastic!
I am currently on the Level 3 Counselling skills course and this is so beneficial to me. I have already plugged the book on our own closed Facebook group page, as my peers would find the contents of the book such a useful tool! Thank you!
- Sarah
I used your book today. I was working on a reflective piece about the core conditions and self concept, it certainly came in handy. It's easy to read and understand and I'd like to thank you for taking the time to write it.
- Nina
Very easy to read and understand. It's a credit to you!
- Linda
I am absolutely loving the book. So easy to retain the information which is particularly important to me as I am dyslexic and find processing of information sometimes difficult.
- Joyce
"Clear precise guidance. I wish I had this book when I started my counselling studies."
Very user-friendly! Love the links to your podcasts--wish you were my tutor!
- Anita
It is informative and nicely laid out. I am nearly at the end of my first year of training, and wish I had had this earlier! Either way there is enough information to be with me through the next 2 years and I can see myself referring to it throughout my course.
So glad you wrote it. Wish I had had it for my last assignment.
- Surya
I'm a Level 2 student and the content is such a great explainer for the skills that we are learning and practising. It's clear and easy to understand, the text talks to me with warmth and clarity as though I'm listening to you speaking. Being able to listen to the examples, to hear the tone as well as see the words, is helpful.
The "Next Steps" at the end of each section is a useful summary and also invites me to stop and think and reflect, as well as how to practise the skill being discussed.
In short it's a super book for students and I definitely recommend it!
- Alison
Just wanted to say what an easy and helpful book you have written. I can't say thank you enough. It's an absolute delight.
- Kate
Once again you have proven to be on top of things when it comes to being concise. I just cannot stop reading, but I took the time out to say I have been struggling to grasp a thorough understanding of "Immediacy." How is it used in therapy? I have it now. Without having a proper knowledge of the word, I surely would not know how, when and why it can be useful. I can visualise the explanation and the example that you used and I am looking forward to using it when the opportunity presents itself. I have taken some important pointers to help me analyse a simulated interview and I am confident that I will do much better than before.
Thanks again, the book is worth far more than the sacrifice I have paid for it.
I pray that you keep getting visions and inspiration to keep writing.
- Calistra
This book has been immensely helpful as a resource to read from cover to cover - as a refresher for my basic counselling skills. It is also great just to dip in and out of - for those times of doubt when you need to go back to basics and check-in with a skill that perhaps needs a little brush up.
I have been using counselling skills for the past twelve years and this book is concise and very easy to read. I would recommend this book for those just starting out in the counselling world, those who are not counsellors but use counselling skills in their work, and also for those who just want the cream of the crop on their book shelf!
- Layla
I have read the book from cover to cover. I think I actually read it on the day I brought it.
I have a feeling I will be referring to it frequently throughout my studies, and I'm only in my second term of a Foundation degree. Thank you so much for writing an excellent book for students that is really easy to follow.
- Sharon
"I am absolutely loving the book. So easy to retain the information which is particularly important to me as I am dyslexic and find processing of information sometimes difficult. "
I read a lot of counselling and psychotherapy books and each have their own specific theory or insight to offer the reader. Ken Kelly’s book Basic Counselling Skills – A Student Guide - is a gem. From the opening chapter Opening a Session to his closing words on Endings in Counselling in person-centred counselling, Ken takes us on a journey through each step one could encounter in a counselling session, in plain words, that any student of counselling would find support and guidance.
Also included are offerings for students of deeper therapeutic work such as trainee psychotherapist in the sections Recognising our Self-concept and the Skill of Immediacy.
The layout of this book is easy and clean. It has clear highlighted sections for easy revision with a clean typeface that brings the reader a relaxed invitation to access solid information.
This book should be on every reading list for all students of counselling. It feels like having a supportive hand to hold at every point of the counselling relationship. It will go a long way in assisting students to building their confidence.
- Catherine
I am in my first year of level 4 and I am half way through your book. I am loving your book especially the audio attached--gives a great understanding of skills. Absolutely fantastic as we are preparing for our fish bowl in a few weeks so really helps me get a better understanding.
- Clare
Your ebook has already proven really useful for my transcript assignment; I've referenced it more than once! I love the book for its clarity and also the way in which you link theory to practice.
I wanted to write about working with a client in Rogers's third stage of process, and your book provided me with exactly the information I was looking for.
Wishing you every success with this wonderful resource.
- Erin
You have also managed to write (not sure how to put this, having seen you on various podcasts) with congruence and YOU really come across within the text! I even found myself reading it with a South African accent!
The second paragraph (page 7 Intro to skills) really struck a chord with me and I speak from the frame of reference of a client. It will also inspire me in my moments of doubt on my new journey of, hopefully, becoming a counsellor!
- Jason
"It's clear and easy to understand, the text talks to me with warmth and clarity as though I'm listening to you speaking. Being able to listen to the examples, to hear the tone as well as see the words, is helpful."
I have just finished reading your book and found the content insightful, consolidating your experiences and expertise. I especially found it helpful incorporating the audio/visual examples (sessions and podcasts) into each chapter.
As a person battling mental health issues and hoping to change careers from a Specialized Educator working with At-Risk populations to a Registered counsellor, the book you have shared is a fantastic beginning in gaining the knowledge of basic counselling skills. I intend to re-read the book.
Thank you both, Ken and Rory!
- Karen
I have read your book and have indeed recommended it to my learners to support their learning. It is very informative and covers all of the stage one and two skills in counselling training. I am 18 years qualified and I learned something new from this book too. It is easy to read and very supportive of counselling training.
- Linda
It’s already proving itself as a central part of my reading and quote-ability is high for assignments too!
- Karl
I have now finished your book and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am looking forward to referencing from it in my skills assignment!
You must be very proud of it and rightly so.
- Vicky
I had lots of yes moments reading it. Loved the process takes place in the silence and seeing silence as a gear change, also questions taking you out of the feelings into the cognitive.
- Alison
"This book should be on every reading list for all students of counselling. It feels like having a supportive hand to hold at every point of the counselling relationship. It will go a long way in assisting students to building their confidence."
Love your book - wish I'd had something like it while I was studying (I recently qualified here in NZ). It's a really good revision aid for me to keep my skills sharp as I start my placement because it is so easy to read and dip into.
- Mags
It's such a great book, full of light and wisdom, with each page it unfolds more enlightenment and a desire to read and learn more.
Easily explained and easy to reread. I love the layout and feel. You have set it up to really take care of growth and understanding, not like other books where it's one big muddle!!!
- Debra
I am doing Level 2, have read your book. It is going to be my new bible for my course work. You make it very easy to follow and I shall use it a lot, now and in the future. Will recommend it to all my college buddies.
I will keep an eye out for any future books you publish.
- Amanda
"Your ebook has already proven really useful for my transcript assignment; I've referenced it more than once! I love the book for its clarity and also the way in which you link theory to practice."
Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide is helpful to me in gaining a better understanding of the micro skills of counselling and how they work in enhancing communication within the therapeutic relationship.
This book will be my 'go to' book when writing assignments and practicing skills on during my studies.
- Julie
Getting my head round the skills has always been my nemesis. Thanks to your easy-to-understand book, that is no longer the case.
- Georgetta
Very easy to read, great explanations which effectively make it easy to understand the process. Wish I'd had this book sooner!
- Anne
I particular like the readability of your writing style. You pack in lots of information without it feeling heavy or contrived as some texts I have noticed do.
- Caroline
Your book is brilliant! I’m at the early stages of L3 Certificate in Counselling Skills and we’ve just started our skills sessions. Your book is a fantastic resource and the built-in links make it so easy to go straight to additional information. It’s like having a counselling skills bible right at your finger tips!
Your book gets a big thumbs up from me.
- Stuart
"Easily explained and easy to reread. I love the layout and feel. You have set it up to really take care of growth and understanding."
I do believe it will be absolutely beneficial to my studies, just as valuable as the Counselling Tutor website.
- Olivia
The example of verbal contracting is excellent, and I particularly appreciate the added bonus of being able to listen to how it's done.
A really handy reference resource for checking and reviewing my understanding of the essential counselling skills.
- Frederica
The examples make things fall into place and the book is written in easy-to-learn language.
- Cheryl
I feel your book is a revelation. It's given me the confidence in myself to do my assignments. It's written with such a common sense approach and I particularly like 'the hunch' interpretation of immediacy. Thank you!
- Lucy
"Your book is a fantastic resource and the built-in links make it so easy to go straight to additional information. It’s like having a counselling skills bible right at your finger tips!"
As a student, I found your book easy to read and understand.
- Mo
I have just finished reading 'Basic Counselling Skills - A Student Guide' by Kenneth Kelly and I have to say how well-written it is. The book clearly identifies how the skills used in Person Centred link to theory, as well as their purpose within a therapeutic relationship.
The book is well-scaffolded, taking you from the skills required at the beginning, right through to the end. There's no over-the-top jargon, just the terminology that we all know so well from training.
- Anna
Just a quick note to say how much I really enjoyed reading your book. The added audio files were excellent and clearly reinforced the skills demonstrated.
- Mary
This is great as I really wanted the hard copy as I’m old-fashioned like that. I now have it in hand and it is going to be so useful when doing assignments etc. and so easy to pick up and put down as the chapters are in good-size chunks.
I love that they match some of the podcasts too – which, by the way are my favourite part of what your site offers as I am a single mum to two teenagers – so in the car A LOT!!
- Bernadette
"I feel your book is a revelation. It's given me the confidence in myself to do my assignments. It's written with such a common sense approach."