Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Adolescents With Severe Personality Disorders

Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Adolescents With Severe Personality Disorders is a comprehensive, compassionate presentation of this specialized psychodynamic psychotherapy. It is based on contemporary psychoanalytic object relations theory and provides a safe space for patients to examine emotions, relationships, and past trauma. The book covers techniques such as creating a holding environment, assuming an active stance, engaging in the interpretive process, analyzing transference and countertransference, achieving technical neutrality, and ensuring interventions are developmentally informed. It also discusses the attributes that make a clinician a good fit for transference-focused psychotherapy and includes assessment scales and forms.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 275 pages
Publication date: 14 June 2021
Publisher: American Psychiatric Association Publishing

Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Adolescents With Severe Personality Disorders is a comprehensive and compassionate approach to this specialized psychodynamic psychotherapy. Similar to the transference-focused psychotherapy model developed for borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adults, the version for adolescents is based on contemporary psychoanalytic object relations theory, as developed by renowned thinker Otto Kernberg, one of the authors of this insightful manual. The book addresses a pressing need: There is relatively limited research on promising treatments for adolescents with personality disorders (PDs), in part due to clinicians' hesitation to diagnose PD in such young patients (due to stigma and other factors), although it is evident that a constellation of symptoms can be observed in children and adolescents. However, these personality issues are unlikely to resolve without interventions specifically designed to address adolescents.

In TFP-A, the psychotherapist creates a safe space for patients to examine their emotions, relationships, and past trauma, with the primary goal of helping them gain better behavioral control, enhance affect regulation, develop more intimate and fulfilling relationships with family, peers, or close friends, and engage in a productive life that aligns with their current and future goals.

Noteworthy themes and features of the text include:
1. Emphasis on the therapist as the third voice, acting as an interpreter and mediator between the adolescent, the parental couple, and conventional society and its values. The ultimate objective is to foster ego integration sufficient to enable the adolescent to proceed under their own agency.
2. Thorough coverage of the techniques employed in TFP-A, including creating a holding environment, assuming an active stance, and utilizing various therapeutic interventions to address the unique needs of adolescents with severe PDs.
3. Integration of concepts from other therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), to complement and enhance the effectiveness of TFP-A.
4. Exploration of the challenges and complexities associated with working with adolescents with severe PDs, including issues related to trust, boundary setting, and family dynamics.
5. Practical strategies and techniques for implementing TFP-A with adolescents, including fostering a collaborative and strengths-based approach, addressing resistance and transference, and promoting self-awareness and self-regulation.
6. Case examples and vignettes to illustrate the application of TFP-A in real-world clinical settings, showcasing the potential benefits and challenges of this approach.
7. A comprehensive bibliography and resources for further reading and professional development, providing clinicians with a valuable resource to enhance their knowledge and expertise in working with adolescents with severe PDs.

In conclusion, Transference-Focused Psychotherapy for Adolescents With Severe Personality Disorders offers a comprehensive and compassionate approach to addressing the unique needs of adolescents with severe PDs. By integrating contemporary psychoanalytic theory with practical strategies and techniques, this manual provides clinicians with the tools they need to effectively support and guide adolescents on their journey toward emotional well-being and personal growth.

Weight: 372g
Dimension: 154 x 233 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781615373147