Power Issues in Adolescent Counseling from the Perspective of Counseling Psychologists

• Main Authors: Kun-Hung Wang, 王坤鈜
• Other Authors: 張高賓
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/12432600966260111012

碩士 === 國立嘉義大學 === 輔導與諮商學系研究所 === 100 === This research explores the awareness of power issues and how it affects adolescent counseling from the perspective of professional counselors. A phenomenological approach is adapted in this research, where data is collected by semi-structure interviews and then analyzed by use of both content and cross case analysis. To check the validity and reduce personal biases of the researcher, analyzed data from the three professional counselors interviewed in this research underwent triangulation, and the major findings are as follows: 1. Power imbalance exists in counseling adolescents, as power originates from the professionalism, identity, age, experience, and moral respect for someone with an elder position, counselors have the power to make decisions and adjusting power imbalance according to the needs of professionalism, client, and the source from which the client was referred. 2. Power affects the counseling relationship between the counselor and the client: power could be a positive or negative impact in bonding with the client; power imbalance in setting therapeutic goals were adjusted based on the assessment of needs from several sources; the increased will of clients agreeing to complete assignments could be affected by power; the client’s understanding of their issues could be increased as power allows them to see possibilities and choices; counselors must be cautious on the therapeutic expectations of both them and clients and counselors as the counseling profession bears power; the communicating process could benefit or be hindered by power. 3. Identify personal values, respecting the client, using power to encourage the client and assist counseling, maintain a high level of self-awareness and reflecting on power imbalances are several ways of how counselors cope with power issues. Based on the findings of this research, suggestions were made to education institutions and helping professionals, including the implant of adolescent counseling concepts into relevant training courses, the importance of educators conveying the concept of being aware of power issues in adolescent counseling should be stressed, cultivate the ability to be aware of power issues to reduce the risk of causing harm in counseling, and the positive use of power could be beneficial to the counseling relationship.