Counselling clients from a younger generation

Abstract

What are the challenges and rewards for counsellors in work with clients from a younger generation? Gordon Smith and Mark Pearson gathered in-depth qualitative data on this question from experienced and qualified counsellors and identified major themes through the use of interpretative phenomenological analysis. While concurring with the literature on many of the challenges in working with youth, the emerging themes also suggest significant personal rewards for counsellors that have been less appreciated. Themes of rewards such as enhanced vitality and energy, feeling younger, and a sense of wonder and emerged. In contrast to the prevailing view that reports work with adolescents as discouraging and difficult, participants also reported client openness as a rewarding feature of counselling younger clients. The positive nature of these themes may hold valuable contributions for counsellor training, supervision and employment.