About The Book.

Counsellors and psychotherapists are faced with ever-increasing complexity in their work with adolescents. The author offers an understanding of developmental and therapeutic process from a relational-phenomenological perspective. Throughout the book, the clinician is offered extensive relational and creative strategies to support integrity repair for the adolescent.

Adolescent Psychotherapy: A Radical Relational Approach will help clinicians develop deeper levels of competency in their work, as they navigate the complex and fascinating experience of therapy with teenagers. This exceptional contribution is suitable for experienced practitioners and students of psychotherapy.

Endorsements.

“Taking insights and perspectives to a new place, revealing entirely new implications and applications, Starrs has developed a brilliant vision and fierce commitment to understanding and healing troubled adolescents. If you work with adolescents and their families, read this book; and then read it again. It will change the way you work.”

– Mark McConville, Ph.D., author, Adolescence: Psychotherapy and the Emergent Self

“For years colleagues have raved to me about Bronagh Starrs’ work with adolescents — now I understand why.  This book is essential reading for adolescent therapists and counselors. Starrs places the emphasis of her approach right where outcome research shows it should be:  on the therapeutic relationship itself. Each chapter offers rich, practical insights, grounded and unified by this clear relational perspective.”

-Gordon Wheeler, Ph.D., President, Esalen Institute. Co-editor The Heart of Development:  Gestalt Approaches to Children, Adolescents, and their Worlds (Vol. I: Childhood;  Vol. 2: Adolescence).

“This practical and sensitive book should be in the hands of every adolescent psychotherapist. So well-written that it is hard to put down, this book is a humanistic treasure.”

– Donna M. Orange, Ph.D., Psy.D., author, The Suffering Stranger: Hermeneutics for Everyday Clinical Practice and Nourishing the Inner Life of Clinicians and Humanitarians: The Ethical Turn in Psychoanalysis

“I once saw an expert kayaker take only one precise paddle stroke before calmly navigating a terrifying rapid. This image was brought to mind while reading Bronagh Starrs’ incisive reflections and advice about how to help adolescents in the therapeutic context. All of us who work with teenagers will benefit from her expertise.”

– Peter Mortola, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling and School Psychology at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, author of Windowframes: Learning the art of Gestalt play therapy the Oaklander way.

“Such an informative, readable, and humane book on therapy with suffering adolescents. A trove of helpful inspiration and ideas, as well as theory to support your practice, for anyone who treats adolescents.”

–   Lynne Jacobs, Ph.D., co-founder of the Pacific Gestalt Institute, and Training and Supervising analyst at the Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Los Angeles.

About The Author

Bronagh Starrs is Creator and Programme Director of the MSc Adolescent Psychotherapy at Dublin Counselling & Therapy Centre in partnership with University of Northampton. She is also Director of Blackfort Adolescent Gestalt Institute and maintains a private practice in Omagh, Northern Ireland, as an adolescent psychotherapist.