Abstract
Introduction and Aim: Dissatisfied dropout is the decision of the adolescent to prematurely terminate therapy because they may find it unhelpful (O’Keeffe et al., 2019a). It costs services financially and impacts adolescent wellbeing (Moffitt et al., 2002; Warnick et al., 2012). Understanding the possible reasons for dissatisfied dropout from school-based humanistic counselling is important because therapists may be able to change their practice to potentially prevent dissatisfied dropout.Literature Review: Reasons for dissatisfied dropout may include client and therapy process factors. Adolescents report they feel uncomfortable with silences, or they do not know what to talk about (Desrosiers et al., 2020; O’Keeffe et al., 2019a). A previous study suggests there are unresolved ruptures caused or exacerbated by the therapist (O’Keeffe et al., 2020). There is a paucity of research about the possible reasons for adolescent dissatisfied dropout from school-based humanistic counselling.
Method: A qualitative theory-building case study was conducted with three adolescent dissatisfied dropout cases from a previous school-based humanistic counselling trial (Cooper et al., 2021a).
Results: Possible reasons for dissatisfied dropout from school-based humanistic counselling include: adolescents may be hesitant to talk about their feelings or issues, an adolescent may not trust the counsellor with a risk issue, interactions with silences between adolescent and counsellor may get repetitive, a counsellor may persist with their implicit agenda, an adolescent may not feel they can depend on the counsellor, a counsellor may focus on an issue the adolescent does not want to discuss, and a counsellor may not address an issue with the counselling.
Conclusion: The findings may contribute to adolescent humanistic counselling practice by providing an understanding about the possible reasons for dissatisfied dropout. Changes to practice guidance may address some of the needs that potential dissatisfied dropouts have.
Date of Award | 30 May 2023 |
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Original language | English |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisor | Mick Cooper (Director of Studies) & Monique Proudlove (Co-Supervisor) |
Keywords
- Dissatisfied dropout
- psychotherapy
- dropout
- attrition
- school-based humanistic counselling
- adolescence
- theory-building case study