ABSTRACT
This introduciton presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the importance of the body of the adolescent, the body of the analyst, the heat of the erotic transference, and countertransference in work with some adolescents. It explores the avoidance of adolescent turbulence or 'heat' as a not-unusual defensive reaction to the phase. The book considers 'ideals' of masculinity for boys and men and the potential for these ideals to contribute to rigid psychic states and splitting. It also explores the refreshingly radical aspect of adolescent subversiveness. The book examines W. R. Bion interrelated concepts such as thinking and non-thinking states, container or contained, maternal reverie, and the development of thinking through alpha function in relation to adolescent treatment. It discusses hot issues and challenges in working with parents of adolescents in treatment.
