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Accidental Counsellors
FEEL CONFIDENT TO TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO NEED TO TALK
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Our next course is running on WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH 2026, from 11am-1pm, online.
This is a FREE session, as an introduction to Accidental Counsellors
To book your space, please email: Nikki.Kelly@imagineif.net
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We all know people who are struggling, whether you are talking to someone going through a difficult time, experiencing health issues, financial concerns or feeling helpless. Many of us have ‘concerned conversations’ with these people, and we may be the first to see signs of stress or upset that could indicate a deeper concern. When someone confides in us, we can naturally fall into an informal helping role – an ‘accidental counsellor.’
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The Accidental Counsellor Programme is for people who are not counsellors but find themselves in a counselling role because of conversations or requests for support that arise from clients or colleagues. In the farming world, this can include vets, accountants, bank managers, and farm advisors. And in day to day life could be hairdressers, bar and café workers, sports coaches, school staff, anyone who find themself in a role where people open up to you.
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The Accidental Counsellor Training will provide you with practical skills and help you respond in a helpful and appropriate way. They will introduce concepts of accidental counselling and provide you with easy-to-use techniques for supporting people with health, wellbeing, and other concerns that they may share during routine conversations. These skills and techniques can be applied in many contexts and include active listening, calming and effective gentle questioning. The workshops will also offer pointers on how and where to signpost people for professional and targeted support.
The Accidental Counsellor Programme will provide you with practical skills and strategies to help you respond in a helpful and appropriate way. This involves recognising the signs of mental ill-health, responding appropriately and immediately, and referring to appropriate support and services. It will teach you to have effective and positive conversations that build trust and encourage people to reflect on their situation and look to take some next steps. It will introduce concepts of accidental counselling and provide you with easy-to-use techniques for supporting people with health, wellbeing, and other concerns that they may share during routine conversations.
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You will:
• Learn how to open dialogue in a way that is engaging rather than challenging
• Understand the key processes that help structure well-being conversations to build rapport and trust
• Learn simple techniques to help you deliver information so that people are ready to hear it
• Help people focus on their own reasons for change without developing resistance
The programme will be delivered by Kevin Feaviour, a psychologist who has worked in counselling and support services for over 40 years. Kevin has worked with local authorities, health services, business organisations and education institutions across the world as well as specific counselling services for young people, pain cafes, and community development with Tottenham Hotspur, Nando’s and Exeter University.
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Our next course is running on WEDNESDAY 18TH MARCH 2026, from 11am-1pm, online.
To book your space, please email: Nikki.Kelly@imagineif.net