TPC-Digests-V1-Issues-123

Dating violence, which involves actual or threatened emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse within a dating relationship, has become an increasing concern among counselors working with adolescent populations (Craigen, Sikes, Healey, & Hays, 2009; Hays, Green, Orr, & Flowers, 2007). Limited research exists that explores dating violence perceptions and experiences of young adolescents. Previous research has involved retrospective studies, those requiring adults to recall events and attitudes from adolescence. In addition to these retrospective studies, other researchers have explored older adolescents’ experiences with dating violence. Information gathered from qualitative studies provides researchers with information about perceived risk factors and perceptions of violence, which can aid in the development of age and culturally appropriate interventions to reduce dating violence. Adolescence is an optimal time to intervene with education and skills to promote healthy dating relationships (Collins & Sroufe, 1999) and school and community counselors are well-positioned to help adolescents navigate these relationships (Davis & Benshoff, 1999; Hays, Craigen, Knight, Healey, & Danica G. Hays Rebecca E. Michel Rebekah F. Cole Kelly Emelianchik Julia Forman Sonya Lorelle Rebecca McBride April Sikes A b s t r a c t This phenomenology investigated how adolescents conceptualize and experience dating relationships. We explored adolescent females’ definitions of healthy and abusive relationships, experiences with unhealthy relationships, and responses to dating violence in order to develop effective strategies to intervene with this population. Implications for counseling practice, training and future research are discussed. February 7th, 2012 A P henomenological I nvestigation of A dolescent D ating R elationships and D ating V iolence C ounseling I nterventions TPC Digest Go To Article