Child and Adolescent Therapy

The most comprehensive textbook on the theory, research, and practice of child and adolescent therapy

Child and Adolescent Therapy: Science and Art is a unique textbook that introduces readers to all the major theoretical orientations (CBT, family systems, etc.) and applies them to the common diagnostic categories (anxiety, disruptive behavior, etc.). Rather than championing one therapeutic approach above the others, it identifies the strengths and applicability of each, with an emphasis on matching strategies to client needs and preferences. The central theme is the integration of outcome research and clinical reasoning to choose techniques and personalize counseling for each client. The vast literature on therapy outcomes is distilled into user-friendly summaries with clear conclusions and implications for treatment planning.

The book models the thought processes of expert clinicians as they integrate theoretical principles, research findings, and observations of clients in real time to conceptualize cases, make clinical decisions, and decide what to say next. Theoretical concepts, empirically supported treatments, and best practices are translated into numerous examples of therapist statements and conversations between counselor and client. Unlike edited books with chapters by different authors, this work is an integrated whole, with connections between chapters, a building block approach to learning, and unifying themes developed throughout the book.

The Third Edition has been thoroughly updated to reflect current research and clinical advances. It features new material on:

• The Internal Family Systems therapeutic model
• Modular psychotherapies 
• Transdiagnostic approaches 
• Head-to-head comparisons between empirically supported therapies

This textbook offers a thorough and practical introduction for graduate students in psychology, counseling, and social work. It also serves as a valuable resource for practicing mental health professionals who want to fill gaps in their knowledge, catch up with the outcome research, and learn new techniques. Purchasers get access to a companion website where they can download therapy handouts; instructors can also download teaching materials such as questions for discussion and exam questions.