Creative counselling skills training cards: Connecting concepts and practice for Papua New Guinean counsellors.

Abstract

Background: The need for access to skilled counsellors in PNG is unprecedented (DFAT, 2017). Research aims: (1) to identify counselling skills/competencies required by PNG counsellors & (2) to determine a culturally appropriate and effective way of disseminating our findings. Our research was informed by literature/measures of globally recognised skills and competencies (e.g., Corey, 2015; Geldard et al., 2016; Lambie et al., 2018; Oluseyi & Oreoluwa, 2014) and cultural competence (e.g., Change et al., 2012; Tervalon & Murray-Garcia, 1998). Data collection and analysis included 25 individual and 2 focus group interviews, and 25 videoed skills sessions. Six expert and 3 novice counsellors were employed in a detailed process of content analysis. Contribution: The first study to address skills gaps in PNG counsellors. A key outcome was the dissemination of findings, culturally and effectively, to a population without access to academic and popular journals and internet resources, and whose reading skills are limited. A set of creative cards were produced; each defined and described a skill/competency (identified through our research) in a straightforward and simple way. In addition, each card provided an application or reflection so that theory-practice links were clear. The cards were designed to be culturally, literarily, and visually engaging to PNGs by including quotes in Pidgin, depicting photographs provided by PNG counsellors, and utilising the colours of PNG and the Pacific. A PNG national produced the artwork that is depicted on each card. This study advanced research in 3 ways: (1) a 6-category framework of skills/competencies, (2) the inclusion of the steps in facilitating a session, & (3) a more nuanced presentation of ‘questioning’, a key counselling skill. Significance: This work is used by counselling organisations and associations and government departments in PNG; it has been lauded by the PNG Government, DFAT, & Australia Awards PNG.