臺灣老人諮商歷程之相關因素研究：諮商心理師觀點

基於臺灣社會的高齡化已成既定事實，未來諮商心理師勢必投注更多心力於老人諮商工作。老化議題包含身、心、靈、社會等各層面，諮商心理師面對老年案主的複雜議題及情境脈絡時，須以不同的考量及策略彈性因應。本研究旨在了解臺灣老人諮商之諮商歷程，探究臺灣社會文化脈絡下，老年族群的處境和所面臨的議題、老人諮商中的現象與互動歷程之特殊性、以及諮商師採取何種策略進行老人諮商。本研究採取質性研究方法，研究參與者為七位具有老人諮商工作經驗之臺灣諮商心理師，研究者透過半結構式個別訪談蒐集資料，並以紮根理論進行資料分析。研究發現與結論如下：一、諮商師理解老年族群之特性，並因應老年案主的發展成熟度、世代差異、社會情境與老年階段特定挑戰（Knight, 1999, 2004）等面向調整諮商方法，並衡量諮商倫理議題進行處遇。二、臺灣社會文化脈絡形塑了老人諮商的樣貌，本研究突顯出「社會文化脈絡中對老年／老人及生死議題的看待方式」，以及「當代社會文化變遷與傳統文化的交錯影響」如何反映於老人諮商。諮商師對此加以理解，覺察社會文化脈絡對自身態度與諮商關係的影響，並兼顧案主世界觀及專業助人者角色。三、諮商師對於個人經驗的自我覺察與反思，特別是生命中與年長者互動的經驗、失落或生死相關的議題等，對從事老人諮商具有重要性。四、老年案主在年齡共通特性之外，諮商師還需要尊重個體的獨特性與個別差異性。最後，根據研究結果與討論，提出對未來研究及諮商實務與教育訓練之建議。

關鍵字

老人；老人諮商；多元文化諮商；高齡化社會；諮商歷程

並列摘要

Taiwan is a rapidly aging society, so the counseling process with older adults is an important issue to understand better. The aging process includes physical, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions. Counselors must consider these dimensions of aging and develop appropriate intervention strategies in order to properly address the complex issues when working with older clients. This study aimed to explore the issues which occur in the counseling process with older adults in Taiwan’s socio-cultural context, including the challenges the older adults face, the unique ways older adult clients interact with counselors, and the techniques that counselors adopt in counseling the elderly. Seven Taiwanese counselors with experience working with elderly clients participated in the study. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed using grounded theory analysis. The findings and conclusions of the study included: 1. Counselors understand older adults’ unique characteristics, and adapt their counseling methods based on the context, cohort, maturity, and specific challenges of later life (Knight, 1999, 2004). They also consider the relevant ethical issues in counseling the elderly. 2. The socio-cultural context affects the process of counseling the elderly in Taiwan. Two themes of “societal perception of aging and death issues” and “the influence of traditional culture and modern society” emerged from the data. Counselors are aware of how the socio-cultural context influences their attitudes toward aging and the counseling relationship. When working with older adults, counselors consider both the worldview of the elderly clients and their roles as helping professionals. 3. Counselors’ self-awareness and reflection on personal experiences are important for working with older adults, including their daily life relationships with elderly people, and their own death anxiety or loss issues in the past. 4. Counselors recognize older adults’ uniqueness as human beings, and respect their individuality. Finally, based on the findings the theoretical implications, suggestions for future research, professional education, and practice related to elderly counseling are proposed.