Puberty generally sees the rise of pubic and underarm hair, of menstrual changes and desire for intimacy in girls, of 'wet dreams' and desire for intimacy in boys and with hormones being produced in massive amounts to meet changes in the body and brain. The prefrontal cortex of the brain for example has not yet developed properly upon which adult emotional, problem-solving and decision-making amon... »
What is a 'problem adolescent' and what is coping? What impact could change have on the parent-child relationship when the child reaches puberty? Let's explore and see if you can recognise the situation faced by many parents as we progress. »
The very basis of socially acceptable behaviour is clear communication from parents. Often parents will simply call out in a stern voice: "Jane" and expect the child to understand this command. But Jane could be shoving cake in her mouth with both hands while watching TV. »
Children with aggressive behaviour constitute one of the most common and difficult challenges for parents, particularly for young parents. To work on this issue it is crucial that parents have developed a relationship (with the child) based on solid communication and trust. »
Edwin Friedman's quote (above) outlines a reality of communication - there is much more than mere syntax when two people engage in the process of exchanging messages. It is often complex, and most importantly, dependant (the outcome) upon each individual's cultural, social and emotional background, and the context in which the message is being delivered (or received). »
One of the most common reasons for not-so-good step-family relationships is lack of communication. It is important to include the children in family processes such as formulating rules and new rituals. This is a great start! The next thing to do is to encourage communication. »
Loneliness is such a subjective concept and what really is important here is the degree to which loneliness is affecting one's life and/or a family's life where relevant. What age is the person, because life goals and needs are often quite different for different age groups and for people with different priorities at different stages of life? »
Boundaries are a crucial aspect of any effective client-counsellor relationship. They set the structure for the relationship and provide a consistent framework for the counselling process. »
If not the most important feature of professional counselling, "respect for the client" is definitely high up on the priority list. Geldard and Geldard (2005) explain that regardless of who the client is, and regardless of their behaviour, the client has come to the counsellor for assistance and deserves to be treated as a person of worth and value. »
Disclosure is a controversial issue when examining therapeutic boundaries. There are two issues to consider regarding disclosure. The first is counsellor disclosure and confidentiality. The second is counsellor disclosure (ie. how much does a client disclose about their own lives to a client?). »
The origins of ethics are related to the introduction of moral behaviour in early societies. The application of concepts such as 'right' and 'wrong', and the definition of these concepts in different environments, induced the need for a formal approach to social behaviour - an attempt to create commonality and organisation in a society. In this context, codes of behavior were created, and differen... »
An important aspect of counsellor training involves the analysis of ethical situations. Counsellors need to be malleable to the variety of situations in which the client’s personality traits and environmental circumstances reflect in the progress of the counselling relationship. »
Have you ever found yourself involved in an ethical dilemma? Even if you are not a counsellor or mental health professional, it is most likely that at some stage of your life, you have been directly or indirectly involved in a situation in which ethical conduct was to be considered. »
What is 'method'? Method (from Greek methodos or met hodos meaning "way across") is a word which entered English in 1541 via French and Latin, and is defined as 'a series of steps taken to complete a certain task or to reach a certain objective'. Scientists use the scientific method to define the procedures related to research and study in scientific fields. »
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