Authors
M K C Nair, MD, PhD, M.Med.Sc., MBA, MA, DCH, FIAP, FIACAM, PG Diploma in Counseling & Ultrasonography1
1Professor of Pediatrics & Epidemiology; Director, Child Development Centre, Medical College Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Abstract
We need more and more general practitioners getting interested in adolescent pediatrics as a sub-specialty, for overall improvement in providing adolescent care and counseling.
Counseling is required for non-assertive adolescents and those who have scholastic backwardness, adjustment difficulties, specific behavioural problems, personality disorders and mood disorders. Adolescent depression with possible associated suicidal ideation, need special mention because of the fact that majority of them may not look depressed at all and because early detection and intervention – both medical and psychological – would give excellent results. Aim of adolescent counseling would be maintaining the client’s adaptive patterns, modifying maladaptive patterns and enhancing motivation of the client.
The goals of adolescent counseling would be resolution of problems, improving personal effectiveness, decision making – avoiding impulsive actions, reducing possibility of error, modification of behaviour – removal of undesirable behaviour, promoting mental health – through differentiating “normal” & “abnormal”. We need to create a safe and predictable holding environment for the adolescent’s concerns, affect and behaviours; by creating clear and consistent boundaries within the individual relationship; built through appropriate consistent limit setting; helping adolescent to internalize limits and improve self regulation of impulses and affect and accepting clients experience without judgment.
Keywords: Adolescent health, Office practice, Adolescent counseling, Adolescent mental health, Adolescent reproductive health, Premarital counseling.