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Swimming with Seals: The Developmental Role of Initiation Rituals in Work with Adolescents

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Abstract

This paper uses the story of one young man's coming of age to consider the natural process of initiation as a model for intentional work with youth. The paper proposes a conscious and meaningful rites-of-passage approach to helping children and youth (particularly troubled and troubling or out-of-control youth) by assisting them in a successful passage to adulthood.

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References

  • Farrer, C. L. (1987). Singing for life: The Mescalero Apache girls' puberty ceremony. In L. C. Mahdi, S. Foster, & M. Little (Eds.), Betwixt and between: Patterns of masculine and feminine initiation. LaSalle, IL: Open Court.

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  • van Gennup, A. (1960). Rites of passage. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

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Authors
  1. Edith Sullwold
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Sullwold, E. Swimming with Seals: The Developmental Role of Initiation Rituals in Work with Adolescents. Child & Youth Care Forum 27, 305–315 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022397228321

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022397228321

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