Innovative and Brain-Friendly Strategies for Building a Therapeutic Alliance With Adolescents

Abstract

Brain growth and change are key factors in adolescent development and influence cognitions, emotions, and behavior.Much of the research on the adolescent brain is fairly recent, and mental health practitioners working with adolescents must have knowledge about these changes to more effectively engage their young clients in therapy. The therapeutic relationship is paramount in counseling with all ages and is particularly important with adolescent populations. Use of innovative and creative strategies such as sand tray and art therapy are suggested as means to establish the therapeutic alliance with teens in processes that engage their developing brains effectively.

Building resilience through group visual arts activities: Findings from a scoping study with young people who experience mental health complexities and/or learning difficulties

“…Other research with those who experience mental health complexities and learning difficulties has also found a reduction in the occurrence of behaviours associated with mental illness, and increases in personally expressive behaviours, as a result of participating in visual arts activity (e.g., Malley, Dattilo, & Gast 2002;Rapp-Paglicci, Stewart, & Rowe, 2009). Arts activities were also found to aid adolescents in developing their sense of identity, as well as preserving their autonomy, by giving them a sense of mastery and control (Chambala, 2008;Jessup, Cornell, & Bundy, 2010;Raghuraman, 2000;Roaten, 2011).…”

Using Sand Tray Therapy With Juveniles in Correctional Settings

“…A client can choose not to engage in creating a scene and instead may simply run his or her hands through the sand. The way that the client engages in the sand tray experience is determined by the client, and by providing that choice and accepting the client's decision, the counselor enters into a deeper, more empathic relationship (Roaten, ). The goals of sand tray therapy are informed by the counselor's theoretical orientation and are connected to the client's presenting problem.…”

“…Armstrong, Brown, and Foster () explored the use of humanistic sand tray therapy with preadolescents, noting that they “can be quite resistant to the counseling process and may need a safe relationship more than clients of other ages” (p. 19). Using sand tray therapy instead of talk therapy can become a benefit, because sand tray therapy does not fit the prescribed mode of therapy that many adolescent offenders have previously experienced (Roaten, ). Because sand tray therapy allows clients to discuss their experiences with the safety of metaphor, and the relationship between the client and counselor is vastly different from other relationships with adults, including paraprofessionals and professionals in correctional settings, adolescents may become more willing to participate in the process of counseling during sand tray therapy (Armstrong et al, ).…”

Relationship Conditions and Multicultural Competence for Counselors of Children and Adolescents

“…The therapeutic relationship is effective in contributing to positive outcomes in therapy (Norcross, ; Shirk & Karver, ), and the relationship is emphasized as of “critical importance” in multicultural counseling (Sue & Sue, , p. 245). Roaten () argued that counselors cannot treat child clients like “mini adults,” and thus counselors need to use alternative strategies that are appropriate for their client's developmental level (p. 299). Roaten claimed that youth need to have control in sessions and must feel valued and respected, and therapists should use sand tray and art therapies because they have been deemed best practices for working with youth.…”