Adolescence
Psychotherapy and the Emergent Self
1st Edition
Published on 30. November 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
296 pages
978-1-138-00545-7 (ISBN)
Description
Many therapists can attest to the fact that adolescents can be difficult and frustating clients-problems are seldom well defined, clearly delineated symptoms are more exception than the rule, and troubling situations often involve the entire family.
Gestalt therapist Mark McConville draws on his more than twenty years of professional experience to offer clinicians an effective model for understanding and treating adolescents. He outlines the Developmental Tasks Model, which describes adolescents' struggles, "temporary insanity," and ultimately, triumph of development. He clearly demonstrates that the Gestalt therapeutic model bridges the theoretical and clinical gap, and offers an indepth exploration of the various aspects of clinical work.
Adolescence offers valuable nuts-and-bolts advice on initiating therapy with adolescents who are not yet ready to do the self-reflective, exploratory work. In addition, the book examines the therapeutic method of engaging and cultivating the adolescent's emerging inner world. With perception and sensitivity, McConville explains how the clinician can guide the adolescent in the very personal and subjective process of birthing and existential self.
The book details the process of the creative reorganization of the self during adolescence and explores the changes that take place in the adolescent's relationships with peers, parents, and others in the adult world. The author also tracks the interplay of intrapsychic and interpersonal boundary development and shows how this interplay manifests itself in relationships and evolves from early through late adolescence. The Gestalt model of therapy allows the clinician to make sense of the confusion of the adolescent world and map out the multiple possibilities of clinical interventions.
Gestalt therapist Mark McConville draws on his more than twenty years of professional experience to offer clinicians an effective model for understanding and treating adolescents. He outlines the Developmental Tasks Model, which describes adolescents' struggles, "temporary insanity," and ultimately, triumph of development. He clearly demonstrates that the Gestalt therapeutic model bridges the theoretical and clinical gap, and offers an indepth exploration of the various aspects of clinical work.
Adolescence offers valuable nuts-and-bolts advice on initiating therapy with adolescents who are not yet ready to do the self-reflective, exploratory work. In addition, the book examines the therapeutic method of engaging and cultivating the adolescent's emerging inner world. With perception and sensitivity, McConville explains how the clinician can guide the adolescent in the very personal and subjective process of birthing and existential self.
The book details the process of the creative reorganization of the self during adolescence and explores the changes that take place in the adolescent's relationships with peers, parents, and others in the adult world. The author also tracks the interplay of intrapsychic and interpersonal boundary development and shows how this interplay manifests itself in relationships and evolves from early through late adolescence. The Gestalt model of therapy allows the clinician to make sense of the confusion of the adolescent world and map out the multiple possibilities of clinical interventions.
Reviews / Votes
"This is a book that I have been hoping someone would write. It makes a unique and vital contribution to the literature of adolescent psychotherapy. I recommend this book to those of us who struggle with the emerging self of the adolescent."- Violet Oaklander, author, Windows to Our Children
"At last, a developmental stages model that is not linear and can account for the fits and starts and repeats of real life - and real adolescents. A joy to read, and of good practical value to all of us doing the real work in the trenches. I recommentd it heartily to graduate students and practitioners alike."
- Iris Fodor, Department of Applied Psychology, New York University
"Adolescence is an especially valuable addition to the literature on psychotherapy with adolescents. Dr. McConville's descriptions of how adolescents develop ownership of themselves through their visual and other sensory perceptions using their developing cognitive skills is a new and very practical approach to understanding the adolescent process. This is a must read book."
Doris Lamb, M.D., USC School of Medicine
"Mark McConville lays down a fresh and substantial foundation for understanding the adolescent experience. This is a generous and penetrating book."
- Richard Hawley, author, The Big Issues in the Passages to Adulthood
"Adolescence is the work of a wise therapist. It is a practical, compassionate guide to psychotherapy with adolescents."
- Michael Thompson, coauthor, Finding the Heart of the Child "... an exceptionally fine text combining research, theory, and practical knowledge ... the authors (a life span psychologist and clinical psychologist, respectively) have succeeded in their goals to both present the basics and `stimulate thinking, raise questions, and explore the frontiers of current knowledge.' For an upper-division or graduate course or any introductory course that wishes to take research seriously (this) text is the only one ... that we found acceptable. Both the depth of research presented and the critical issues raised by the authors make it a strong competitor with such books as Conger and Petersen (1984), Sprinthall and Collins (1984), and Steinberg (1985)."
-Contemporary Psychology
"The main thing that sets (this book) apart from the other books on adolescence is its frankness. This is a welcome relieve in an area hedged about by taboo and consequent misinformation...It will be a trendsetter."
-James D. Weinrich
Boston University Medical School
"Having used (this book) as the text in my psychology course for undergraduates, I would recommend it highly to other teachers."
-Alexandra Woods
City College, CUNY
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Professional
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-138-00545-7 (9781138005457)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2013
Gestalt Press
€65.99
Available for download
E-Book
06/2013
Gestalt Press
€65.99
Available for download
Book
02/1998
1st Edition
Analytic Press,U.S.
€81.99
Shipment within 3-4 weeks
Person
Mark McConville is a psychotherapist in private practice in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in adolescent and family psychotherapy. He is on the faculty of the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland. In addition, he serves as clinical consultant for the Shaker Heights Youth Center and is affiliated consultant for Hathaway Brown School and University School, both in the greater Cleveland area.
Content
Part I: Adolescent Development: A Tasks Model. A Framework for Adolescent Development. The Child Self and the Family. Reorganizing the Interpersonal World. Taking Ownership of the Self. The Polarities of Adolescence and Development. The Tasks of Adolescence. Part II: Adolescents and Psychotherapy: Application of the Tasks Model. The Structure of Adolescent Psychotherapy. Addressing Family Process. Initiating the Therapeutic Relationship. From the Family to the Self: The Psychotherapy of Disembedding. The Inner World of the Adolescent: The Psychotherapy of Interiority and Integration.