Working with adolescents can give us a sense of satisfaction but at the same time, it can also cause us to experience the following, especially when they are displaying any forms of inappropriate behaviours, which are not socially acceptable:
- We dread seeing a particular group of adolescents.
- We always feel lousy and ineffective at the end of each lesson.
- We always feel that we are working harder than them.
- We always feel that they do not understand the seriousness of their behaviours or problems as much as we do.
- We are constantly trying our best to convince them to change.
It is important for us to be able to recognise these signs early. This will allow us to take a step back and reflect on and modify the strategy that we are currently using to help these adolescents change positively. These warning signs imply that the current strategy that we have implemented is no longer effective and there is a need for change. However, it is also important for us to reflect on the way we interact and respond to them so that we are able to understand how we might be the cause or creator of this resistance towards us.
How We Create Resistance
Generally, we often label this group of adolescents as ‘stubborn’, ‘difficult’, ‘oppositional’ and ‘defiant’ without realizing that resistance is a part and parcel of any person’s journey of change and it usually occurs when there is not a match between the adolescents’ and our goals, as well as, their readiness for change.
Figure 1 shows the four Rs which explain the reasons why people, in general, resist change.
In addition to these reasons, there are also other factors which can create resistance in these adolescents. Some of these factors are shown in Figure 2.
Stages of Change
The different stages of change are reflected in Figure 3 – Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change).
Figure 4. Explanation of the Transtheoretical Model of Change describes what each of the stage means and the respective aims of the intervention.
| Stage | Explanation | Aims of Intervention |
| Precontemplation | The adolescent is not considering change or has rejected change |
|
| Contemplation | The adolescent is considering change |
|
| Preparation | The adolescent is looking at ways to make the change occur |
|
| Action | Adolescent takes positive steps towards making the change |
|
| Maintenance | Adolescent continues to sustain the changes in his/ her life (3 to 6 months) |
|
| Relapse | The adolescent has a relapse and reverts back to previous behaviour |
|
Strategies
These aims of intervention can be achieved by adopting the following strategies as shown in Figure 5. Strategies to promote change.
Motivational Approach consists of four principles and they are:
- Empathise with the client
- Develop discrepancy
- Do not fight resistance
- Enhance self-belief
We can demonstrate a motivational approach with this group of adolescents by:
- Asking open-ended questions
- Using affirmations so as to build self-efficacy
- Reflective listening
- Summarising what has been said
Based on Figure 4, Adolescents are considered the most reluctant at these two stages of change; pre-contemplation and contemplation. The following are some techniques that might help adolescents to consider changing their ways.
Figure 6. Techniques for adolescents at the pre-contemplation and contemplation stage.
| Techniques | Explanation |
| Ask questions that increase Desire and Reason talk | Recognise the disadvantages of the status quo, and the advantages of change |
| Querying extremes |
Ask adolescent to describe the extremes of:
|
| How was life like before the problem behaviour? | To help adolescent remember life before the problem behaviour and to compare them with the present situation |
| How would life be like without the problem behaviour? | To help adolescent envision a changed future, to imagine life after a change |
| Develop discrepancy |
|
| Decisional balance |
|
| Increase Ability and Need Talk |
Ability: Hold some optimism about change Need: Have an intention to change
|
While all these techniques may help to encourage adolescents to think of or consider change, it is also important for us to help them set goals and create a realistic plan once they enter the preparation stage by increasing commitment talk, which can be achieved through these 8 steps:
- Get the adolescent to make a commitment to participate in the intervention
- Ask for permission to discuss how to proceed
- Confirm the adolescent’s goal
- Ask for adolescent’s guess on what might be helpful for their change process
- Seek adolescent’s permission to offer a menu of options
- Ask for the adolescent’s preference
- Set the specifics of the plan
- Summarise the plan
Finally, while we are putting in our best effort in trying to manage reluctant adolescents with problem behaviours, it is also important for us to recognise the signs of compassion fatigue and burnout and adopt appropriate self-care techniques to overcome them, which can be attained by asking ourselves the following questions:
- What is one thing you like to eat or drink?
- What is one thing you like to smell?
- What is one thing you like to look at?
- What is one thing you like to listen to?
- What is one thing you like to touch?
These questions help us to develop our own self-care plan to enhance our mental, emotional and psychological well-being; thus allowing us to manage our stress better and at the same time maintain our professionalism while working with reluctant adolescents.
