Adolescent Group Therapy - by George R Holmes & Robert V Heckel & Lucille Gordon (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book offers a health-oriented, integrative approach to adolescent group therapy. George R. Holmes and his associates believe that promoting social competency in each adolescent group member is central to successful therapy. The enablement of interpersonal skills neutralizes the environmentally sponsored psychopathology that adolescents use to survive. The authors also emphasize the co-therapy relationship. They offer recommendations for supervising trainee therapists and for applying their model to other contexts, such as high schools.

The authors discuss strategies developed in their clinical work, covering such issues as scapegoating, silence, and withdrawal. They explore how processes, roles, and meaningful issues change over the life of the group. Social competency should be the main focus, they argue: it is essential to nurturing self-parenting skills and a healthy identity. The co-therapy relationship--the interaction between co-therapists and among co-therapists and group members--also greatly determines therapeutic change. The book includes recommendations for supervising trainee therapists and for applying this model to other contexts, such as high schools. Adolescent Group Therapy will be of interest to students and to teachers and professionals in psychology, counseling, vocational rehabilitation, social work, nursing, education, and child and adolescent psychiatry.

Book Synopsis

This book offers a health-oriented, integrative approach to adolescent group therapy. George R. Holmes and his associates believe that promoting social competency in each adolescent group member is central to successful therapy. The enablement of interpersonal skills neutralizes the environmentally sponsored psychopathology that adolescents use to survive. The authors also emphasize the co-therapy relationship. They offer recommendations for supervising trainee therapists and for applying their model to other contexts, such as high schools.

The authors discuss strategies developed in their clinical work, covering such issues as scapegoating, silence, and withdrawal. They explore how processes, roles, and meaningful issues change over the life of the group. Social competency should be the main focus, they argue: it is essential to nurturing self-parenting skills and a healthy identity. The co-therapy relationship--the interaction between co-therapists and among co-therapists and group members--also greatly determines therapeutic change. The book includes recommendations for supervising trainee therapists and for applying this model to other contexts, such as high schools. Adolescent Group Therapy will be of interest to students and to teachers and professionals in psychology, counseling, vocational rehabilitation, social work, nursing, education, and child and adolescent psychiatry.

Review Quotes

?It is quite thought provoking and adds much to the available thinking about the treatment of disturbed adolescents.?-Meninger Clinic Bulletin

?The authors offer not only a sound model for adolescent group treatment, but the strong emphasis on actual practice can aid the practioner in his or her daily work. At one point in reading this book, I noted how much underlining I was doing; I realized this was occurring due to the many excellent ideas in this book.?-American Journal of Psychotheraphy

?This book is written in a clear, concise style that adroitly interweaves concepts and research findings with applications from the practice and experience of the authors. The whys and wherefores of conducting a group with adolescents are nicely framed within the context of the developmental needs, tasks, and obstacles particular to this life-cycle stage.?-Families in Society

"It is quite thought provoking and adds much to the available thinking about the treatment of disturbed adolescents."-Meninger Clinic Bulletin

"The authors offer not only a sound model for adolescent group treatment, but the strong emphasis on actual practice can aid the practioner in his or her daily work. At one point in reading this book, I noted how much underlining I was doing; I realized this was occurring due to the many excellent ideas in this book."-American Journal of Psychotheraphy

"This book is written in a clear, concise style that adroitly interweaves concepts and research findings with applications from the practice and experience of the authors. The whys and wherefores of conducting a group with adolescents are nicely framed within the context of the developmental needs, tasks, and obstacles particular to this life-cycle stage."-Families in Society

About the Author

GEORGE R. HOLMES is Professor of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychology at the William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute. He has published numerous articles in a wide range of journals, including the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology and the American Journal of Psychiatry.

ROBERT V. HECKEL is Professor of Psychology at the University of South Carolina. He is author of 22 books and monographs on clinical psychology.

LUCILLE GORDON has a private practice and is Executive Director of the United Behavioral Clinics of Columbia.