Adolescence is a developmental stage characterized by numerous physical, mental, and emotional changes in the lives of individuals. Subsequently, children who reach adolescence are sensitive to their environments and experiences. Hence, exposure to recurring traumatic events like the loss of friends loved ones, and emotional setbacks can significantly interfere with their growth, development, and mental health. Over the years, youth counselors have resolved to several solutions to address the issues affecting adolescents who exhibit complex interpersonal trauma and associated conditions, including distant counseling and therapy using technological solutions. Therefore, the following paragraphs feature research conducted to investigate practitioners’ experiences with adolescents suffering from complex trauma.
Counseling is an activity that obligates connectedness and strong bonds between a therapist and their clients. According to Amari & Mahoney, (2022), these associations build trust and aid in the recovery process. Thus, the encounter and relationships of patients and practitioners are critical, especially in cases where clients suffer from the implications of various traumatic experiences that evoke strong emotions. Amari & Mahoney, (2022) sought to answer the research question, what are practitioners’ experiences when working with complex interpersonal trauma adolescent patients? As a result, the researchers adopted a snowball sampling technique to recruit five mental health practitioners with experience in child and adolescent counseling to help answer this question. The researchers collected qualitative data using semi-structured interviews that were recorded and transcribed. Thereafter, they employed phenomenological data analysis to identify relevant themes.
The research mentioned above focused on the sense of self and in-person relationships when dealing with adolescents experiencing trauma. According to the results, the practitioners proposed three themes, including “a practitioner’s presence,” “The distance-relationship dynamic,” and “The unknown self” (Amari & Mahoney, 2022). The respondents suggest that long distance is a limiting factor because it erodes connectedness and creates confusion. In addition, they claimed that self-awareness is critical as practitioners’ deficiencies can be detrimental to their patients. Lastly, the results suggest that therapists’ presence and their ability to empathize with patients instead of justifying wrong behaviors can lead to better results.
The research is relevant and reliable as it obtains information from credible respondents and practitioners who have worked with trauma adolescents for several years. The study is generalizable and representative because it focuses on the experiences of therapists who have worked with several adolescents. However, the study population is comprised of five individuals, which is a small number to obtain sufficient and more comprehensive results. Nevertheless, the respondents appropriately answer the research question, thus allowing a thorough analysis of the obtained results. The information obtained from the study is relevant in therapy and applicable in practical counseling as it can assist psychologists to assess themselves and evaluate the impact of their treatment strategies. Therefore, the research can help improve the lives of youth and adolescents suffering from the ramifications of complex traumatic experiences.
Adolescents go through various issues that might interfere with their health, education, and positive development. On some occasions, they experience traumatic events that influence their well-being. Although therapists adopt various solutions to cater to these individuals’ issues, it is critical to investigate the effectiveness of their approaches and therapeutic interventions that can improve treatment results. The featured study investigates therapists’ experiences when working with traumatic adolescents. The research suggests that personal relationships, proximity, and self-awareness on the part of practitioners are crucial for the best results. Thus, the research can guide practitioners on the best solutions to advance their approaches when working with adolescents.
Reference
Amari, N., & Mahoney, A. (2022). Working Relationally with Adolescents Who Have Experienced Complex Interpersonal Trauma: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 15(1), 75-87. Web.