Personal Development and Communication Skills - For Teens

“I’m so glad I did this course!”

This 30-hour course is designed to help young people (aged 13 – 16 years) gain a better understanding of themselves and others.

The experiential nature of the course promotes a powerful environment for personal learning and growth. The training is designed to be beneficial personally as well as benefiting participants in their interactions with family members, friends and others.

A willingness to openly explore and share with others is necessary.  Participants will be supported within the group and will learn how to support the other members of the group. Those attending will therefore need a certain level of maturity and a brief interview will be held with each participant to confirm suitability for the course.

Each group will have between eight and twelve members who share a commitment to attend all sessions. A contract regarding confidentiality will be established at our first meeting.

Progression

This course does not lead to a professional qualification as a counsellor or psychotherapist.  It is designed for personal growth.

Assessment

There is no assessment in this course, however activities to consolidate the learning will be discussed and encouraged. Participants attending a minimum of 80% of the course will receive a Certificate of Attendance. 

Anticipated Outcomes

  • greater self-worth and confidence
  • greater understanding of personal emotions
  • greater self-awareness and sense of personal choice and responsibility
  • greater capacity for listening and understanding others
  • greater capacity to manage anxiety
  • greater capacity to express self and be more easily understood
  • more authentic relationships with others

Course Content

Interwoven throughout the course are skills supporting the management of anxiety and social fears which are immediately applicable to the group experience.

Participants develop increased personal awareness and interpersonal skills while exploring the key areas of self-esteem, communication and assertiveness.

A brief introduction to the theory underpinning the Person-Centred Approach leads to an understanding of how this approach can impact every aspect of life and every relationship.

Participants are introduced to listening and communication skills and through experiential practice learn how to use these skills in strengthening connections within the group and subsequently with family, friends and others.

Cost

The cost of this programme is €20 per 2-hour session.

A deposit of €75 is taken to hold a place and three monthly instalments of €75 will be required.

 

Dates and booking

The next course starts in 2025. Enrolment is open so you can email now to secure your place.

REGISTER INTEREST

Delivery Format

This course is being held online via Zoom, and therefore a good internet connection will be essential.

One evening per week for fifteen weeks (7:00-9:00pm Irish Standard Time).

N.B.  All courses are subject to a minimum enrolment of eight participants. 

Facilitators

The course will be primarily facilitated by Paula Short MIACP, BSc, MA Counselling and Psychotherapy with the support of Jamin DeMarco as co-facilitator. Paula has over twenty years experience as a Psychotherapist and has over ten years experience as a Group Facilitator and Lecturer of third level education in Counselling and Psychotherapy, up to and including Level 8 programmes. Jamin is a qualified group facilitator and therapist in training.

Confidentiality and Safeguarding

In order for young people to gain the most from the group experience, it will be important for them to know that the group space is private and confidential. Confidentiality will be discussed in the interview process and at length during the first session, so that all know how to maintain the confidentiality of all in the group. Whilst parents are required to be part of the interview process, they are asked not to be present in the room with their child once the course commences. This allows each child in the group to feel safe and secure in their sharing. Paula will contact parents immediately at the close of a session if their child has shared anything that would raise safety concerns. Parents will be responsible for ensuring that their child receives additional appropriate support if there are any such concerns.

Feedback on this course

“I’m so glad I did this course!”

“I got so much more from this than I could have imagined”

“It has helped me become so much more comfortable and confident in myself”

“Others can see how much my daughter has benefitted from this course and she has even been discharged from hospital as a result of it”

“Learning to notice and accept my own emotions has been so good for me”

“Things that were out of my comfort zone are now in my comfort zone!”

“Other people’s comments helped me to learn about myself”

“It helped me in all the ways I hoped – and more!”

“I wish it could have gone on longer”

“I have loved every part of it”