Counselling adolescents Flashcards
Three main differences counselling children vs adolescents
1) Unlike children, young people have less dependence on family. And is changing as they gain more independence. Adolescent rely more on friendships, may not want family involved in counselling.
2) Young people have more complex cognitive processes and advance cognition skills than children. Can use more advanced intervention strategies.
3) Respect the developmental needs of the young person, they are neither a child nor adult. Counselling approaches need to be tailored directly to the young person
Different between family therapy and private
Family therapy addresses interpersonal relationship issues within the family, individual is private, client focused
What is proactive Counselling
The Proactive Counselling approach is specifically tailored towards adolescents. Adolescents are transitioning from child to adult, and face different adversities. Proactive counselling is based on existentialism with a constructivist framework
What is existentialism
Existentialism is concerned with the human search for the meaning of life.
What is existentialism view
The existentialist view is that the only way human beings can make sense of their existence is through their personal experiences.
The existentialist approach emphasizes that human beings are free to choose and are therefore responsible for their choices and actions
How does existentialism fit in with young people
The existentialist philosophy fits closely with a young person’s own developmental processes because making sense of life through their own personal experiences is precisely what young people are trying to do.
Does existentialism focus on psychopathology?
No, the philosophy promotes a growth-oriented model that is focused on the future, on the goals that provide direction in life and on the ability of young people to create their own destiny.
What is constructivist philosophy
construct theory is based upon the philosophical assumption that all of our present interpretations of the universe are subject to revision or replacement
Each of us behaves like a scientist, formulating hypotheses, using our experiences to test them out and if necessary revising them
constructions can be reconstructed at any time and reconstruction usually occurs when constructs are invalidated by experience.
How does the constructivism philosophy relate to adolescents
personal identity are tied into core constructs. To try and change these constructs can be threatening and cause guilt or anxiety. Resistence
How does constructivism tie into the proactive approach
The proactive approach does not rely on this model. It merely uses the constructivist philosophy as a frame of reference.
How does constructivism tie into the proactive approach
The proactive approach does not rely on this model. It merely uses the constructivist philosophy as a frame of reference.
Desirable attributes for adolescent counsellor
- A sound understanding of adolescent developmental processes.
- connect with counsellor’s own inner adolescent.
- An ability to symbolize and model individuation.
- congruence and unconditional positive regard.
- empathy
Risks of using taking pro active approach
the adolescent may not feel understood or empowered to make their own decisions, they may ‘check out’.
Counsellor also risks imposing their own belief system, instead of trying to understand the young persons view and understanding of the world
Desirable attributes for adolescent counsellor
- A sound understanding of adolescent developmental processes.
- connect with counsellor’s own inner adolescent.
- An ability to symbolize and model individuation.
- congruence and unconditional positive regard.
- empathy
