What makes a good adolescent counselor?
Warmth, Genuineness and Empathy. Dr. Les Parrott in Helping the Struggling Adolescent emphasizes that the most important instrument you have in helping adolescents is yourself. In addition, qualities such as sensitivity, hope, compassion, control, awareness, and knowledge come into play as well. Parrott notes, The list could go on for several pages, if I listed all the positive qualities that good counselors need. What he does though is narrow down the list of essential qualities down to three. These three characteristics should take place as each leader takes a personal self-inventory before working with teens. Parrot highlights three important qualities any adult leader/counselor should have in working with adolescents: warmth, genuineness, and empathy. Without these traits, a persons condition may actually worsen regardless of the technical knowledge of the counselor. The first quality an effective counselor has is warmth. This is an attitude that does not evaluate or require change
