ABSTRACT
In the presence of rapid developmental and cultural change for pre-adolescents, the value of a timeless and transcendent therapeutic framework is a significant asset to both professional scholarship and applied clinical practice. A clinician’s cultural humility and embodiment of the ORCA-Stance amid the tween experience is paramount to pre-adolescents welcoming the therapeutic relationship, especially for youth often beginning therapy for the first time. When clinicians engage in the full belief of their young client’s unique and valuable identity in the world, these contributions to his/her development are compelling as they unfold in the unique microcosm of therapy. Engaging this practice well invites us to explore the array of messages of tween culture and the social constructs surrounding them – casting aside pre-conceived notions of a pre-adolescent’s journey, resisting messages of potential tween stereotypes, and posturing respectful curiosity without imposing a need to fix or change young lives often intertwined in systems seeking concrete remedy and resolutions. A tween touched by the postures and practices of the ORCA-Stance will be enriched by a therapeutic foundation and clinical legacy far transcending these fleeting and formative years. A case study is examined and best practices suggested.
