Teens Who Hurt: Clinical Interventions to Break the Cycle of Adolescent Violence [Paperback]

Kenneth V. Hardy PhD (Author), Tracey A. Laszloffy PhD (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1593854404 | ISBN-13: 978-1593854409 | Publication Date: October 23, 2006 | Edition: 1

Offering a fresh perspective on treatment, this book presents an overarching framework and many specific strategies for working with violent youth and their families. The authors shed light on the complex interplay of individual, family, community, and societal forces that lead some adolescents to hurt others or themselves. Effective ways to address each of these factors in clinical and school settings are discussed and illustrated with evocative case material. The book provides essential guidance on connecting with aggressive teens and their parents and managing difficult situations that are likely to arise. The strengths-based interventions presented are applicable to a broad range of high-risk behaviors, from bullying and assault to substance abuse, self-mutilation, and suicidality.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a masterpiece! Hardy and Laszloffy present a timely, innovative treatment approach for violent youth and their families. Drawing from their wealth of clinical experience, the authors comprehensively review the individual and environmental factors that fuel violent behavior and offer practical treatment guidelines and interventions. Their high level of respect and compassion for at-risk youth is evident throughout the book. The pearls of wisdom offered here are far-reaching, and can serve as a blueprint for private practitioners, school counselors, and others working with adolescents in schools and the community."--Matthew D. Selekman, MSW, Partners for Collaborative Solutions, Evanston, Illinois

"Hardy and Laszloffy go beyond narrowly psychological explanations of youth violence to encompass the critical role played by the broader social environment. With sensitivity, compassion, and intelligence, they detail the many ways in which social toxins in an adolescent's environment poison well-being and stimulate violence. Their approach to intervention is well grounded in their conceptual analysis and should be required reading for any professional working with violent kids."--James Garbarino, PhD, Department of Human Development, Cornell University

"This book represents a giant step forward in the understanding of the psychological, familial, and sociocultural factors that contribute to adolescent violence. The authors present a crystal-clear model that explains why some adolescents become violent, and delineate specific, practical suggestions for reducing and preventing violence. This book is essential reading for all professionals who work with adolescents and would be an appropriate supplemental text for graduate-level courses in adolescent therapy."--Joseph A. Micucci, PhD, Department of Psychology, Chestnut Hill College

About the Author

Kenneth V. Hardy, PhD, is a professor of family therapy at Syracuse University and is Director of the Eikenberg Institute for Relationships in New York. He is the former Director of the Center for Children, Families, and Trauma at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York. Dr. Hardy has provided training and consultation for working with troubled children and youth throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. His work has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20, Dateline NBC, PBS, and the Discovery Health Channel. Dr. Hardy maintains a private practice in New York.

Tracey A. Laszloffy, PhD, is a relationship therapist who specializes in working with troubled adolescents and their families. Currently she maintains a private practice in Connecticut, and prior to this, she directed the Marriage and Family Therapy master's program at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Laszloffy has published extensively, and she routinely provides training and consultation to organizations that work with at-risk youth.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (October 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593854404
• ISBN-13: 978-1593854409
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #443,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing Order to Chaos, November 22, 2007

By 

Flora Hill (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teens Who Hurt: Clinical Interventions to Break the Cycle of Adolescent Violence (Hardcover)

If everyone at every level of helping teens would read this book, they would get an important multidimensional view of how teens become violent and what we can do to bring about deep and lasting change in the lives of troubled youth. This book is the answer! As trite as this may sound, I assure you that the book is anything but trite. It reaches beyond the scope of other books in exploring the layers of developmental process that become a prelude to teen violence. Best of all, these authors give us practical and realistic solutions that can make a real difference in the lives of at-risk kids. The world could truly be a better place if policy makers, adminstrators, program managers and front-line workers read this book and direct their resources toward implementing the suggestions here. Every therapist who works with disadvantaged groups should read this book, too. It's as relevant for adults as it is for teens. Many social problems can be traced back to the isolaton, devaluation, anger and rage that Hardy and Lazloffy describe. It really should be used as a new paradigm for understanding all mental health problems.

5.0 out of 5 stars Extemely Helpful, March 16, 2010

By 

Teach2Me "Teach2Me" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teens Who Hurt: Clinical Interventions to Break the Cycle of Adolescent Violence (Hardcover)

Wow!! Great details concerning teens and why they are prone to committ violent crimes. The authors offer ways schools can help, and many schools already offer counseling with a Social Worker...the problem is the over-whelming number of students with problems and not enough service providers to accommodate. The book is an eye-opener to learning more about the causes. Its no excuse for anyone to cause bodily harm to another; yet, it pains me to know that young violators are in pain themselves and have not learned how to cope or live with their personal tragedies.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read!, March 11, 2009

By 

K. M. Navarro "Empowered" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teens Who Hurt: Clinical Interventions to Break the Cycle of Adolescent Violence (Paperback)

This book put words to all the feelings that would overcome me when working with this very fragile, yet resilient population. It ties in various factors to why our youth hurt and why they may act out the way they do. It is now no wonder for me! This book has strengthened my motivation and fervor to continue working with these amazing kids. I now more than ever want to intervene with support, empowerment, and an optimistic lens while giving these young souls opportunities that they may have never deemed realistic...opportunities they deserve.