ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the adolescent life of four young people, namely Imran, Sharon, Tariq and Maria who have had dislocations and traumas in their lives which have had serious implications for their development. The Young People's Counselling Service was set up in 1961. Young people are asked to refer themselves and they ring to make an appointment. There is a counselling service secretary who explains the service, asks for the minimum of details and arranges the appointments. The service offers an informal, growth orientated model of work which encourages the young person in an exploration of 'where they are now' and is designed to encourage self discovery rather than dependency. Many of the young people who come to the service do not seek further help but, having taken the time to stop, listen and think about themselves with another person, hopefully they have found something useful to take with them on their journey.
