Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 1:00 p.m.
Library Block, Room 278
Title: “Counselling? No, Thanks!”
Examining Committee:
Dr. Marla Buchanan, Research Supervisor
Dr. Ishu Ishiyama, Research Committee
Dr. Sally Thorne, Research Committee (UBC School of Nursing)
ABSTRACT
This thesis is an interpretive description of street-involved youth refusing counselling; it has two primary research questions. The first research question asked why street-involved youth refused counselling, and the second research question investigated research participants’ advice to counsellors who want to work with this population. Data collection comprised of semi-structured interviews with seven people. These seven people were recruited as they have current or past experiences of being street-involved youth who refused counselling. This interpretive description was informed by thematic analysis. Findings of this study suggested that street-involved youth’s reasons for refusing counselling are embedded in their perception of counselling, their experiences of counselling, and their desire to protect themselves. Research participants’ advice to counsellors who would like to work with this population also emerged in three layers: increasing counselling’s accessibility for street-involved youth, building connections with street-involved youth, and using street-involved youth friendly interventions. The findings of this study demonstrated a need to re-think the current system of youth services, and the way counselling is practiced with street-involved youth. Forced counselling and youth’s self-reported lack of control over their counselling experiences are two important concepts that need revision. Findings also emphasized the significance of counsellor-youth relations and the time and patience such relations may require. Needs for better coordinated community response and enhanced counsellor training are also discussed.
Keywords: street-involved, homeless, street-entrenched, adolescent, youth, counselling