NCJ Number
57912
Journal
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS Volume: 25 Issue: 1-6 Dated: (1975) Pages: 134-137
Date Published
1975
Length
6 pages
Annotation
ONE OF THE MOST POSITIVE WAYS OF TREATING JUVENILE DELINQUENTS DURING PROBATION IS THROUGH PSYCHOTHERAPY.
Abstract
JUVENILES, AFTER A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, ARE USUALLY GIVEN 6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR PROBATION, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY MUST ATTEND REGULAR SESSIONS WITH A SOCIAL WORKER, PSYCHIATRIST, OR PSYCHOLOGIST. ONE OF THE BEST METHODS OF DEALING WITH THE YOUTHS' PROBLEMS IS THROUGH PSYCHOTHERAPY BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THE JUVENILE TO DEVELOP COMMUNICATION WITH AND TRUST TOWARD HIS THERAPIST. HE IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS HIS FEELINGS; HE IS GIVEN POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT, REASSURANCE, AND LIMIT-SETTING. THERAPISTS HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO TREAT JUVENILE DELINQUENTS BECAUSE MANY HAVE LOWER INTELLIGENCE THAN AVERAGE, THEY CANNOT HANDLE CONCEPTS, AND HAVE DIFFICULTY EXPRESSING THEIR THOUGHTS. EXTERNAL STRESS AND ANXIETY MAKE THEM ACT OUT THEIR FEELINGS IN ANTISOCIAL WAYS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE YOUNG AND IMMATURE, AND THEREFORE THEIR DEFENSE MECHANISMS ARE NOT YET ARRESTED INTO SET PATTERNS. THE TRADITIONAL FREUDIAN APPROACH IS DIFFICULT TO APPLY; THE CLIENTS HAVE DIFFICULTY DEALING WITH ABSTRACTIONS AND CANNOT EXPLAIN THEIR REAL FEELINGS. A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE METHOD IS THAT DEVELOPED BY GLASSER, CALLED 'REALITY THERAPY,' IN WHICH EMPHASIS IS PUT ON THE PRESENT SITUATION AND FUTURE AIMS RATHER THAN EXPLANATIONS OF PAST TRAUMAS. IT IS TOO EASY FOR THESE EXPLANATIONS TO BE USED TO EXCUSE PRESENT ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR, RATHER THAN TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT IT. THE THERAPIST MUST BE HONEST, AND SHOW THAT HE IS GENIUNELY INTERESTED IN HIS CLIENT'S PROGRESS. HE MUST LOOK UPON THE CLIENT AS A WORTHWHILE COLLEAGUE WITH WHOM HE CAN WORK TO HELP THE CLIENT BECOME THE KIND OF PERSON HE WISHES TO BECOME. THE CENTRAL THEME OF THIS TYPE OF THERAPY IS RESPONSIBILITY WHICH IS DEFINED AS THE EXPRESSION OF NEEDS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY WHICH DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. LANGUAGE IS SIMPLE, NO TRADITIONAL JARGON OF PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE IS USED. THE CLIENT IS ENCOURAGED TO DEFINE CLEARLY THE SORT OF PERSONALITY HE WISHES TO ACHIEVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS POTENTIAL. IN THE FINAL STAGES THE CLIENT WILL INCORPORATE THE IDEA OF RESPONSIBILITY HIMSELF. AT THIS STAGE HE WILL HAVE MATURED INTO INDEPENDENCE. (STB)