The Counselling Lab initiative is part of RRF’s Outreach and Counselling work, which aims to support Member States (MS) in developing and operationalising return counselling mechanisms. While resources on baseline return counselling exist, MS have highlighted the need for enhanced guidelines and specialised training materials tailored to specific settings and particular target groups.
To meet this need, the Counselling Lab develops accessible, reader-friendly guidebooks focused on the operational aspects of return counselling, building on baseline Capacity Development and Training for Return Counsellors (CADRE) manuals. To maximise their practical utility, each guidebook is complemented by a comprehensive training curriculum that includes in-person training, interactive learning exercises, handouts, and detailed facilitator’s notes. These materials are available to MS seeking training support and to those wishing to integrate them into national training programmes.
The Counselling Lab materials were developed in close collaboration with experts from the Member States. Their extensive hands-on counselling experience ensured that the recommendations are grounded in real-world practice and reflect the complexity and the human dimension at the core of return counselling.
Specialised counselling modules include:
- Return counselling for families with children
- Empowering women returnees during counselling sessions
- Counselling migrants facing mental health challenges
Achievements