Counseling Micro Skills are the basic skills a counselor uses in the counseling relationship, such as active listening, paraphrasing and reflection of feelings, and summarizing. At InterCoast Colleges, they are explored via role-playing activities.
What it covers
The catalog states: “In addition to didactic lecture, each class will explore the basic counseling micro skills via role-playing activities which involve active listening, paraphrasing and reflection of feelings, probing, summarizing, confrontation, reframing, and normalizing.”
The course is designed to provide a practical integrative approach to counseling, and students will learn both a theoretical and practical knowledge base for the entry-level AOD counselor. The student will also gain knowledge of the fundamental principles of counseling and the counseling relationship.
Which program covers it
In InterCoast Colleges’ Alcohol and Drug Counseling Studies program, Associate of Applied Science Degree — Substance Use Disorder Counseling program and Behavioral Health Assistant program, counseling micro skills is covered in the course AOD226, Counseling Competencies.
The Alcohol and Drug Counseling Studies, Associate of Applied Science Degree — Substance Use Disorder Counseling and Behavioral Health Assistant outlines list AOD226 Counseling Competencies at 45 clock hours (45 lecture, 0 laboratory) and 3 semester credits.
Prerequisites for AOD226: none.
Micro skills practice sits alongside counseling skills, group counseling and case management counseling in the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Studies, Associate of Applied Science Degree — Substance Use Disorder Counseling and Behavioral Health Assistant programs.
This topic is covered in the Behavioral Health Assistant program at InterCoast Colleges.