ABSTRACT
Working therapeutically with adolescents can be incredibly rewarding. This chapter reviews some of the people and professions serving adolescents in addition to integrated care models for prevention and treatment. Medical and holistic health models are compared, and we provide a critique of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). This chapter provides an introduction to clinical work with culturally diverse adolescents and families. Young people differ on their experiences and explanations for distress based on cultural heritage and family dynamics. Evidence-based practice and cultural competency are discussed along with ethical considerations. The chapter includes a vignette, reflective questions, suggestions for working with adolescents, and supplemental resources to promote critical thinking and multicultural competence.
