Growing Hope in our Young People

HOPE | Confident expectation of living a thriving, purpose driven life.

One of the things I love about using Narrative Therapy as a tool in counselling practice is its hopeful posture about who people are and who they can become – particularly in the face of negative experiences that generate negative ideas about who one is – for both the person, and those they are surrounded by. For instance, in the face of ‘getting in trouble,’ Narrative Therapy will acknowledge the tyranny of whatever is the ‘trouble,’ but it will eagerly seek out a different story with which this person might prefer to be identified – a story that is capable of producing different actions. Narrative Therapy believes that people are a bit like book shelves, that host not just one, but a range of stories – and although for all of us it is home to a number of unsavory stories (that perhaps reflect our fallenness), it is also, undoubtedly, home to some other, alternative stories that reflect that we each are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139) – in the image of a creative, good, God (Gen 1:27).

According to Erikson, during the stage of adolescence, it is the opinions of those in a young person’s social context outside of their family, that become one of the most powerful sites of influence in regard to what will shape their sense of who they are, and who they should become. ‘Successful’ progression, if you will, through this stage results in a young person that is clear on who they are and the direction they are headed. This progression will be impacted by what has been experienced during this time and what kind of people were (or were not) present. Stats show that Covid-19 and its associated periods of isolation – resulted in an increase of social anxiety upon life going back to normal; my sense is that there is some lingering anxiety for some of our young people even now – around social engagements and future-direction, as a result. This could be, at least in part, because there has been less opportunity (during a key developmental stage) for our young people to surround themselves with the kinds of social interactions that have the capacity to shape, and sharpen their sense of who they are, and thus, the direction they are headed.

If we are to respond accordingly in light of the disruptive events of the recent years (of which Covid is only one), then we will need to advocate for the availability of a range of voices, and thus stories, that can speak into and shape our young people in the way of flourishing and hope. This might look like advocating for good, kind and healthy friendships – pointing out when we see those kinds of friendships in action. It might look like allowing and fostering safe, wise and non-judgemental spaces in which the big ‘who am I?’ questions can be asked – perhaps through conversations with trusted counsellors, mentors or pastors. 

And finally for us as community of Christian faith, it looks like voicing theology – that guides and instructs, and, that welcomes the young person because they are uniquely made in the image of God – who are host to a range of stories; some preferred, and some not – but that regardless, whose baseline value is simply, loved, as a child of God. I think that is the most fruitful story of all with which to be identified, and that due to its redemptive, spiritually alive (Rom 8:11), nature – has much potential to partner with our young people through the turbulence of difficult, disruptive times and onward in the way of hope.

Annie Brown 
Head of Counselling