*This workshop will be delivered across three consecutive Wednesdays and has a limit of 24 people.

About Accidental Counsellor Training
Compassionate Support Skills for Life's Difficult Conversations

The Accidental Counsellor course equips you with essential skills to safely and effectively support people in distress or crisis using the practical "Recognise, Respond, Refer" model.

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for peer supporters, lived experience workers, volunteers, early learning professionals, disability support workers, allied health practitioners, or anyone responding to others' emotional needs without formal counselling or mental health training.

No prior experience or knowledge is required.

What You'll Learn:

Active listening techniques
Calming strategies
Effective, gentle questioning approaches
How to ask about suicide risk and respond appropriately
Solution-focused techniques that empower others
Skills to maintain your wellbeing while supporting others

Goals:

Increased confidence in handling difficult conversations
Enhanced well-being through proper boundary-setting (what an accidental counsellors role is vs. what a mental health professionals role is)
Tools to help others identify strengths and find solutions
Create positive change in your personal and professional environments

Materials

A 24-page workbook with practical information and exercises to consolidate key learnings.
Trauma-informed practice reflection worksheet

Note: This course provides valuable support skills but does not qualify participants as counsellors or for providing ongoing professional support.