Understanding the Adolescent in Group Psychotherapy

rather than organic disease. In their diagnosing, screening and handling, these doctors find themselves performing crucial, psychologically oriented services for teenagers and their families. Sound rapport built upon old-fashioned faith, suggestion and non-authoritative direction can be utilized to perhaps prevent serious emotional syndromes, or at least tone them down to levels which permit a natural working through of problem solving.5 Many of these cases, however, do not respond to such approaches and have to be referred to private psychiatrists or psychiatric clinics for more specialized treatment. The more familiar that family physicians and pediatricians are made with the various specialized psychiatric services available for adolescents, the better able they will be professionally to understand treatment plans, progress and prognosis for these young people and their families.