Adolescent Counseling and the Significant Aspects of Counseling Our Youth

Adolescence is a developmental st suppurate that is broken down into tercet stages. During this time, girlishs involve a awkward time trying to protrude who they atomic number 18 and who they want to go. This is a time that youthfuls whitethorn expectment to turn to somebody else for financial aid and guidance. For this reason Adolescent Counselors argon extremely cardinal and it crumb be twain tricky and rewarding. in that respect be many dissimilar of import aspects that pertain to Adolescent Christian advocate such as sonority, Trust, Respect, Warmth, Empathy and Genuineness. To provide the appropriate and effective pleader to adolescents these aspects must(prenominal)inessiness be sop upn seriously.There be many different honourable guidelines to follow when dealings with adolescent boors that plunder be complicated but must be followed. Biblical values and personal values must similarly be intertwined into adolescent Christian focus. To h gray-headed back whizz and only(a) is a qualified Christian counsel, tools accustomed to the exponent should be taken seriously and utilize in an efficient manor. Adolescent discuss and the Signifi dropt Aspects of Counseling Our progeny Adolescence is the developmental stage that lies between childhood and adulthood (Feldman, 2011, p. 350).The cyclopaedia of Family Health, (2011) divides adolescence into terzetto phases (1) early (10-13 years, marked by rapid physical changes with the onset of puberty), (2) essence (14-16 years, marked by the rise in importance of peer crowd values), and (3) late (17-mid-20s, marked by years of college or exert afterward high school, increased decision-making capacity, and transition from full family financial dependence to confine monetary support and a goal of economic independence). As you washstand see on that point atomic number 18 many transitions that adolescents disembowel during this time, which may be difficult fo r them to realiseulation alone.During this time adolescents ar too trying to find themselves and who they atomic number 18. Feldman, (2011) states, During adolescence, questions equivalent Who am I? And Where do I belong in the solid ground? begin to take a front seat (p. 382). At generation these questions are too much for our youth to handle so they seek rede as a way to get with the tough times and explore themselves. Adolescents handle their struggles in different ship mountainal and rent different methods in coping. Clinton & ampere Ohlschlager, (2003) desire there are three common ways adolescents deal with their struggles. They (1) hold them in, (2) act them out, or (3) control them by dint of(p. 68). Counseling is particularly primary(prenominal) with those adolescents that want to work by dint of their problems.They are ready to take responsibility for what has happened or what they are going through in their lives and they want to choke forward and work through the struggles. Having the major power to encourage these adolescents is why the topic of adolescents is extremely classical in counsellor. Adolescents find it difficult to up to(p) up to people because of the attention of be judged visited at differently or what they say going tail to their sustains. They postulate psyche they female genitals trust, from an appropriate bond with and consecrate up to. Bond describes the system of positive attachments between the leaf node and therapist, including trust, acceptance and assurance (Campbell & Simmonds, 2011, p. 196). The bond that a exponent has with a thickening faecal matter set the tone for what is to come and rather or not the adolescent leave alone equal to(p) up to them. Warmth, Genuineness, Empathy, Respect, Trust, and Rapport are among the other important aspects of centering adolescents. To get the ability to effectively counsel adolescents a direction must sire the ability to run across t he adolescent and where the feelings they are having are glide slope from.This does not necessarily mean the counselor must agree, they good have to understand and be willing to look at it from the adolescents perspective. The most important instrument you have to protagonist adolescents is you (Parrott, 1997). Who you are as a person is critical in determining the potence of your advocate (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2003, p. 571). Understanding the thickening is not the only intimacy that is important to counseling adolescents. There are many different heavy issues and respectable concerns in relation to counseling our youth and they are primed(p) by the state the counselor lives in.You must be aware of rather or not the state requires an adolescent to have parental accord, the age they can hold to treatment for themselves and what types of treatment they can have to. You must be aware of whether or not you should speak to the tiddler roughly informed consent and to what extent confidentiality takes place (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 187). There are many ethical concerns when treating minors and they should all be taken into considerateness to be able to effectively counsel the adolescent as advantageously as ensuring the counselor is avocation guidelines.The counselors values need to be a part of the counseling relationship with adolescents as well up. existence a Christian Counselor one must be late committed, spirit guided, servant of Jesus Christ, that applies their perfection-given abilities, skills, training, hold up guidege and insight to helping others move to personal wholeness, interpersonal competence, mental stability and spiritual maturity (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 44). With that being said, the values of the counselor and the adolescent will help guide on the counseling sessions in a direction that the counselor as well as the client agrees with.Fostering an alliance with children may be much diffic ult because children rarely refer themselves for treatment, can be reluctant to arrive therapy, infrequently recognize the existence of problems or agree with adults on curative goals (Campbell & Simmonds, 2011, p. 196) Being able to share values with them and believing in the same things can help the client be more than bluff with you therefore allowing you to help them. Major Themes Warmth Accepting where your client is coming from is a in truth important aspect in counseling, especially when dealing with adolescents. The key to non consumeive warmth is acceptance. It is an attitude that does not evaluate or require change it simply accepts the thoughts, feelings and actions of the client (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2003, p. 572). Adolescents want to be comprehend and to feel as if the people around them care and accept them for who they are. It is very important for counselors to make each client feel important and make sure they agnise that they matter. When adolescents feel as if they matter and that they are important, they will open up to the counselor making it easier to work through problems and the pursuit of who they are.Adolescents are always searching for who they are and when a person in an important role can accept the adolescent for who they are, the adolescent may begin to accept themselves. Genuineness Just as a counselor can tell if person wants to be in counseling, an adolescent can tell if you want to help them or not. Counselors want to be undecomposed with their clients, show that they care and make it known they care about the benefit of the client. Counseling is sometimes a long shape, therefore you need the adolescents to wedge connected to you and feel as if they are accomplishing the goals you have set in counseling.When topics in which a counselor does not agree with come up, or when a counselor feels as if progress is not being made, they need to be truthful with the adolescent. When counselors are genuine with clien ts that means they are being in truth with their clients and informing them accurately about the helping offshoot. Rogers means that genuineness is one of the important factors required to help people grow. Counselors need to be real and honest with clients in order for clients to see how they need to change and demoralise making the steps to do so.Counselors need to be willing to be open with their clients and not afraid to challenge them when appropriate (Smith, 2013). Adolescents are on a constant search for who they are helping them find who they are often requires counselors to challenge their thoughts and actions. Being honest and showing that the counselor unspoiltfully cares about the adolescent will help the healing(predicate) process. Empathy A client wants their counselor to understand what they are going through and have been through in their life. Understanding what the client is feeling and letting the client know you understand is very important in adolescent c ounseling.Adolescents want to be heard and they want you to understand the feelings they have to try and make whiz of them. As a counselor acquires an empathic spirit of a client, this knowingness may contribute to effectively formulating and executing a range of therapeutic interventions (Clark, 2010, p. 353). It has been shown that Peer Counseling is often very effective and expressing empathy is one of the primary(prenominal) reasons that peer counseling is so effective (Geldard & Patton, 2007, p. 42). If Counselors need to possess the ability to tie to the clients issues, concerns and feelings the way their peers do the counseling will be effective.Being empathetic to the clients needs, will allow the client to feel more comfortable and open up. Respect Respect is something that any professional relationship must have. According to Gerard Egan, respect is the foundational value of counseling. Without it, the counseling process is likely to fail. Respect is not just an a ttitude we have towards someone it is also a way of talking and acting. Respect is shown to someone when we honor a person through word or rubric just for who they are, and it involves honoring their rights too (Smith, 2013).Every person has the right to have their own beliefs, counselors must have the ability to respond in a respectful manner to those who do not have the same beliefs or values in which the counselor has. Respecting an adolescents beliefs and values can help and adolescent from withdrawing emotionally from the counseling process. Trust Trust is an important factor in every relationship we have in life. In counseling there are two foundational prerequisites to counseling children 1) Understanding your clients developmental level and 2) create reverberance and establishing trust with your client(Adams & Paxton, 2013, p. ). Trust will take a client a long way in counseling and it is important that counselors not break that trust. Therefore they must be open and ho nest when it comes to informed consent and what the counselor can and cannot keep confidential. Adolescents face a lot of different battles as they grow into young adults and they may be shy, emotional and uncomfortable sharing certain aspects of their life. When adolescents feel that they can trust an adult or advocate, or health education teacher, they know that their feelings are being considered and understood (Thompson, 2011, p. 18).Every counselor needs to form a therapeutic alliance with his or her client and trust contributes a great deal to the ability to develop that therapeutic alliance (Therapist Perspectives, p. 198). Rapport Rapport has been described as the relative harmony and smoothness of relations between people (Spencer-Oatey, 2005, p. 96). Building a rapport should be one of the firstborn goals in adolescent counseling. The fact that most adolescents do not want to be in counseling and are forced to be there makes first impressions extremely important. Counselo rs should begin building a rapport and establishing trust with their clients right away.When clients feel comfortable with their counselor and can relate to them they will open up to them. With adolescents this may make them see that counseling could be good for them and could be a positive way of acquire them to come back to counseling and continuing the process. Important Legal and ethical Issues When working with adolescents there are many different ethical and judicial dilemmas that come into play with the counseling process. It is extremely important for every counselor to become familiar with their states laws pertaining to minors.In most states minors must have informed consent from either the parent or legal guardian, if that consent is not given the counseling must be court request (Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 187). The law requiring minors to have the consent of their parent or legal guardian makes it difficult for counselors to keep what is talked about in co unseling confidential. Therefore it is extremely important that every counselor be open and honest with his or her client and have them sign informed consent forms, therefore you know they understand the boundaries of their relationship.Counselors also have the responsibility to ensure that the adolescent clients understand the therapy process, if a client does not understand how the process works the counselor is legally cause to explain it to them. The ACA, 2005 states When counseling minor clients or adult clients who lack the capacity to give voluntary consent to play out confidential education, counselors seek permission from an appropriate third company to disclose information. In such instances, counselors inform clients consistent with their level of understanding and take culturally appropriate measures to safe- guard client confidentiality. There are certain situations when working with minors that may not require a counselor to have the informed consent of the parent, nor do they have to release the confidential information. Corey, Corey & Callanan, 2011, p. 187 state Informed consent of parents or guardians may not be legally required when a minor is pursuit counseling for dangerous drugs or narcotics, for sexually transmitted diseases, for pregnancy and save control, or for an examination chase alleged sexual assault of a minor over 12 years old.For instance in Virginia, a minor has the right to seek counsel when deciding if they would like to have an abortion or give their child up for adoption without consent of a parent or legal guardian (Smith, 2013). Counselors also need to include the adolescents in the therapy process and explain the different goals of therapy to them. Therapy is a relationship between the client and the counselor, and rather or not the client wants to be their they still need to be an active part of the process for counseling to be effective.Counseling adolescents becomes a lot easier when the adolescent, the cou nselor and the parents and or guardian come to an understanding. Because counselors are legally obligated to share information with the parents if asked, adolescents often do not open up to the counselor in fear of their parents finding out information. Having an agreement between all parties in the beginning of counseling about what information will be given to the parents may help the adolescent open up. However there are situations in which it does not matter what agreements have been made.The counselor is legally obligated to inform the parents if the adolescent is planning to harm himself or herself or someone else. However there are also laws that go the other way, meaning that if a client is at risk of harm if information is relayed to the parents or guardian, consequently the proper authorities need to be informed and the parents or guardians do not need to be informed. Ethics and issues in counseling can be very difficult. It is up to the counselor to stay up to date with the Ethical Guidelines pertaining to their field as well as the ethical guidelines in their state.It is also important to document everything therefore if a parent or guardian comes and says that the counselor failed to give information pertaining to a minor the counselor is covered. Documentation includes having clients notes, and informed consent forms gestural by both the adolescent and the parent or legal guardian. The counselor knowing and understanding their boundaries are key to effectively counseling and following ethical guidelines. * Biblical Values The AACC Ethics Code has 7 foundations or biblical values that Christian Counselors should follow to be a victorious Christian Counselor.The first Foundation is to ensure that each counselor follows ethical guidelines, Christian counseling practice and caregiving activities. The second Foundation states that Christian Counselors should find a positive and committed relationship with the church. The third foundation is to ke ep on a spirited route to encouraging those to mature and develop a relationship with Christ. The fourth foundation states that Jesus Christ should be their first love, and respect everyone they come across in their career. The fifth foundation is to rely in the bible and what the bible says.The sixth foundation is to follow the spiritual rights of people. The last foundation is to is to represent Christ, the church and honor their commitments and obligations in both social and professional settings. Christian Counselors have been given the gift to help people through their troubled times. When helping adolescents Christian counselors must remember that they are guiding the future of our world. Christian counselors must stay close to the bible and close to Jesus Christ, ensuring that adolescents know and understand his word.Adolescents spend their time looking for who they are and their place in this world. It is the telephone circuit of the Christian counselor to ensure each ado lescent knows what their future can hold for them as long as they believe in God and the plan he has. By following the Foundations of Christian Counseling in both counseling sessions and in their non-professional lives, it becomes easier for the counselor to guide individuals down the right path. Personal Reflections I believe that Christian Counselors are one of the most important people adolescents can come into contact with.I believe that rather the adolescent wants to be there in the counseling means or rather they are forced to be there, that progress can be made as long as the counselor tries their best. Adolescents are looking for themselves, they are trying to find who they are and who they want to become in life. They need guidance and they need unbiased guidance at that. If the counselor knows him or herself and knows the foundational values of their practice, I believe they have the ability to guide each and every adolescent in the right direction. Adolescents look for w ays to grow and someone to look up to.In their times of need they need someone to talk to that will respect them and help them through their situations without judgment. This is why I believe that first a counselor must build a good rapport with their clients. They must then look to build their trust and respect. Adolescents are more willing to open up when they believe you respect them and are not judging the decisions they have made in their lives. I also believe that it is very important to empathize with what they have gone through in their lives and what they are facing.The old saying, Do not judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes comes into play with adolescent counseling. The counselor may not know or understand everything the adolescent has done, but to be able to empathize with them is the key. Adolescents face many different problems in the world today, rather it is the struggle of getting good grades in school, having to play sports and so forth to get scho lar ships or dealing with the hardships of their parents divorcing and so forth.There are a lot of problems that adolescents face that they did not ask for. They are left with the burden of so much that sometimes they just need an unbiased, professional to talk to and guide them through. Having the ability to do what the adolescents need you to do. It is also important to follow the ethical guidelines can sometimes put the counselor however in a bad place. This is where I believe that being open and honest with both the adolescent and the parents are the best way to provide a trusting relationship with your client.When I become a counselor I plan to dedicate myself to helping individuals with their hardships want to have the ability to work with the adolescent groups and help them through the troubled times they have faced in their lives. I believe that if I can follow the path in which God has led me down to this point, I will be able to do so. I believe that through my education o f learning how to respond to different situations in counseling, learning the different ethical concerns and what the ethical guidelines are though my reading that I will also become a Competent Christian counselor.I plan to use every tool given to me because it is my woolgather to help the young adults in need and guide them to a better, more Christian tomorrow. Conclusion Counseling adolescents can be an extremely difficult and taxing job. However having the ability to do so can help so many young adults in their journey to develop. Knowing your client, having a good rapport with them, developing a positive trusting relationship and a bond that cannot be broken is key to helping these young adults.Adolescents need guidance and they sometimes do not know where to get the appropriate guidance they need. Devoting your time to helping these individuals is such a reward. In doing so a counselor must ensure they are following the appropriate guidelines when working with these clients. They must also make sure they are using their personal values and biblical values in a professional manor to help guide. They must also remember, the most important instrument in counseling is the counselor (Clinton & Ohlschlager, 2003, p. 571).ReferencesAdams, L. G., & Paxton, M. (2013). Counseling children and youth in times of crisis Tips to achieve success and avoid pitfalls. American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Retrieved from http//apps.americanbar.org/litigation/committees/childrights/docs/CounselingChildrenandYouth.pdf Adolescent Counseling. (2011). In Encyclopedia of Family Health. Retrieved from http//www.liberty.edu2048/login?url=http//www.credoreference.com/entry/sagefamhealth/adolescent_counseling American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). (2004). AACC code of morality The Y2004 final code. American Counseling Association (ACA). (2005). ACA Code of Ethics. Retrieved from American Counseling Association website http//www.counseling.org/Resourc es/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf