Treating the Unmanageable Adolescent

The book is solid throughout, including useful comments about the role of family and school in successful treatment, but the book really sings when it deals with the reality of the direct interaction with these youngsters in therapy, individual or group. The techniques offered for 'selling' therapy to the negative antisocial youngster alone are worth reading the book. It's a jewel written by someone who obviously has spent many hours nimbly sliding past the rage and distrust to touch the humanity at the core of all these young people. -- John E. Meeks Warning: Start this book and you may be hooked! Neil Bernstein represents the best of the new mental health mentors, the outstanding playercoach. His long and varied experience with oppositional adolescents combined with an ability to integrate psychodynamic and behavioral theory gives us a model text. This wonderful handbook for mental health professionals is so clear and sensible that parents, teachers, judges, clergy, and policy makers will be able to find out for themselves what makes problem kids tick and what to do about it. -- E. James Lieberman

Neil Bernstein, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice, has specialized in treating adolescents for the past twenty years. He has consulted to a number of schools, clinics, and psychiatric hospitals. Previously, he served as chief psychologist at a private psychiatric hospital, director of a behavior clinic at a large metropolitan children's center, and as a forensic consultant. Dr. Bernstein is a highly regarded expert on adolescent issues whose publications include Treatment of the Resistant Adolescent, Managing the Difficult Adolescent Patient, and Getting Adolescents on Track: The Crucial Ingredients.

Chapter 1 Understanding the Disruptive Behavior Disorders Chapter 2 Laying the Groundwork for the Therapeutic Alliance Chapter 3 Creating a Climate for Change: Diffusing Resistance Chapter 4 A Model for Confrontation and Limit Setting Chapter 5 The Role of Therapist Self-Disclosure Chapter 6 The Road to Self-Control Chapter 7 Developing the Necessary Interpersonal Skills Chapter 8 Building Self-Esteem Chapter 9 Developing Empathy, Morality, and Vulnerability Chapter 10 Guidelines for Managing Behavior Problems Chapter 11 Challenging Poor School Performance and Other Failures to Thrive Chapter 12 Working with Families Chapter 13 Special Considerations for Group Treatment Chapter 14 Putting it All Together Chapter 15 Hard-Core Youth: Learning from Treatment Failures