Select a colleague who was assigned a different client than you. Offer and support at least two counseling strategies he or she might use to establish a trusting relationship with his or her adolescent client.

1. Select a colleague who was assigned a different client than you. Offer and support at least two counseling strategies he or she might use to establish a trusting relationship with his or her adolescent client. Support your response with authentic observations/experiences and the current literature.
• Select a colleague who was assigned the same client as you. Expand on his or her posting by describing how you might integrate the parents/caretakers into the adolescent’s treatment plan while also maintaining a trusting relationship with the adolescent.
• Select a colleague who was assigned the same or different client family from you. Offer and support at least two strategies he or she might use to encourage healthy risk-taking behaviors with their adolescent client.
1. (A. Wit)
Teenagers, as a population, can be bold, defiant, ambitious, and the source of many parents’ concerns. Between middle-childhood and early-adulthood individuals face many biological, cognitive, and social changes. In this post, I will highlight the impact of risky behavior on adolescent development. First, I will introduce how risky behavior is impacting the Martinez family. Second, I will explain the impact of risky behavior on development and the family system. Finally, I will make suggestions on how counselors can approach adolescent clients and their families.
Presenting issues
My client is the Martinez family. The focus of today’s visit is the conflict between mother, Jeanette, and 16-year-old daughter, Gabby. The Martinez family are devout Seventh Day Adventists (Laureate Education, 2013). Jeannette is furious with Gabby for becoming sexually active. Not only is teenage sex a risky-behavior, it also goes against the family’s religious beliefs. In the session, Jeanette verbally berates Gabby into silence. When Jeanette leaves the room, Gabby breaks down in tears. Gabby says she loves her boyfriend, but she regrets becoming sexually active so young. Gabby is distressed by feeling like a disappointment to her parents and God.
Gabby, like many other teenagers in this developmental stage, is engaging in risky behavior that impacts her relationships and self-image. Risky behaviors, including sex, dramatically increase during adolescence (Broderick &Blewitt, 2015). The vast majority of individuals engage in some type of risky behavior during their teenage years (Broderick &Blewitt, 2015). Protective factors for Gabby include her immediate and extended family and her religion. Current prevention and intervention models for adolescents prioritize youth’s family and community resources (Broderick &Blewitt, 2015).
Impact
Risky behavior has a profound impact on adolescent development. Counselors can better understand the effects of high-risk behavior by understanding the client’s perspective on the behavior (Broderick &Blewitt, 2015). For example, what are the pros and cons of having sex for Gabby? Does she worry about STD’s or pregnancy? Does sex enhance her relationship with her boyfriend? If she has regrets, are they related to her parents or God’s judgment? How Gabby perceives having sex informs the impact it has on her development. A concerning impact of teenage sexual activity is the increased likelihood of other problem behaviors. Research shows that participation in one risky behavior such as teen sex can increase participation in other high-risk behaviors such as drug use and drunk driving (Sullivan, Childs, & O’Connell, 2010). When high-risk and delinquent behavior increases, so do depressive symptoms (Sullivan, Childs, & O’Connell, 2010).
Teenage behavior impacts the whole family system, not just the adolescent. The presenting problem for the Jeannette and Gabby Martinez is the conflict in their relationship as a result of Gabby’s sexual activity. Almost half of all parents of adolescents experience powerlessness, rejection, and personal regret (Broderick &Blewitt, 2015). It is not uncommon for parents to feel guilt or shame over their child’s behavior. Risky behavior in teens can have a negative impact on other children in the family. Younger siblings may model inappropriate behavior. Although adolescence can be a difficult time for the whole family, research shows that disengagement is not the solution. Family, teachers, peers, and religious community can all serve as resources to adolescents.