COUNSELING ADOLESCENTS EXPERIENCING STRESS

Research has found that most adolescents have experienced stress (Walker, 1993, pp. 1-3). Anxiety and depression are among the detrimental outcomes associated with stress among subjects in the 12-to-19 year old age group (D'Onofrio & Klesse, 1190, pp. 1-24).

The phenomenon of stress is defined as a state of tension, strain, or pressure (Totman, 1944, p. 312). Stress is a normal reaction resulting from the interaction between an individual and the environment. Reactions to stress may produce either positive or negative results, depending upon the causes of the stress, other factors present in an environment, and characteristics of affected individuals. The phenomenon of stress is recognized as a major contributor to the onset of significant physical and mental health problems in the lives of individuals (Maes, Vingerhoets, & Heck, 1987, pp. 567-587).

Stress is a normal reaction resulting from the interaction between an individual and the environment (Hinkel, 1987, pp. 561-566). Those actions or conditions which induce stress are referred to as stressors. Stressors are defined as conditions and factors that induce stressful physical and psychological reactions on the part of individuals exposed to them (Langner & Michael, 1992, pp. 23-24).

The level of stress experienced is defined as the weighted value of all stressors perceived by an individual. Individual perceptions determine both the

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rry (apprehensive expectation) occurring more days than not for a period of at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities" (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 432). Such individuals find it difficult to control the worry, which is accompanied "by at least three additional symptoms from a list that includes restlessness, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and disturbed sleep" (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 433). Adolescents experiencing stress also may be diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder, the "essential feature of which is the development of clinically significant emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable psychosocial stressor or stressors" (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 623). The subtypes of adjustment disorder are (1) with depressed mood, (2) with anxiety, (3) with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, (4) with disturbance of conduct, (5) with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct, and (6) unspecified. Appropriate Counseling Theories An appropriate counseling theory for use with adolescents is the psychodynamic social intervention model (Lammert, 1988, p. 54-68). In this model, an emphasis is placed on the inte
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Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)

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