Breaking through to Teens: A New Psychotherapy for the New Adolescence

Review
"This is a remarkable book written by a renowned psychologist and therapist. Dr. Taffel presents a new, exciting approach for working with adolescents of the 21st century. He describes this approach with exquisite clarity and vivid case examples, and in the process challenges long-held views of existing therapy models. Every page bears witness to Dr. Taffel's empathy and warmth and his understanding of adolescents and their families. This book is a wonderful resource for both beginning and experienced therapists, and should also serve as a major text in courses in counseling and therapy."--Robert Brooks, PhD, Harvard Medical School; author of The Self-Esteem Teacher

"Taffel provides us with a veritable feast of wonderful and compelling ideas about how to make deep connections with 21st-century adolescents. A welcome antidote to all the hand-wringing about the alien behavior of 'kids today,' Taffel's relational-behavioral paradigm fills a void left by traditional theories that do not emphasize an authentic and enduring relationship as the primary treatment technique for reaching teens. From the numerous, specific case examples and therapy dialogues, to precise questions to consider and ask, this book fills a hunger that therapists--like the parents and adolescents they treat--have for guidance without equivocation. Graduate students, beginning clinicians, and experienced practitioners will find here a powerful approach to making and sustaining transformative alliances with these most challenging cases."--Martha B. Straus, PhD, Department of Clinical Psychology, Antioch New England Graduate School

"Dr. Taffel returns from the front lines of working with kids and parents, with scary yet hopeful stories of what he sees today. His account is bold, honest, and clear. What we used to call 'at-risk' behavior is now normal teen behavior. America faces an epidemic of culturally induced anxiety in teens. Parents are not really in control. For clinicians who feel in over their heads with today's teens and families (and who doesn't?), thanks to this book, help is on the way."--Mary Pipher, PhD, author of Reviving Ophelia

"In this radical and exciting book, Dr. Taffel issues a challenge to counselors and therapists working with teenagers: Stop being so passive! Rethink the old rules! In this shrink-savvy generation, kids are expert at manipulating their parents and their therapists. Dr. Taffel offers many specific, helpful suggestions for getting teens into therapy and for getting them to stop their self-destructive behaviors."--Michael Thompson, PhD, coauthor of Raising Cain


Book Description
This book presents a powerful new framework for psychotherapy with today's teens, for whom high-risk behavior, lack of adult guidance, and intense anxiety and stress increasingly come with the territory. Ron Taffel's relational-behavioral model addresses the key challenge of building a therapeutic relationship that is strong enough to promote real behavioral and emotional change. Provided are effective ways to give advice that teens will listen to, get them to tell the truth about their lives, help parents reestablish their authority, and handle dilemmas around confidentiality. In addition, readers learn to expand the reach of therapy by such nontraditional means as inviting teens to bring friends into sessions. While designed for professionals, the book will also appeal to many parents for its expert perspective on the inner lives of adolescents.


About the Author
Ron Taffel, PhD, has supervised and written about working with children and families for over two decades. He is one of the country’s most sought-after speakers for both professional and parent audiences. Dr. Taffel is the award-winning author of over 100 academic and popular articles, and has been a contributing editor to <I>McCall’s<I*> and <I>Parents<I*> magazines for 14 years. His childrearing guides, translated into numerous languages, include the critically acclaimed <I>Parenting by Heart,<I*> <I>Nurturing Good Children Now,<I*> and <I>When Parents Disagree,<I*> as well as the professional handbooks <I>Getting Through to Difficult Kids and Parents<I*> and <*I>Breaking Through to Teens<*>. His latest popular book on adolescence, <I>The Second Family<I*>, was recently released in paperback. Dr. Taffel is the founder of Family and Couples Treatment Services at The Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy in New York City, where he lives with his wife and two children.



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This book presents a powerful new framework for psychotherapy with today's teens, for whom high-risk behavior, lack of adult guidance, and intense anxiety and stress increasingly come with the territory. In his trademark compassionate style, Ron Taffel confronts the key challenge of building a therapeutic relationship that is strong enough to promote real behavioral and attitudinal change. Provided are effective ways to give advice that teens will listen to, get them to tell the truth about their lives, help parents reestablish their authority, and handle dilemmas around confidentiality. In addition, readers learn to expand the reach of therapy by such nontraditional means as inviting teens to bring friends into sessions. While written for professionals, the book will also appeal to many parents for its expert perspective on the inner lives of adolescents.


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