TPC-Digests-V1-Issues-123

Sikes, 2009). While many adolescents begin dating before age 14, no previous studies to date have explored how your adolescents perceive and experience dating relationships. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to capture the essence of young adolescent female conceptualizations and experiences of intimate partner relationships and potentially identify counseling interventions. The following research questions were explored: (a) How do young adolescent females conceptualize healthy and abusive dating relationships? (b) What experiences do young adolescent females identify related to unhealthy relationships? and (c) What methods do young adolescent females identify as helpful in preventing and intervening in dating violence? Seven adolescent females ages 11 to 14 who had witnessed or experienced intimate violence participated in the study. Data were collected through four independent focus group interviews averaging 45-60 minutes. The following four themes were identified: conceptualization of healthy dating relationships; conceptualization of unhealthy dating relationships; exposure to relationship violence; and dating violence interventions. The participants identified components of healthy and unhealthy relationships. In addition to violence, participants suggested a number of strategies to intervene with dating violence. The authors provide a number of counseling interventions to be implemented in schools and communities based on participant data and previous research. While many adolescents begin dating before age 14, no previous studies to date have explored how your adolescents perceive and experience dating relationships. TPC Digest