MALVERN’S Lyttelton Well is launching a lifestyle course in February, designed to help people communicate more effectively with others.

The course is called Listening and Connecting Well and will help people to connect, says counsellor and course tutor Frances Anderson.

She said: "We live in a busy world, and sometimes we don’t take the time to listen properly and connect with other people.

"But if you learn to listen you make the other person feel valued and accepted and you begin to find out what is really going on in their lives."

The course will cover topics like developing empathy, accepting others and giving and receiving feedback.

Counsellor Rachel Smith, who is also tutoring the course, says the sessions are suitable for anyone involved in pastoral care, both professional and voluntary.

"It is also aimed at people who may be considering a caring role as a career and those who would like to improve their own personal relationships. It will help them communicate better with others by teaching these specific skills.

"It will almost certainly challenge some perceptions of what listening to someone really means and will give our students time to explore their own feelings and responses."

The course begins on Thursday, February 7. It costs £125 for ten weekly sessions. It will be held at the Lyttelton Well in Church Street.

For more details and application forms, visit thewellcounselling.co.uk or email info@thewellcounselling.co.uk.