Adolescent Identity Treatment (AIT)

A Modification of Transference-Focused Psychotherapy

While the majority of adolescents form rewarding and satisfying interpersonal relationships, succeed in work and school pursuits, establish their first love relations, and achieve personal goals, a minority of adolescents do not.  This group is at high risk for developing a variety of problems in their adaptation to school/work, family, intimate, and interpersonal relationships.  Adolescents may show difficulty in handling and expressing their emotions, engage in self-destructive behaviors, become violent toward others verbally or physically, shoplift, use drugs and alcohol, become promiscuous sexually,  and fail school. We have found that failures in the normal process of identity development may contribute to these problem behaviors.

Identity is a fundamental organizing principal which allows one to function autonomously from others. It plays a role in self-esteem and how one views oneself, also providing the capacity to differentiate self and other. It aids in social exchanges and provides insight into the effect one has on another. Finally, it provides predictability and continuity of functioning within a person, across situations, and across time.

Treatment of these developmental difficulties involves identifying the areas of difficulties and targeting interventions in all areas of the adolescent’s life.  This treatment establishes a frame that contains the destructive behaviors and includes active involvement with parents to help stop the negative pattern of interacting. 

The Home Plan is an example of the “contract” that is negotiated between the adolescent, their family, and the therapist to help decrease the destructive behaviors and increase the positive behaviors.  It provides a bridge between the treatment and home and frees the parents from the role of “enforcer” by creating more opportunities for the adolescent to take responsibility, and in this way improve their autonomous functioning and build positive self-esteem. 

Workshops are offered periodically in the New York metropolitan area.  Look for a listing in January for the 2009 schedule.  A research project is currently running in White Plains and at the New York Presbyterian Hospital.  Email us for more information.

Click here to view a sample Home Plan