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STRATEGIES FOR ENGAGING ADOLESCENT GIRLS AT AN EMERGENCY SHELTER IN A THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP: RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE GIRLS THEMSELVES

2008; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 22; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/02650530802396700

1465-3885

Karin M. Eyrich‐Garg,

Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Abstract Engaging clients is an extremely important part of the therapeutic process. Although there is a literature on adult engagement, few articles discuss adolescent engagement. Those articles that do discuss adolescent engagement have been conducted from the perspective of adults. The purpose of this study was to explore, from the client's perspective, ways to engage and build a positive therapeutic alliance with adolescent girls. A focus group (N = 5) was conducted with residents of an emergency shelter for adolescent girls in an urban area. Clients were asked three questions: 'If you could tell a counselor anything, what would you tell her/him?' .'What do counselors need to know?' and 'How can a counselor get you to talk?' Seven messages emerged from the clients' responses, which focused on a request to be respected, listened to, and not judged. More specifically, themes included 'Treat me like I'm on your level', 'Tell me a little about yourself', 'Ask my permission to take notes', 'Pay attention to what I'm saying', 'Tell me what you're doing', 'Don't tell me what's in my file', and 'Don't call me names'. Clients provided concrete ways in which social workers and other counseling professionals could better work with them. Keywords: adolescentyouthengagementtherapeutic allianceself‐disclosure Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Mr Paul Dannenfelser, Dr Nick Garg, Dr Bernie Newman, Dr David Pollio, and the anonymous assessor for this journal in providing feedback on prior versions of this manuscript.