Therapeutic engagement with adolescents in psychotherapy

Therapeutic engagement of adolescents is critical to maximizing the success of any psychotherapy intervention. Therapists have found that engaging adolescents is especially challenging and that there are several reasons for this. Most psychotherapy models are based on treatments that work for adults...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychotherapy (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2003-09, Vol.40 (3), p.215-225
Main Authors: Oetzel, Keri Bolton, Scherer, David G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent Development
Adolescent Psychotherapy
Human
Intervention
Psychotherapeutic Processes
Psychotherapy
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Summary:Therapeutic engagement of adolescents is critical to maximizing the success of any psychotherapy intervention. Therapists have found that engaging adolescents is especially challenging and that there are several reasons for this. Most psychotherapy models are based on treatments that work for adults. These methods are frequently not conducive to engaging adolescents because of their developmental immaturity, the stigma many adolescents associate with psychotherapy, and adolescents feeling forced into psychotherapy. Existing empirical and clinical knowledge about therapy process, adolescent development, and adolescent interactions with their social ecology can be used to guide psychotherapists working with this population. Engaging adolescents in psychotherapy and establishing a strong therapeutic alliance with adolescents require that therapists express empathy and genuineness, utilize developmentally appropriate interventions, address the stigma, and increase choice in therapy.
ISSN:0033-3204
1939-1536
DOI:10.1037/0033-3204.40.3.215