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# Long description

This is a representation on Gerald Egan’s four stages of relationships. Each stage is represented in a text box, one on top of the other, with the first stage at the top. The first stage represents ‘the initial phase of a relationship; the primary concern is to establish rapport, to encourage young people to feel safe with you and to establish some ground rules for the relationship.’ The second stage represents ‘When some trust has developed, the young person may be more open to seeing things in a new light and to hearing new perspectives. You may be able to be more challenging, while being quite clear that you are challenging the behaviour and not the person.’ The third stage represents ‘The young person may now be ready to work on planning new ways of thinking, feeling and acting and to engage in their own reflective practice process.’ The fourth and final stage represents ‘the young people may feel they have now outgrown what you have to offer and will move on. At this stage you may offer them less intensive support so that you can begin to give other, more needy, young persons your attention. This also prevents the young person from becoming too dependent on you.’