Power and Compassion: Working with Difficult Adolescents and Abused Parents (The Guilford Family Therapy)

Power and Compassion presents techniques and theory that allow family therapists to be both understanding and determined in their work with aggressive teenagers. Power and Compassion demonstrates Price's ability to assess and treat these extremely difficult situations from a strategic humanist stance. It is refreshing to read a book that deals so openly and directly with issues of power. Family therapists need guts, skill, hope, and great faith in people to confront the emotional and physical abuse of parents by acting out children and teenagers. Price clearly has these qualities. --Donald Efron, Coeditor, Journal of Systemic Therapies

Power and Compassion is an enormously useful book that blends theory and engaging clinical vignettes with practical down-to-earth ideas. In fact, I read it in one sitting. The book left me with a feeling of optimism about dealing with difficult situations. Presenting what are, at times, controversial ideas, Jerome A. Price shakes up the cobwebs of conventionality to expand our view of what's possible when treating intractable situations with explosive adolescents. Whatever your clinical orientation or level of experience, Power and Compassion will expand your existing clinical armamentarium. --Leonard Rosen, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Medical Director of Mental Health Services, Macomb Hospital, Warren, Michigan

Aggressive adolescents who are coaxed or coerced into therapy by others are among the most frustrating of all clients. Price has drawn on his work with mentors Jay Haley and Cloe Madanes to develop his own creative approach to those who are often more distressed and motivated than the adolescents themselves--the parents. He illustrates the innovative ways of enlisting and empowering the parents while neither depending upon nor closing the door on cooperation from the adolescents. Price has his own clear theoretical rationale for what he does, but his approach will also appeal to therapists operating from other theoretical perspectives who are stymied with a common clinical dilemma that defies their usual sense of competence and expertise. A valuable set of tools for anyone working with adolescents, regardless of whether they view themselves as family therapists. --Jim Coyne, PhD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan