Engaging the families of substance abusing adolescents in family therapy

This article discusses three major topics: First, the family processes one typically finds in families with a substance abusing adolescent are described. These processes include pseudo-separation and defensive delineation. A case vignette is used to illustrate these processes. Second, an overview of the importance of family therapy in treating substance abusing adolescents is provided. Third, specific principals and techniques for involving families in family therapy are described. This area includes a discussion of such topics as using the initial telephone contact to join with and involve the family, and suggestions for handling some typical problems which the therapist may encounter in the initial interview. These problems or resistances must be handled sensitively if the family is to remain in treatment. This is an important area since involving the families of substance abusing adolescents in treatment can be quite difficult and there is little practical literature available.