Free Counselling Training!
Free Counselling Training!
From February 25 to 28 , 2025 , the AIDS Prevention and Control Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Beijing You'an Love Home jointly held a "quasi-professional counselor" training course in Beijing. Trevor A. Hart , professor of psychology and director of the HIV prevention department at Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada, was specially invited to provide professional guidance to the trainees. The training aims to enhance the mental health intervention capabilities of peer educators for HIV- positive men who have sex with men (MSM), focusing on cultivating professional skills such as motivational interviewing.
At the opening ceremony, Liu Yufen, deputy director of the AIDS Prevention Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, pointed out that this training is not only an important step in promoting the progress of the project, but also a key link in improving the mental health intervention capabilities of HIV-positive MSM. Shan Duo, deputy director of the Comprehensive Prevention and Policy Office and project leader, interpreted the project plan and hoped that the trainees would provide better psychological support to the target population through systematic learning. Twelve key personnel from institutions such as Beijing Youan Love Home participated in the training.
Professor Hart systematically analyzed how to use open-ended questions to build trust, how to capture psychological dynamics through reflective listening, and how to stimulate motivation through affirmation and summary through a combination of theoretical teaching and practical operation. Through practical sessions such as stress exercises, decision-making balance exercises, and key problem drills, the trainees mastered tools such as risk level assessment and confidence scale application, which helped the trainees to more accurately assess and support the psychological health of the target population.
Trainees said that the training content closely matched the actual work needs, which not only deepened their understanding of the mental health problems of HIV-positive MSM, but also significantly improved their counseling skills. The training deepened the communication and cooperation between domestic and foreign experts, and also laid the foundation for promoting psychological and behavioral intervention strategies among MSM in the future.
Director Liu Yufen delivered a speech at the opening ceremony
Students conduct group exercises
2025 FREE Training Invite!
We're rolling out our counselling training for the gay, bisexual and queer men's communities.
To register or for more info, email us at GayCounsellingTrainingHub@gmail.com
Evidence Based Counselling and Research
Our counselling training is informed by our experiences and research in the gay men's community in both research with Dr. Hart and the HIV Prevention Lab at Ryerson University and in community settings including community-based organizations and private counselling practice.
Motivational Interviewing
Evidence Based Counselling and Research
Our counselling training is informed by our experiences and research in the gay men's community in both research with Dr. Hart and the HIV Prevention Lab at Ryerson University and in community settings including community-based organizations and private counselling practice.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
We have successfully tested the counselling style of MI within a sexual and mental health promotion program called GPS. MI is a form of counselling that helps clients identify their own goals and to make positive changes in their lives based upon their own motivations for change. From this experience, we then have trained counsellors across Canada in MI for gay men and other populations affected by HIV/AIDS..
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
We have also extended the use of CBT for gay men in the Sexual Confidence counselling program. CBT is a form of counselling that focuses on helping clients to improve their mental and sexual health by helping clients to align the way they think and act with their mental and sexual health goals.
Groups and individuals
We have researched and delivered MI and the GPS program in both group and individual contexts. We have also researched and delivered CBT to gay men in individual contexts.
Gay Men's Unique Needs
Our counselling training and supervision reflects the unique needs of the gay men's community, coupled with sex-positive and sexual health aspects, and trauma informed responses.
Why
We are motivated by witnessing the need for more comprehensive community based services for gay men.
Vision
We provide quality counselling training and supervision to strengthen supports in the gay men’s community.
Mission
We train individuals and organizations engaged in counselling of gay men in the use of evidence based counseling styles for behaviour change.
Learn By Doing
The best way to learn counselling is to do counselling. We start with the basics and build on those skills, advancing from consciously incompetent to unconsciously competent.
Real World Contexts
Our counselling training involves practicing skills, role-playing and real-playing scenarios with real-time feedback. We tailor our t
Learn By Doing
The best way to learn counselling is to do counselling. We start with the basics and build on those skills, advancing from consciously incompetent to unconsciously competent.
Real World Contexts
Our counselling training involves practicing skills, role-playing and real-playing scenarios with real-time feedback. We tailor our training to reflect you and your client's reality.
Meeting Needs
We work with individuals and organizations to determine counselling and / or supervision needs and timeline. We pride ourselves on being flexible and adaptable.
Trainee Competence
Our counselling trainees evolve through phases: training of skills; practice in role / real plays; live supervision with clients; and then recorded supervision.
Quality control
Debriefs and skill adherence coding are crucial elements of all training phases. This supports individual confidence and organizational retainment.
Accessible
We have been providing online video training for years and are well practiced in providing training and supervision in person and / or via online video (Zoom, Skype).