Guidance
Guidance
What does Guidance Cover?
Conversation and advice based on trusted relationships with mentors
Young people need to know how to interact positively with friends, teachers, family, colleagues and people in authority in order to benefit from life’s opportunities. For those with social anxiety this can seem like an impossible task and they can find themselves spiralling into a world without outside links. If left unchallenged, this lifestyle can lead to isolation, depression and a lack of life choices. With our support, gentle conversation can help young people to explore communication skills which had previously held them back.
Social competence
Time spent explaining the ‘rules’ of social skills such as body language, facial expressions, tone of voice and personal space can be invaluable for young people who have not gained this understanding instinctively. Explaining general levels of expectation and social norms can open up a range of support and independence. When delivered in a lesson format with clear guidelines, young people can avoid the awkwardness and confusion associated with trying to fit in with fast developing and changing peer groups.
Listening without judgement
Experience with young people who find mainstream education and behaviour a challenge helps us to understand the type of difficulties they face and to deal with them head-on and without embarrassment. We encourage young people to make safe, positive life decisions through their own understanding and provide self-belief, education and information relating to risky behaviours.
Advising without expectation
The support and exercises allow for each individual to use the skills at their own pace and comfort. Often, opening up discussion about difficulties and anxieties is just the start of the young person recognising how relationships with others impact on our life. Giving them the skills and information without applying any pressure to ‘fit in’ is conducive to progress.
Supporting without instructing
Each individual is different and social skills are difficult to measure through graphs and spreadsheets. Conversations with parents and carers about the change in the young people in the home, including pointers and support with specific issues means a more holistic approach, resulting in a deeper and more profound improvement in self-esteem and confidence. There are no rules but tried and tested approaches often give the rest of the family some encouragement to support the young person and a ‘same page’ approach makes the rules and expectations less confusing.
'Young people's advice-seeking experiences differ markedly from those of the general population. Their attempts to obtain advice are relatively haphazard and unsuccessful, resulting in poor outcomes.'
Research Briefing from The Youth Access