Title: Developing counseling skills in family planning: a training guide.

POPLINE Document Number: 047985

Author(s):

Beresford T

Source citation:

Rockville, Maryland, U.S. Public Health Service, Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Care Delivery and Assistance, Division of Family Planning, [1983]. 138 p. (Public Health Service Division of Family Planning Contract No. 240-81-0021)

Abstract:

This manual is a set of training units for family planning counselors on refining their interpersonal skills, introduced by chapters on counseling, training and supervision in general. It was designed to assist trainers in all kinds of agencies, by allowing them to select the units and exercises they need. Each unit includes general purposes, a lecturette, several exercises, and specific evaluation materials. The counseling process is understood as skillfully enabling the client to clarify her problem, deal with feelings and concerns, and responsibly make choices. Counseling skills include active listening, contracting, paraphrasing, identifying feelings, modeling behaviors, helping initiate actions and confirming realities. Training increases knowledge but also provides practice in skills and raises awareness. The topics covered in the training units are: nonverbal communication, active listening, attitudes about family planning, reflecting feelings, asking and answering questions, structuring the counseling session, decision making strategies, dealing with anger, fear and pain, ambivalence, working with adolescents, sexuality, referral, feedback and evaluation. A bibliography on counselor training is provided.

Keywords:

United States
North America
Teaching Materials
Manual
Psychosocial Factors
IEC
Education
Educational Activities
Educational Technics
Health Education
Family Planning Education
Training Programs
Training Activities
Training Technics
Family Planning
Personnel Management
Supervision
Program Activities
Clinic Activities
Counseling
Counselors
Government Publication
Developed Countries
Americas
Behavior
Programs
Organization and Administration
Management