Adolescent Group Therapy: A Social Competency Model

Offering a health-orientated, integrative approach to adolescent group therapy, this book is based on a belief that the promotion of social competency in each adolescent group member is central to successful therapy; and that the enablement of interpersonal skills neutralizes the environmentally sponsored psychopathology that adolescents use to survive. 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, and they argue that social competency should be the main focus. The book includes recommendations for supervising trainee therapists and for applying this model to other contexts, such as high schools.