INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / FEBRUARY 19, 1991

Methods For Teens Counselling Teens At

College Workshop

hen teenagers are in trouble,

who do they turn to for help? They probably won’t open up to a counsellor wearing a suit, but they might talk to somebody who looks like they do.

The concept of teens counsell- ing teens is relatively new, but it’s proven to be effective where other methods fail, says youth counsel- lor Rob Axsen. “It’s almost a tribal thing. You get your rockers, your thrashers, your punks; who are they going to trust? Someone who looks like them, someone they can relate to, someone who’s been through the same things.”

Axsen is giving a workshop called Developing Peer Counsell- ing Programs With Adolescents at Douglas College this week. It’s a framework for child and youth care workers, school counsellors and para-professionals to develop their own peer counselling programs.

It is normal for adolescents to reject adult guidance and turn to peers for approval and acceptance, says Axsen, who has 14 years of ex-

perience working with young people.

“The problem with adult coun- sellors is that teens rate them right down there with fathers as some- one they can go to with a prob- lem,” he says. “If dads are ar on

a list of ten, then some counsellor who writes everything down ona clipboard is nine.”

Workshop participants will look at a model for developing a peer counselling program, and ex- amine different communication and peer counselling styles. Axsen says the course has two main ob-

jectives.

“Firstly, we want participants to be able to determine if their peer counselling strategies are ap- propriate for their needs. Second- ly, we want them to have a framework for recruitment, train- ing, management and evaluation of community-based adolescent peer counsellors.”

Developing Peer Counselling Programs With Adolescents takes place on Friday, February 22, from 9 am to 4 pm. For further informa- tion, call 527-5479. To register, call 527-5472.

Professional Organization Awards Co-op Students

Toe Computer Information Systems Co-op students were awarded scholarships established by the Vancouver section of the Canadian In- formation Processing Society (CIPS).

Terry Morris, currently doing a Co-op term with B.C. Systems (Minis- try of Social Services and Housing), won a $300 award and a free 1-year membership to CIPS. Terry completed his first work term at the Workers’ Compensation Board in Summer ’90, and will graduate this fall. His cur- rent GPA is 3.9.

Debra Pepper was awarded a free 1-year membership to CIPS; she will graduate in April. Her GPA is 3.6.

Marian Hill made the presentations to the students on behalf of the Douglas College Co-op programs at CIPS’ February dinner meeting. @