An effective therapeutic intervention with adolescent in-patients in love

Easson noted in 1967 how little had been published on intimate (frequently sexual) involvements between adolescents in in-patient settings and remarked how staff attitudes and countertransference feelings frequently resulted in an unsatisfactory resolution of such occurrences. Since that time the literature has remained sparse, yet the phenomenon and the problem of how best to deal with it persists. The present case study of two female in-patients "in love" attempts to demonstrate the usefulness of a simple and presumably infrequently used mode of intervention in promoting therapeutic growth and facilitating ward management. Rather than attempting to separate the two patients and deal with issues of their relationship individually, the existence of the relationship was acknowledged and accepted, and conjoint meetings which explored its troublesome aspects were held with them and their respective therapists. Provocative behaviour on the ward diminished, some insights were gained and their separation due to the discharge of one of them was effected with minimum turmoil. While certain factors specific to the case may have contributed to the outcome, the success of the intervention, nonetheless, warrants further application and study in the clinical arena.