ABSTRACT

The idea of unconscious defences against anxiety has undergone a considerable evolution since its original formulations by Elliott Jaques and Isabel Menzies Lyth. This chapter explores the particular anxieties that can be understood through undertaking an experimental kind of therapeutic group work with young offenders. It describes the states of mind of the young people themselves and the impact of these on those who work with them, both as individuals and as organizations. The chapter also explores the defences against anxieties which are mobilized in each in the setting of a Youth Offending Service (YOS). It considers how far the shared understanding of these states of mind can be a positive experience for the young offenders and for those who work with them. The chapter mainly draws on material and experiences from one specific group intervention, which involved teenagers.