Pathways to Change: Brief Therapy with Difficult Adolescents

Selekman charts new territories by describing in detail how to use an amazing variety of therapeutic techniques in a truly integrative, context-sensitive, research-based practice. Psychotherapy students will be able to see how techniques and concepts of the major family therapy and psychotherapeutic approaches can be blended together in an elegant, effective, and creative way. Seasoned clinicians will find plenty of useful tools and inspiration to be creative and push their own limits in therapeutic work with adolescents and their families. - Mark Beyebach, Systemic Therapy Master's Program, Pontificia University of Salamanca, Spain

Offering numerous practical guidelines and clinical vignettes-and daring to be unconventional and sensible at the same time-Selekman invites readers to rethink the way they conceptualize adolescents and their problems, and provides new therapeutic tools for their repertoire. Practitioners of any level of experience, as well as students, will unquestionably benefit from Selekman's experience, confidence, compassion, optimism, and down-to-earth manner. The richness of Pathways is immeasurable: you must read it for yourself! - Harlene Anderson, Houston Galveston Institute and Taos Institute

Full of innovative, creative, and thoughtful strategies for effectively engaging and treating adolescents who are angry, aggressive, or disaffected. A no-nonsense, easy-to-read, straightforward book that will be ideal for graduate trainees and experienced therapists alike, this is a 'must read' for anyone interested in promoting change in the lives of difficult adolescents. - Kenneth V. Hardy, Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University, and the Eikenberg Institute for Relationships, New York City

I highly recommend this book as a text for courses in counseling or therapy with adolescents. For therapists who work with adolescents in their practice, it is a 'must read.' - Anthony P. Jurich, School of Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University; past president, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

A pragmatic casebook that describes effective techniques to engage families and teenagers who are convinced therapy has nothing to offer them....Useful for adolescent psychiatrists wanting to improve their family therapy skills. - American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry Newsletter

This is the best book I've ever read on the solution-focused approach. The ideas are easy for students to understand and the book is fun to read. It doesn't read like a textbook, but I use it as one because it is so comprehensive and accessible. Selekman captures the essence of a creative therapist whose goal is to help clients be successful, and he does a masterful job of teaching this technique. Students have told me it is the best book they've bought for any class! - Laurel Edgecomb, MFT, instructor, Graduate Counseling Program, St. Mary's College of California, USA