I've worked with youth all my life. My advice: listen. It's so important that they know they've been heard. You want to make a difference, support them, guide them--in short, you want to use everything you've learned. Now take the "you" out of it and just listen - let them trust you to know that you're not adding, inferring or imposing your view. A note of caution - transference of spirit, and it works both ways. Don't know what this is? Better start there. Have you read the play Equus by Peter Shaffer? All about transference. "Is anyone listening to me today?" That's an awful place to be. Just listen and eventually they'll tell you what they need.
Thank you for this. Very wise and experienced advice.
We talk about the various kinds of transference and counter-transference in the skills classes, but I've never read Equus. I shall add it to my reading list. :)