A child’s or adolescent’s disruptive behaviors can be challenging for a counselor. Disruptive behaviors can interrupt the counseling process, and they often signify the existence of emotions a child or adolescent is unable to express verbally. Some prospective child and adolescent counselors may be ill-equipped to manage disruptive behaviors or recognize that the behaviors are symptomatic of an issue or disorder. This lack of knowledge may elicit a non-therapeutic response from a counselor, which can damage the development of a therapeutic relationship. A therapeutic relationship is vital in order to counsel children and adolescents effectively.

For this Application Assignment, review the Disruptive Behaviors media and select a particular child or adolescent with a disruptive behavior. Consider how the counselor developed and inhibited the therapeutic relationship with the child or adolescent during the counseling sessions.

The assignment (3–5 pages) is in two parts:

Select one child or adolescent with a disruptive behavior reflected in the media.
Part One

Critically analyze the less effective counseling session with the child or adolescent with the disruptive behavior you selected.
Explain one goal the counselor was attempting to accomplish in the counseling approach and why.
Explain one way this counseling approach is less effective and why.
Explain one error the counselor made that inhibited the development of a therapeutic relationship and why.
Part Two

Critically analyze the effective counseling session with the child or adolescent with the disruptive behavior you selected.
Explain one goal the counselor was attempting to accomplish in the counseling approach and why.
Explain one way the counseling approach was effective and why.
Explain two skills the counselor possessed that promoted the development of a therapeutic relationship and why.
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