Psychotherapy in Borstal

• NCJ Number: 85513
• Journal: Journal of Adolescence Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1982) Pages: 39-50
• Author(s): M J L Ellis
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

While individual psychotherapy is not always the treatment of choice for delinquent adolescents, it does have a place for youngsters whose delinquency is the result of neurotic conflicts stemming from broken and distorted relationships in childhood.

Abstract

There are at least three different forms of psychotherapy used in borstals: supportive psychotherapy (counseling), relationship work (maintaining contact with clients long after they have left the borstal), and interpretive psychotherapy. The assessment interview is an important tool in giving pointers for and against offering the youngster individual psychotherapy. The paper describes a case history of a drug addict who was helped in 20 sessions of psychotherapy. (Author abstract modified)