A comprehensive alternative to residential treatment for adolescents and young adults

Abstract

This paper describes a treatment modality for adolescents and young adults who do not respond successfully to treatment within the family context. A comprehensive therapeutic program is implemented in the open community, providing benefits of residential care while avoiding many of the drawbacks. Five key components are discussed: creating individualized programs using community resources; effecting a complete separation from parents; maximizing autonomy and self-reliance; facilitating a corrective family experience; and capitalizing on transference in intensive individual psychotherapy, which is enhanced when a married couple functions as the treatment team. Suggestions for implementing this model are discussed and advantages and limitations are cited.