Rebellious Adolescents: Is Toughlove the Answer?

Grassroots, mutual-help groups exist as an alternative or an addition to professional help for families who are experiencing aggressive and antisocial behaviors by their rebellious adolescents. The Toughlove approach is one example of a mutual-help program created to help parents deal with serious behavioral problems of their children. This chapter discusses the concepts, limitations, and benefits of such a family-based program and its effectiveness in children vs. adolescents.