Anorexia nervosa is a rare but sever psychiatric disorder in adolescence, with chronicity and death being the most feared consequence. Emotional Insight into one's problem is considered a key determinant of success in therapy. The following case study of a 14-year-old client, describes the process of therapy as it unfolded across 45 sessions. An…

This article explores the theory and practice of using the solution-focused approach of motivational interviewing (MI) with young people. MI is based on the premise that people are not always at a stage of readiness to change behaviours, such as smoking, drinking or drug use, which are perceived by others to be problematic. The article explores…

This article describes a strengths-based alternative to substance abuse treatment. Many contemporary youth are experiencing problems with alcohol or other drugs but reject the message of total abstinence and disease models of treatment. The authors draw from their experience and research to combine a strengths perspective with a harm-reduction…

Relationship Enhancement (RE) therapy can be a useful intervention for adolescents with serious mental illness and their family members. This article reviews the basic concepts and effectiveness of RE therapy and illustrates how it is implemented. Presents a case example and discusses implications for research and mental health counseling.…

Discusses role of shame in adolescent suicidal behaviors using psychoanalytic self-psychology of Heinz Kohut as theoretical foundation. Describes shame as central component of suicidal behavior within context of adolescence. Offers theoretical explanation of adolescent suicidal behavior from self-psychology perspective. Presents suggestions for…

Absent from current child psychotherapy research is attention to theories, mechanisms, and processes that explain how therapy works. In keeping with the arguments in Hughes' target article, this paper builds on the ideas that there is a need for theory in child and adolescent therapy research, along with a progression from description to…

An important construct in positive psychology is life satisfaction (LS). Although its importance has been recognized by some school psychologists, research findings have remained unsynthesized. In this article, theory, measurement, and correlates of LS among children and youth are reviewed. Following this review, interrelationships among LS…

Discusses research issues in childhood depression including advantages/disadvantages of research designs, level of diagnosis used, significance of age of onset on severity, and specific areas of needed research. Concludes that many depressive symptoms are transient, diminishing or disappearing with age and/or changing environmental circumstances,…

Points out differences between target article and commentaries comprising special issue on role of theory in the science of treating children. All acknowledge the value of theory for psychosocial intervention, although some approach theory from different epistemologies. Argues that it is essential to the vitality of school psychology for…

Examined why a particular adolescent in a family is referred for psychotherapy, using a systems approach. Results showed differences between the distance-sensitive family and the consensus-sensitive family regarding the function of the symptom and the process of selecting of the sibling as the index patient. (WAS)

The fact that religiosity has been consistently associated with positive mental health outcomes is a warrant for counselors to explore the resources of one's religious tradition for therapeutic change. Argues that pastoral counseling is particularly suited for addressing the ego development needs of adolescents, and that the vicissitudes of…

Reviews several central themes raised in Hughes' target article that are appropriate for further development of intervention research, including the beneficial aspects of empirically supported treatments (ESTs); importance of theory in intervention development; and models of developmental psychopathology. Comments on potential dialectic between…

Refocuses Hughes arguments, in target article, away from empirically supported treatments (ESTs) and back to science-practice links to services. Discusses the importance of theory in school psychology practice and research. Argues that theory alone is insufficient when considering services for children and families. Suggests the EST movement helps…

Describes the nature of cognitive therapy, some current theoretical perspectives, and application to three specific populations: children and adolescents, the elderly, and those with eating disorders. (Author/BL)

The adolescent group raises a special set of counter-transferential problems for its leader in outpatient settings. It is also characterized by the kind of upheaval inimitable to the adolescent world which makes its formation difficult, its duration often short-lived. (Author)