In overall counseling field, counseling for the aged has been an uncharted territory compared to the counseling for adults, adolescents and children. As the number of the aged grows faster, the number of older clients is inevitably increasing. But the...
In overall counseling field, counseling for the aged has been an uncharted territory compared to the counseling for adults, adolescents and children. As the number of the aged grows faster, the number of older clients is inevitably increasing. But the level and specialty of the counseling for the older has not kept up with this changing demography and the study on the aged has continued at a very lacklustre pace due to simple lack of interests in the old, uncertainty in the effectiveness of the study. Also the unspoken but rampant conventional wisdom that the old are just frail and unreliable is a key contributing factor behind this social neglect on the duty of caring more about the old. The difficulties due to these problems are also shown in the clinical area, Lack of understanding of the aged and overlooked distinctiveness of the old have made many counsellors repeat the same methods applied to general clients even while consulting the old.
This study is designed to take a close look at desperate needs for specialized and developed counselling for the aged and the potential usefulness of storytelling approach as a counselling therapy for the aged. This therapeutic approach is for the aged to live a better life in their senescence. This study results show the potential usefulness of storytelling approach as a counselling therapy for the aged. The value of this therapy lies in postmodern philosophy and social constructionism. This therapy sets itself apart from other stereotyped approaches that are already used in general counselling in the from of so called psycho dynamics an counselling. First, it has the philosophical perspective on persons that they are creative and flexible. Second, it perceives that the problems involved in the old are seamless parts of a society. Third, it has the humble attitude of not knowing. The adovacy for identity of a client, partnership formed between a counsellor and a client, and the pursuit of community life differentiate the narrative therapy from other general therapies. The advantages of this therapy is that it encourages the old to play a central role in solving their problems and the old to become the storytellers.
As shown above, the approach of storytelling is distinct in that the counsellor plays a role of helping clients to be more aware of themselves by not being in control of them. Through this process, the old can be more adjusted to their old age with more willingness to enrich their lives. This study is meaningful attempts to develop models for counseling for the aged made by a field specialist in the welfare of the old for a longtime. Even though it's not perfect, the efforts made to reinterpret storytelling approach as a counselling therapy for the old are meaningful for counselling in the making.