Review of Counseling adolescents

Abstract

Reviews the book, "Counseling adolescents," by Shirley A. Hamrin and Blanche B. Paulson (see record 1950-05289-000 ). This volume, the first book to be published in SRA's new Professional Guidance Service, will probably find itself most appreciated in guidance and education classes in college. It presents the counseling process in a simple, unsophisticated manner without any of the esoteric terminology or circumlocution which so often abounds in this type of literature. In presenting techniques utilized in counseling, the authors claim to be eclectic and state their views in non-technical and easily comprehensible language. They have given us an elementary introduction to the field and have personalized a good portion of the content, the words of wisdom being put into the mouths of two paragons of psychological virtue. The authors employ a common sense approach to the needs of adolescents and to their various pitfalls on the road to maturity and in so doing, they introduce wholesome ideas and attitudes in their own natural and unaffected way. Their treatment of psychological needs and mechanisms is an unpretentious one with emphasis being laid on bringing about an integrated adjustment in both the individual and environment rather than on altering one to suit the other. Each point is well demonstrated by the two fictionalized counselors who reappear through most of the chapters. The greatest value of this book may be found in its departure from a rigid or stereotyped counseling philosophy and in its freer and more individualized method of dealing with adolescent problems. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)