ABSTRACT
Several family therapy approaches are not well-suited to working with adolescents. Whereas some models have developed popular technologies for working with parents (Haley, 1981; Madanes, 1981), other schools discourage participation by family members who are not "customers" for the treatment (Watzlawick, Weakland, & Fisch, 1974), and still others advise therapists to work only with the most motivated or "well" family members (Bowen, 1966). Unfortunately, the adolescent and the development of his or her agenda are frequently ignored in such therapies. Furthermore, treatment models that emphasize themes of hierarchy, power, and control present special problems in working with adolescents in family therapy (Haley, 1981; Madanes, 1981).
