The teenager who explodes by putting a fist through a wall or who desperately turns to cocaine or who retreats into anxious and withdrawn states is telling us, in his or her own way, about a disturbed sense of self. These behavior patterns, bizarre or self-destructive as they appear, actually reflect attempts to re-balance or protect the fragile self.
This book describes an innovative treatment program for troubled adolescents that addresses central problems of the self. The problems of substance abuse, anxiety, aggression, self-destructive behavior, eating disorders, and mood swings can usually be traced to fundamental deficits, particularly in the ability to self-soothe.
PRISM, the Program for Innovative Self-Management, uses a range of carefully designed strategies to address these central problems of the adolescent self. Beyond describing the actual program, this book presents a philosophy which naturally generates techniques that make sense and engage teenagers in creative ways.
The guiding philosophy throughout this program emerges from Heinz Kohut's self-psychology: most behavior represents the individual's attempt to cope with anxiety and maintain a cohesive sense of self. All of the interventions are designed to help adolescents establish a more developed sense of self: self-esteem, self-regulation, self-control, self-soothing, self-stimulation, and self-efficacy.
In designing interventions, the author and his colleagues draw upon the hypnotic techniques of Milton Erickson and the cognitive therapy of Aaron Beck. Strategies for visualization, self-hypnosis, stress innoculation, cognitive restructuring, assertiveness training and psychodrama are described in detail. As illustrated in the extensive case examples, innovative interventions, such as "freeze-frame", the "ally", and the "time machine", help teenagers dramatically identify and integrate new options.
While PRISM has been developed within a short-term hospital program for adolescents, the principles and techniques can be adapted for a wide range of settings. The book has been written primarily with clinicians and members of the helping professions in mind; however, it is presented in down-to-earth language that reveals the author's deep understanding of the adolescents he meets everyday. This will make it valuable to anyone trying to understand and deal with adolescents, including parents.