Use brain-friendly, multisensory and expressive approaches and a partner (not authority) stance in counseling adolescents¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The review argues traditional talk therapy may not work with adolescents, whose language production and insight are still developing. It recommends expressive therapies such as sand tray and art, quoting Martin (2003): "counselors must incorporate multisensory learning to incite areas of the developing brain that are prepared to aid in healing." Counselors working "as partners instead of authorities" meet teens' needs for control and freedom, and group counseling suits adolescents' social nature.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Empathetic relationship as the first step, with personal warmth, empathy, and acceptance at the core of the bond

Constraints¶

• Individual counseling in schools must be brief and focused; talk therapy may frustrate counselors given teens' vague language production

Target Learners¶

• middle and high school students in individual and group counseling

Target Learning Goals¶

• emotional expression
• insight
• coping skills
• therapeutic relationship building

Affordances¶

• Adolescent Brain Reconstruction Zone Sensitive Period

Related Strategies¶

• Design guidance lessons that give adolescents practice in planning, anticipating consequences, and regulating behavior, and avoid scare tactics and lecturing
• Increase Student Language Production

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Roaten, G. K., & Roaten, D. J. (2011). Adolescent Brain Development: Current Research and the Impact on Secondary School Counseling Programs. https://schoolcounselor.org