For many people (both male and female), the whole idea of menstruation is "icky", yet this is a subject that female clients (who are of reproductive age) should be asked about, whether they are in a committed sexual relationship or not. Why? When girls get close to puberty, the endocrine system activates hormones that begin to make changes in the body. Hormones, on the most basic level, stimulate growth and the development of the reproductive system in both male and females. In females, breasts develop, hair grows under the arms and pubic area and menstruation begins (King & Regan, 2014). Once ovulation and menstruation starts the female can become pregnant. Inquiring about one’s menstrual cycle can help to the counselor and client …show more content…
In the event a woman has started her menstrual cycle and has had sexual intercourse, some of these questions may be warranted if her period has suddenly ceased. Consequently, unusual physical, emotional or other sudden changes may also be important to note. It is also a good teaching opportunity for those who may not be as knowledgeable about sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, birth control, female anatomy and physiology or other issues they may want to discuss.
Should the subject be raised with male clients who are in a sexual relationship? Why or why not?
This question does not have an exact yes or no answer in my opinion. If a male client comes to a counselor and wishes to discuss their sexual relationship then I would say yes. Once again, as most of us noted in the sexuality quiz, we do not automatically or naturally have all the knowledge surrounding the multitude of topics about human sexuality. I feel we should make our clients as relaxed as possible discussing these subjects and be willing to listen and discuss with empathy. Males may not know or understand premenstrual syndrome or its symptoms. Consequently, it may help them to comprehend the implications that affect both he and his partner. If any of these issues are not relevant or the male does not seem open to discussing them, then I do not feel the subject should be raised. If the female is also a client, the counselor can not breach confidentiality to discuss her issues with her partner.
Do
Girl’s breasts will begin to swell from around the age of 10 and continue. They will also develop hair in the pubic region which will darken and become curly. Their body shape will change to become more rounded and curvy. Some girls may be physically mature by the age of 15 and nearly at their full adult height although she may still develop larger breasts and a fuller figure. This is of course dependant on the age at which she begins puberty of which there are huge variations ranging from 8 until late teens. The average age for girls to begin menstruation is around 13.
In the relationship between counsellor and client the need for confidentiality is vital as it is not only the bases that the relationship is built on and it is a legal obligation.
Between twelve and nineteen years old, coordination and strength increase in boys and girls and by nineteen or twenty, they have full adult motor capabilities. Physical developments and changing appearances occur in both genders, though usually earlier in girls than boys. After initial breast budding at around ten, girl’s breasts begin to swell, pubic hair begins to grow and their bodies develop womanly curves. Some girls start to develop at eight and by thirteen are physically mature, but the age and speed of development varies widely. The average age for the start of menstruation is thirteen. Adolescence usually starts at about fourteen in boys – their voices drop and become deeper, they start to grow body hair and they gain muscle, testicular and scrotum growth. Again, there is great variation in
My client Stacey had her first period when she was 13. She didn’t suffer any physical or mental problems when she first started her periods.
Menstruation is a normal part of life with the female body. Unfortunately, many young women today still face shame when their cycle comes along. Due to lack of resources and the feel of shame, many young girls around the world are forced to miss school or drop out once they get their periods. With some cultures, women do not speak about menstruation with their daughters and what to expect. Planned Parenthood has helped educate and inform people of menstruation and birth controls. One way that Planned Parenthood helps women are through period trackers. They have made period tracking easy for women by creating an app that provides guidance, tips and fun facts for women who have questions or are ashamed to speak about
Your post is very informative, and provides some interested points in the learning forum. When comparing both ACA and NAADAC, ACA group dual relationships in a forbidden non-counseling Roles and Responsibility, which makes it more clearly about the specific of behaviors in-person and electronic interactions and relationships (ACA, Code of Ethics, 2014). NAADAC also stated that counselors should not engage in dual relationships. One example of a dual relationship is engaging in a sexual relationship between a former or current client. The NAADAC, the guidelines do not include a specific guidance of the appropriateness of the relationship. It just enforced that under no circumstances the practitioners should engage in sexual behavior
When a counselor has a validation issue they should seek there supervisor advice. When intimate questions are discussed with inexperience persons it drives your interest. When a man give a woman compliment at each gathering she feels special and want to hear more and do more. So as a counselor to client getting involve with intimate sexual conversation must be a limit to discussing. The discussion should be in a written form when the counselor feels their hormone is becoming elevated. The client may feel the same; the counselor is in control of the session leave the room as they write. Once the counselor return to the session and regrouped, redirect the client with healthy talk not sexual talk. The counselor once boundaries and limits are set encourages the client to write a personal dairy of their personal intimacy thoughts to share with their love one in the future.
It seems to me that people have not taken the time to educate themselves on the issue, which is why I cringed, both internally and externally, when Asif made the statement regarding homosexuality as a choice. So much research has been done and will continue to be done on this topic, that it is important as future clinicians, as well as human beings, that we stay up to date with it, in order to better understand our clients and the issues that they are faced with, which will ultimately help us be more respectful when treating them. Of course this is not the only subject where this can be applied, it can be used in the context of any issues being faced by our clients. For example, women’s right to equality, is another issue being discussed a lot recently that may come up while working with
A counselor’s primary goal is to have integrity, while also having the client’s well-being as a priority. While competency is the most important factor in professional counseling, a level of trust needs to be met between the client and the counselor. When a client has full confidence that the counselor will maintain confidentiality, the counselor’s integrity has been established and the client can being to open up more to the counselor, establishing better tools for increasing mental health (Sanders, et. al., 2013, p. 263). Sexual identity therapy is also a potential means of.
The tips provided in the latter part of the pamphlet attempt to dispel earlier false, preconceived notions of menstruation yet they adhere to the dominant ideologies of femininity. This is emphasized through images which specifically place the female character in the home and ultimately illustrate that marriage and reproduction are necessary highlights in a successful lady’s timeline (or lifeline?). The booklet maintains menstruation as a “new set of problems” that young women must now learn to cope with and in order to do so, Kotex will lead the way. Much like learning how to properly curl your hair or learning to allow a gentleman to pay for the date, Kotex was now the answer for being “in the know” when it comes to menstrual
Therapy relationships with clients. The psychologist to patient relationship during therapy is a crucial aspect. It is within ethical guidelines that the psychologist clearly establish his role whether it be with an individual, group, or family therapist. These roles need to be understood for the variety of issues that may arise; one of which is the disclosure of information. Psychologists, for obvious reasons, are not to have sexual relationships with patients or former patients within a
There are several myths about the female and male sexual anatomy, physiology and sexual response. I will discuss woman’s menstrual cycle, women breast and male genitals. You can determine when a women menstruating by her bad attitude. I have always felt this was a myth, simply because there could be other reasons for having a bad attitude. However the truth to this myth is that women can experience emotional, mental, and physical change approximately 7-14 days prior to their menstruation. The female body can adjust itself to have the same or close to the same cycle of the women they live with. Yaber (2013) states, “Women who live and work together often develop similarly timed menstrual cycles called menstrual synchrony (p.102). Breast-The
It is important for a counselor to first recognize the sexual attraction and be aware of these feelings. It is often the case that a counselor will ignore these feelings or dismiss them given the rather taboo nature of the counselor viewing their patient as sexually attractive (Gallagher, 2010). The lack of acknowledgement of these feelings or urges can increase the risk that they could manifest. Identifying them is the first step in ensuring that appropriate responses can be developed that will allow the counselor to maintain their ethical integrity. Once the attraction is brought into the open there are many ways in which it can be handled. However, if the attraction is not identified then this puts both the client and counselor at an increased risk for damages to one or both parties.
In girls, puberty starts with breast development, which now often begins by age 10. But puberty's landmarks are the first ejaculation in boys, usually by about age 12, and the first menstrual period in girls, usually within a year of age 12. (p. 165)
Usually, the first theme that arises with the thought of adolescence is puberty, which can be a tumulus time. Puberty is a time of rapid physical maturation including hormonal and bodily changes. These changes include menarche, weight gains, height gains, and hormonal changes (McGraw Hill Education, 2015). Personally, puberty was a time of rapid growth; I went from kids sizes to adult sizes in the matter of a few months. As an early-maturing girl, I was confused and surprised when I started to notice the changes occurring to my body; I started to form breasts and my figure began to change drastically. I no longer had the body types of my friends who were boys. Nevertheless, these changes began to occur and I wasn’t prepared for one of the markers of “womanhood”; my first menstruation. I went through lectures with my mother and she gave me “talks”, but when it came to reality, I wasn’t prepared. However, with a little patience I have survived the most difficult parts of puberty but this isn’t the only thing adolescences have to deal with.