Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of the Severely Disturbed Adolescent

In this review of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of the Severely Disturbed Adolescent the editors present a considered collection for clinicians and trainees working with challenging adolescent patients. The book assembles chapters from psychoanalytic psychotherapists across Europe and different analytic traditions, and its single biggest reason to buy is the way it draws out a shared clinical approach to complex adolescent disturbance while acknowledging regional and theoretical differences. This review finds it valuable as a clinical reference and reflective companion for therapists facing long-term treatment questions.

Key Features

• International perspectives: Chapters by practitioners across Europe provide comparative views that broaden understanding of adolescent pathology and treatment contexts.
• Multiple analytic traditions: Contributions span different psychoanalytic orientations, helping readers see common therapeutic threads and differing emphases in formulation and technique.
• Focus on severe disturbance: The material concentrates on seriously disturbed adolescents, offering clinical narratives and reflections directly relevant to high-risk work.
• Clinical challenge emphasis: The book foregrounds the real-world difficulties therapists face, which aids readers in preparing for complex transferential and organisational problems.
• Reflective tone: Editors and authors encourage reflective practice, making the monograph useful for supervision and continuing professional development.

Who It's For

The book is best suited to psychoanalytic psychotherapists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and trainees who work with or plan to work with severely disturbed adolescents, and who value theoretical pluralism informed by clinical case material. It will also serve supervisors and multidisciplinary teams seeking a psychoanalytic frame for understanding difficult developmental presentations.

Practitioners looking for a step-by-step manual, quick assessment tools, or non-analytic behavioural interventions should look elsewhere, because the emphasis is on reflective, theory-informed clinical work rather than prescriptive protocols or brief intervention techniques.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Rich clinical material that illustrates the challenges of long-term work with disturbed adolescents.
• Cross-European contributors offer valuable comparative and cultural perspectives on treatment approaches.
• Encourages reflective practice and is useful for supervision and training contexts.

Cons

• Not a practical manual; clinicians seeking structured brief interventions or checklists may find it limited.

Specifications

Title	Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of the Severely Disturbed Adolescent
Series	The EFPP Monograph Series
Editors / Authors	Dimitris Anastasopoulos, Margot Waddell, Effie Lignos
Subject area	Psychoanalytic psychotherapy, adolescent disturbance, clinical psychology
Geographic scope	Contributions from psychoanalytic psychotherapists across Europe
Intended readers	Clinicians, trainees, supervisors in child and adolescent mental health

Our Verdict

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy of the Severely Disturbed Adolescent is a thoughtful, clinically rich collection that rewards readers who work with complex adolescent presentations and value theoretical depth. It is good value for clinicians and supervisors seeking reflective case material and cross-national perspectives, though it is not a substitute for practical brief-intervention guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book present case material?
Yes. Contributors include clinical narratives and reflections that illustrate therapeutic work with severely disturbed adolescents.

Is the book tied to one analytic school?
No. The monograph intentionally includes multiple analytic traditions to highlight both differences and common clinical threads.

Who will benefit most from reading it?
Psychoanalytic therapists, clinical trainees and supervisors working with adolescents with serious psychopathology will gain the most from this volume.