Play in the treatment of adolescents

I propose a view of the treatment process with adolescents which places interactive play at the center. The adolescent plays by creating a highly charged interpersonal drama with the analyst to work out specific developmental conflicts. These conflicts involve struggles for greater autonomy and the formation of a solid sense of identity in the face of regressive pulls. The analyst unwittingly is taken up in the play and uses his or her sense of involvement as material for interpretation to further the play or resolve periods of strain when play falters.