Introduction
A person’s life period has different stages like childhood, adulthood, youth, and old age. At each of these periods, people show some common tendency in their character and their attitude. This essay discusses the adulthood lifetime of a boy. His name is Don, and had 17 years old.
Assuming that at age 17, Don is a member of the ‘social category of adolescence’, what are some of the expectations we can assume may be placed on Don?
Adolescent age is one of the important lifetimes in a person’s life. It had many peculiarities compared to other stages. In childhood, a persons express his feelings and his thoughts as a child. In youth and in old age, one expresses his feelings and thoughts at a mature level. Adulthood lies between these two periods. At this period, individuals do not express their behaviors like a child or like a mature one. In the book Child, Adolescent and Family Development, the author refers to the adolescent mind in the following sentence. He said that “The adolescent mind is essentially a mind of the moratorium, a psychological stage between childhood and adulthood, and between the morality learned by the child, and the ethics to be developed by the adult.” (Slee, 433).
It is the most complicated lifetime. One can see different kinds of feelings and thoughts in mind at this stage. It is a growing period. Here the growth is both physically and mentally. A boy or girl at this period start thinks more about himself or herself and the social and cultural circumstance around him rather than any other period. In this stage, children show a tendency to catch the attention and respect of others, especially from peer groups.
As Don is an adolescent boy, he had all physical and mental movements and thoughts like any other adolescent boy. His mind hungers to catch attention from society and to become a part of society. In adolescent age, people show aggressiveness in their character. Most of this aggressiveness leads to conflict with parents. This has happened in Don’s life also.
Don’s parents are high-status professionals, and they are busy in their life. Family and society may expect such as high-status life and behavior from Don. His father dreams that Don will become a Doctor, the same as him. But Don is an average student, and he needs hard-working to score an average mark at his school level.
In adolescence age, children show more intimacy to their peers than their parents. That is also happening in Don’s case also. The circumstances in which an adolescent live will influence him very much. It may cause stress and anxiety in his character.
What are the socializing influences for Don’s behavior, and what are their possible influences in the context of a continuum rather than a negative or positive perspective?
In the opinion of Hamilton I. McCubbin, “most people assume that the stress resulting from the presence of teenagers in the home is adolescent rebellion, aggressiveness, drug usage, peer pressure, and other feared behaviors.” (McCubbin and Figley, 75).
In Don’s case, this is a relevant statement. His family atmosphere and peer groups play a major role in his character formation. For the development of a person’s personality and other factors, his parents parenting style is a potential factor. Here Don’s parents separated. It badly affects their son Don. He may struggle in between them. Due to the lack of understanding between parents, his father cannot understand that Don is an average student. He wishes his son to become a doctor. It may create pressure in Don’s mind. Another thing is that due to the misunderstanding between these parents, his mother revealed his drug usage from his father. Due to this separation of the parents, Don feels that they do not give enough consideration to him. It leads him to drug usage, and he thinks the drug will give peaceful sleep and relax him from the troubles.
His peer groups also influence him. After the argument between him and his father, he decides to stay with his peers. In the adolescent age, children normally choose friends for sharing their emotions and feeling. It may either be good or bad. In Don’s case, he chose his friendship as a negative perspective. Don thinks that their misbehaviors do not influence his character, but in reality, it was a wrong assumption. Slowly Don opts his peer’s way.
What rights and responsibilities would you identify for Don, his mother, his father, and you as the counselor?
Many people think that advantage from counseling, p-providing positive changes in their thoughts, way of behavior, and their attitude towards others. As an effective councilor, one can serve as a role model for his/her clients. Here the case of Don, the councilor has a serious responsibility to identify the problem and give solutions for the problems. The web article entitled Counselling Guidelines, Rights and Responsibilities gives enough justification s for the responsibility of a counselor. It says, “We work collaboratively with our clients to discover the insight and strength to achieve that goal.” (Counselling Guidelines, Rights And Responsibilities, 1).
Don’s behavioral problems, both personal and academic, are more serious, and he is a representative of the number of suffering adolescents in society. The advice and suggestions are not only for the adolescent, but it is helpful for the parents. Drug usage and antisocial activities are harmful to both persons and society. Another problem is that Don’s parents are highly educated and civilized. After the study, the problem one can see is the communication gap between Don’s father and mother.
As a responsible parent, Don’s father and mother have failed to understand the needs of their child. His mother consulted the counselor only after she got the drugs packets in his room. Parents have the responsibility to provide a healthy family atmosphere for the real development of their children. As a student, Don has the responsibility to satisfy the expectations of his parents, both personal and academic. In addition, he has the right to demand supports and encouragement from his parents; in short, and collective responsibility is essential for Don’s case.
With the information provided, what assessments would you make regarding Don, and what additional information would you need to make a complete and competent assessment?
From the case study, it is clear that Don is an average student, but his father does not have a clear awareness of his learning capacity. It put pressure on him. Over-expectation about children may cause negative effects than positive ones. Another factor reveals through this case study is the adolescent-age children have a strong desire for consideration from their parents. Suppose they lose that they will be disappointed and it may damage their personality.
Another point is the unity of parents is an important factor for the physically and mentally healthier growth of a child. Here Don’s parents are separated. So they cannot give strong attention to Don. It affects his character building. Another point is that Don feels insecure in his life. It reflects from his words. One of the primary responsibilities of parents is to give security feeling to their child. For doing that, first, they must understand their needs.
From the case study, one can understand that Don shows a tendency to use drugs. But it does not give any information regarding whether his parents or any other family members have had this kind of nature. Moreover, this case study does not provide any medical proof regarding his drug usage. So we cannot predict whether he is a drug addict or not. Another thing is this case study does not mention more about his parents and communication among them. If it provides such information, one can more accurately mention his character.
How would you further respond to Don’s statement, “no one cares whether I live or die anyway”?
Adolescents demand both consideration and respect from society, especially from the family. From the case study, it is clear that Don is a normal adolescent. So his imagination is the same as other adolescents. This age group expects a friendly attachment with their parents rather than a questioning attitude. The book named The family refers to the relationship between adolescents and their fathers. They said that “fathers express positive emotions related to their own competence, they have a positive influence on the development of self-esteem and self-confidence of their adolescent children.” (Dumon, Matthijs and Troost, 102).
But Don feels he does not get it from them. His father reached him and asked him about his study and study progress rather than his welfare. It may not help to create a healthy relationship between him and his father. It never means his father does not love him or consider him. But in certain extreme, his father fails to shows or expresses his love to Don in the correct sense. Besides that, his father engaging es an argument with him. It hearts his mind.
From the case study, it is clear his parents are busy persons. So in his childhood and in adulthood, he may not get much affection and care from his parents. Parents especially
Mother’s care and affection is the most important factor a child development.
According to the above-mentioned point, in some perspective, Don may feel his parents are not bothered about his life. He may feel that they live something else than him. His words express his disappointment in life and anger against his parents.
What specific interventions, strategies, and techniques would you employ as a counselor to establish a workable counseling relationship with Don?
For counseling, Don first needs to develop a good relationship between the counselor and Don. Before conducting a talk with Don, first, meet his parents to understand his family background. Then conduct a private talk with Don. In Rosemary Thompson’s opinion, “as a counselor or therapist do not refute or debate the child or adolescent’s current reality.” (Thompson, 371).
So try to talk with Don in a friendly manner. In the counseling, time counselor should actively listen to Don and observe his body language. It will help to develop a good relationship with him, and it also provides some clues about his character. Interview with Don and his parents will help to find the root which causes of drug usage in Don. Then, if necessary, consult a doctor and provide necessary treatment to him.
How would you proceed to counsel with Don, assuming he agrees to return for another session?
If he agrees to return for another section, the counselor tries to understand more about his peer group and invites them to participate in the counseling. Friends are the most influencing factors in an adolescent’s life. Avoiding friendship is not a good solution. Instead of that, if Don’s friends get a release from their weaknesses, it is good for Don, for them, and or the society.
What specific referral, advocacy and I or support options would you recommend for It is better to consult a doctor in a de-addiction center to get complete relief from his drug usage.
Conclusion
From this essay, it is clear that Don’s mind is affected by emotional vibrant. One can find different emotions and problems in an adolescent’s mind. Proper guidance and consideration from the family and society are necessary for this period. Parent gives keen attention in their growth and character change. If any problems find, try to give counseling or treatment. But one thing that must keep in adolescent parents in their minds is prevention is better than cure.
Work Cited
Slee, Phillip T. Child, Adolescent and Family Development. Cambridge University Press. 2002. Web.
McCubbin, Hamilton I., and Figley, Charles R. Stress and the Family: Coping with Normative Transitions. Psychology Press. 1983. Web.
Counselling Guidelines, Rights and Responsibilities. 2009. Web.
Dumon, Wilfried., Matthijs, Koen., and Troost, Ann van den. The Family. Leuven University Press. 1998. Web.
Thompson, Rosemary. Counselling Techniques. Psychology Press. 2003. Web.