NCJ Number
185505
Date Published
2000
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Behavioral family therapy is helpful to many adolescent clients presenting with co-morbid violent and alcohol and other drug (AOD) abusing behaviors because it recognizes that maladaptive familial patterns reinforce aggressive and violent behaviors of adolescents.
Abstract
Behavioral family therapy moderates negative familial patterns, thereby reducing violent behavior, and is also an appropriate treatment for general AOD-related symptoms. Constructs of behavioral family therapy are reviewed, as well as commonly used behavioral family therapy interventions that include baseline and functional analysis, contingency contracting, cost-benefit analysis, and building communication skills. The emphasis of behavioral family therapy on positive family interactions and its effectiveness with violent and AOD-abusing adolescents are illustrated in a case presentation. 28 references