Page 78 - Youth Discipleship Student Textbook

Study Section 13: Counseling Youth in Crisis

13.1 Connect

We live in an extremely immoral and sinful world. It does not take too long in ministry to
encounter youth who have been seriously damaged by the wickedness of others. In your
position of leadership, you will find yourself in counseling situations where you have no
answers to the problems being presented to you. Fortunately, God has the answers for
every problem you will face.

Our nation consumes thousands of acts of sinful behavior daily on the television or at the movies. This
consumption enters the heart of sinful men and motivates them to copy the same black-hearted deeds.
They watch a person get revenge against a person who offends them, contrary to what God desires. On
one particular video game, if you shoot a person in the head rather than in the chest, you get extra
points. We look at these things and say, “SICK, SICK, SICK!” But someday, you will sit face to face with a
youth who is the victim of these horrific crimes. What are you going to say to them? How should you
approach such a situation? Today we are going to learn some basic counseling principles that may help
prepare you for that day…

13.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe the types of crisis that youth experience.

2. The student should be able to explain the best approach to counseling youth in crisis.

3. The student should be able to understand and explain how to counsel youth who are thinking of
suicide, sex abuse, disrupted families, and substance abuse.

13.3 Counseling Youth in Crisis

Whether you like it or not, counseling or giving advise will become a significant part of the
youth ministry – regardless of the age group. Kids from 13 to 20 all have problems that seem
huge to them, and some are. Because of your position in leadership, you will be looked to for
answers by students, parents, and the community.

Anytime a person feels that they have lost control of their lives and cannot effectively cope,
they can enter a “crisis mode.” These may include unwanted pregnancy, eating disorders, suicide,
neglect, abusive parents, death of a loved one, delinquent behavior, runaways, assault, drug abuse,
alcoholism, divorce, promiscuity, homosexuality, gender crisis, truancy, rebellion, and medical problem.

If you have established a relationship with your young people, they will generally open up to you when
they know you will listen and have possible solutions. Listening to them communicates value and
significance to your students. So rather than telling them what to do, listen to them carefully before you
give them some advice or intervene in the situation.

The best approach to deal with a youth who has come to you in crisis is to:

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