Accidental Counsellor

Practical skills for everyday mental health conversations at work and school

Supporting people with confidence, clarity, and clear boundaries in everyday conversations

The Accidental Counsellor course equips staff and educators with practical, evidence-informed skills to respond when someone opens up about distress — while staying within a clear, ethical scope.

Delivered online across Australia, the course focuses on listening well, responding appropriately, and knowing when and how to guide someone towards further support.

Introduction

The Accidental Counsellor course focuses on the everyday conversations that fall outside formal roles, policies, or planned support processes. These are brief, informal moments where someone shares something personal and expects a human response rather than a solution.

The course is designed to sit alongside existing wellbeing, safeguarding, and referral structures by strengthening how people respond in the moment. It supports consistent, appropriate responses that respect boundaries, roles, and next steps, without positioning participants as problem-solvers or experts.

This training provides a practical foundation for navigating emotionally charged conversations responsibly within professional and educational settings.

Why This Course Matters 

In many workplaces and schools, people turn to trusted colleagues when they are struggling not because those colleagues are experts, but because they feel safe.

This places unspoken pressure on managers, peers, and support staff to respond well in emotionally charged situations, often without clear guidance or boundaries. People worry about saying the wrong thing, taking on too much, or missing signs that someone needs further support.

The Accidental Counsellor course matters because it gives people clarity and confidence in these moments  helping them listen, respond, and guide conversations responsibly, while protecting their own wellbeing and role boundaries.

What Participants Learn

Participants build practical, confidence-based skills they can apply immediately:

• How to listen with empathy and respond calmly
• How to recognise signs of emotional distress and communication blockers
• How to support someone to explore options and strengths
• How to respond safely to conversations involving suicide risk
• How to maintain boundaries, manage triggers, and practise self-care
  

Learning is practical, reflective, and grounded in everyday workplace and school scenarios.

Course Overview

The Accidental Counsellor is an interactive, instructor-led online course delivered across Australia.

Format & duration

• Online delivery only
• 8 hours total (delivered live)
• Interactive discussion, activities, and guided reflection

Learning approach

• Plain-language theory
• Practical tools and frameworks
• Structured scenarios and conversation practice

Participants receive a certificate of completion.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for adults who regularly find themselves supporting others as part of their role, including:

• Managers, supervisors, and team leaders
• HR, People & Culture, and wellbeing staff
• Educators, school leaders, and student support roles
• Anyone who is often a first point of contact for concerns

Let’s Start the Conversation

If you’re looking to build staff confidence, support healthier conversations, and create clearer boundaries around mental health support, we’d be glad to connect.