Facilitating Adolescent Optimal Development

Abstract

Competencies and training models for working with adolescents have not been well defined. The literature related to adolescents has focused on at-risk populations, with little attention to healthy and optimal development. Numerous and as yet primarily untapped opportunities are available for counseling psychologists to facilitate adolescent optimal development. This article proposes a training model that incorporates competencies for working with adolescents with the goal of helping them thrive. Information is presented concerning changes in service delivery, current training practices, and methods to infuse information about adolescent optimal development into the curriculum.