Counselling offers an endless repertoire of methods, each a planned sequence of actions aimed at certain goals. While indispensable for structuring sessions and co-creating solutions, techniques account for only about 15 % of overall effectiveness; the counsellor’s attitude and relationship skills matter far more. In extremism prevention, this relational primacy remains decisive, yet targeted methods still help navigate complex contexts and surface critical information. Accordingly, the manual clarifies where methods fit within systemic practice, the principles guiding their use, and the range best suited to deradicalisation work.