Professionals are required to work with the adolescent’s resistance, not against it. This is the first step in gaining trust and understanding in the professional relationship. By gaining this trust, the adolescent will feel comfortable about disclosing their substance use (Burrow-Sanchez, 2006, p. 284-285).
Broderick and Blewitt (2015) disclose how between 1993 and 1997, 47% of children in the grades of fourth through sixth grade have been offered drugs (Broderick and Blewitt, 2015, p. 390). How I will proceed to work with substance abuse among the adolescent population would be by establishing an understanding/trust relationship, practicing the proper treatment approaches, and recognizing relapse. While working with the adolescent, I will explain how I am there for them. By doing this, this will let the client know that I am there to help them and will create trust between myself and the client. Burrow-Sanchez (2006) states how adolescents are afraid to talk about their substance abuse due to getting in trouble (p. 285). However, I will remind the client that whatever is disclosed in the counseling sessions, will stay confidential. After conversing, I will provide the right counseling treatments that best fits the client such as