Schlossberg’s 4 "S’s" to Mentor & Guide: Self (3/5)

Self

Schlossberg’s second “S” is Self. The areas to consider when addressing “Self” are personal and demographic (P & D) characteristics and psychological resources.  P & D characteristics considers items affecting how the student views life and psychological resources includes what personal attributes one uses to cope with issues (Evans, et al., 2009).

Consider attaining the below information from the student records and allow that to inform the questions asked in all four of the “S’s.”  

Additionally, using the below elements as question prompts may be beneficial to guide the student to clarity as well.  Example questions to the student may be, “Considering you are a young family, serving in the military, in your second year of your undergraduate program, how do you think your current stage of life impacts your current transition?” and “You seem to present yourself as a very self-assured and confident individual, how may that help you in your current transitional challenge?”

Warning: Do not allow the gathered information to “bias” your interaction, but to “inform” the interaction.

Consider the following while using Socratic questioning when addressing the student concerning the SELF:

P & D - Individual elements that affect the student’s worldview/view of life:

            Socioeconomic Status
            Gender
             Psychological age
            Social age
            Functional age
            Stage of life
            State of health
            Ethnicity
            Culture

Psychological Resources- Personal elements one uses to cope:

            Coping ability
            Ego Development
            Optimism
            Self-efficacy
            Commitment
            Values
            Spirituality 

            Resilience