Adventure-based counseling as a therapeutic intervention with court-involved adolescents

Richard S Maizell, Pace University

Abstract

This study explored the application of Adventure Based Counseling (ABC) (Shoel, Radcliffe & Prouty, 1988) as a model to enhance court adjudicated adolescents' self-concept and self-esteem, using outcome measures of school grades, disciplinary referral rate, attendance, self-concept and self-esteem inventories, participant self-report, and group progress notes. Thirty-one court adjudicated adolescents (23 males and 8 females) were selected based upon current probation status, school attended, and age. Three groups were created, including two intervention groups (G1, and G2) and one nonintervention group (NG). Quantitative assessment of results included the Battle Culture Free Self-Esteem Inventory (Battle, 1982), the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (Fitts, 1965), analysis of grade point averages, disciplinary referral rates, and daily attendance. Qualitative assessment included student self-report through Experiential Rating Sheets (ERS), verbal self-report, and group and individual progress notes. The major findings of this study were that participants in ABC significantly improved Physical, Moral, and Social Self-Concept, as well as Self-Satisfaction, and Total Self-Concept, as measured by the TSCS, when compared with a nonintervention group. Qualitative measures indicated a concordance with standardized measures. For G1, One-year follow-up on school-related measures indicated significant improvement in grades, and a significant reduction in disciplinary referrals. Additionally, significant improvement was also noted for grades and disciplinary referrals between post and follow-up measures. One-year follow-up on self-concept measures indicated significant improvement in Family, Social and Total Self-Concept, as well as Self-Identity and Self-Satisfaction, as measured by the TSCS. Additionally, significant improvement was also noted for Social Self-Concept and Self-Identity between post and follow-up measures. Significant improvement in Total Self-Esteem was also noted, as measured by the SEI. Qualitative measures for G1 indicated a concordance with standardized measures.

Subject Area

Psychotherapy

Recommended Citation

Maizell, Richard S, "Adventure-based counseling as a therapeutic intervention with court-involved adolescents" (1988). ETD Collection for Pace University. AAI8921901.
https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/dissertations/AAI8921901

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