'Nobody else can lead your life': What adolescents need from psychotherapists in change processes. Issue 3 (25th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lavik, Kristina O.; Veseth, Marius; Frøysa, Helga; Binder, Per‐Einar; Moltu, Christian
• Is Part Of: Counselling and psychotherapy research. Volume 18:Issue 3(2018:Sep.)
• Page Start: 262
• Page End: 273
• Publication Date: 2018-03-25
• Subjects: adolescent psychotherapy -- psychotherapy -- qualitative research -- youth mental health services; Counseling -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.891405
• DOI: 10.1002/capr.12166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-3145

Abstract

Abstract: Aim: A startling number of adolescents have mental health problems, yet research on the effect of routine care shows sobering effect sizes and high dropout rates. This study's objective was to gain in‐depth, first‐person knowledge about what adolescents need from their therapists to engage therapeutically and benefit from treatment. Method: A total of 22 adolescents aged 14–19 years participated in qualitative focus groups or individual interviews of their own choosing. The data material was analysed using a systematic, step‐wise and consensual qualitative research framework for team‐based analysis. Findings: Six themes emerged from the analysis, named from the words of the adolescent participants: (1) facing a scary situation: Attend to the adolescent's starting point, (2) be warm, invested and emotionally engaged, (3) offer live company and presence as a real human being, (4) have integrity as an adult and a professional, (5) know the world of a teenager and get into their stories and (6) have mutuality as a virtue and treat the adolescent as an equal. Discussion and implications: Overall, adolescents regard the quality of the therapeutic relationship with their therapist as essential for the success of psychotherapy. In terms of their needs in treatment, therapists need to overcome the adolescents' initial misgivings and scepticism towards therapy through establishing trust and accommodating their developmental desire for autonomy and connectedness.