This document discusses the application of group counseling to adolescents. It defines adolescence as the period from ages 15-17 when a child develops into an adult. Group counseling can help adolescents by allowing them to discuss their struggles openly, learn from peers and leaders, and understand they are not alone. Effective group counseling requires establishing trust, knowing how much to disclose, handling reluctant members carefully, having an engaging leader, and encouraging participation. The goal is to help adolescents through their development challenges by processing their experiences in a supportive group environment.

1. Application of Group
Process to Adolescents
Prepared by:
Orlando Pistan
Master of Arts in Education
Major in Guidance and Counseling

2. What is Adolescence?
The period
following the onset
of puberty during
which a young
person develops
from a child into an
adult.

3. What is Adolescence?
Stage Duration
Prenatal period From conception to birth
Infancy From birth to the end of 2nd week
Babyhood From end of 2nd week to the end of 2nd
year
Early childhood From 2 to 6 years
Late childhood From 7 to 10, or 12 years
Puberty From 10 to 12 (girls), 13 or 14 (boys)
Adolescence From 15 to 17 years
Early adulthood From 18 to 35 years
Middle adulthood From 36 to 65 years
Late adulthood From 66 to death

4. Need for Opportunities to:
Explore their feelings
Be with significant
others
Make their wants and
known beliefs

5. Adolescence Stressors:
1. Bodily changes and image
2. Engagement in sexual
activities
3. Gender-role identification
4. School pressures
5. Future career
6. Freedom and restrictions
7. Need for exaggerated
approval
8. Bullying
9. Drinking and smoking

6. Adolescence paradoxes:
They strive for closeness; yet they also fear intimacy and often
avoid it
They push limits imposed on them; yet they see limits as sign of
caring
They are not given absolute autonomy; yet they are always
expected to act as adults
They are self-conscious; yet expected to cope with societal
demands
They are asked to accept reality, yet tempted by many avenues to
escape
They are exhorted to think of the future; yet also advised to
enjoy the current period of life

7. Suitability of Group
Counseling for Adolescents:
Helps them discover that they
are not unique in their
struggles
Openly questions those
values they decide to modify
Learn to communicate with
peers and adults
Learn from the modeling
provided by the leader
Learn how to accept what
others offer and to give of
themselves in return

8. Importance of Group
Counseling for Adolescents:
It lets adolescents label and
verbalize their feelings
Group members help one
another in the struggle of
self-understanding
Make adolescents function
in a homogenous groups
with explicit limits and clear
rules.

9. Issues and Challenges in
Adolescent groups:
1. Establishing Trust
2. Knowing your comfort
zone with self-disclosure
3. Working with involuntary
and reluctant adolescent
members
4. The influence of the
Leader’s personality
5. Getting group members
to participate

10. Establishing Trust
Cover issues such as
confidentiality,
group norms, rules,
establishing
boundaries to clarify
appropriate ways of
interacting within
the group.

11. Knowing your comfort zone
with self-disclosure
Trust is enhanced if
inquiries are
accepted in a
nonjudgmental and
non-defensive way.

12. Working with involuntary and
reluctant adolescent members
Meet them first individually
before putting them in a
group.
Respect their reservations.
Consider allowing them to
leave, for them to have a
basis for a decision.
Do not pressure them to
participate.
Give firm, caring
confrontations towards
sarcasm and defensiveness.

13. The Influence of the Leader’s
Personality
Adolescents tend to
respond well to leaders
who share themselves
with the group.
Display caring attitude,
enthusiasm, and
openness.
Reveal your personal
experiences and
concerns.

14. Getting group members to
participate and initiate
Adolescents are usually
most eager to become
personally involved when
other members touch
vulnerable spots in them.
Peer service by giving
their perceptions to one
another and revealing
similar problems

15. Application of Group
Process to Adolescents
Thank you for paying
attention.