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An Unchanged Mind: The Problem of Immaturity in Adolescence

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Finally somebody "gets" troubled teenagers! And can talk about it in straightforward, understandable English we can all understand--parents, psychologists, counselors and concerned adults.

How I spent my winter vacation: I read this book in a week-end, camped out on the couch while my college aged kids buzzed in and out with their friends at New Year's. I kept mumbling to myself "That's so right!" and chapter by chapter, block by block I put the theory and then the theory of action together, punctuated by slapping my forehead at the accuracy of the author's logic. I work for a public school district, so it takes a lot for me to complete a book like this on vacation time.
It was written by one of the smartest guys anywhere (Harvard, Yale) who spent the past 10 years building a successful therapeutic school putting into practice what he learned about kids and their families as a Psychiatrist before that. Montana Academy is located in the boonies, where like every snowflake or starry night sky, the details of these kids' lives are studied without distraction.
It starts unflinchingly with the 2 part problem statement, i.e. even when we know what works to save a suicidal or tormented teen, managed care rules and the voices of faceless insurance reviewers who have never met or seen the child insist on restrictions to treatment that prevent us from executing a plan toward mental health. These doorkeepers incur tremendous expense for society as a whole in the name of saving a nickel for insurance companies. And secondly, we haven't understood before what exactly is wrong with these kids because we are looking at the whole condition incorrectly. (I'll save the aha! moment for you to discover, so as not to spoil the read.)
Everyone knows some kid with these case histories, each of whom is touchingly described from varying perspectives as the book unfolds. Even if your kids are in good shape, this book helps you understand what has worked for them, and how it isn't over just because they head off to college. If you are a smart parent, a teacher or school leader, or anyone who deals with teens, this thoughtful, engaging and compelling book will knock you out. I wished I'd read it before the holidays, because it would have been my favorite family-with-teenagers gift.

Many of today's parents fear that their child will "fail to launch." Yet, the issues behind this phenomenon are not well-understood. Dr. McKinnon offers insight to why teens stall out, rebel, or escape rather than face growing up.

Out of concern for a struggling teen, parents seek professional help. Yet, today's insurance and managed care systems often disallow or curtail the supportive approach they truly need. The medical treatment model works with a "fix-it" mentality, yet the ills of a struggling teen are not so simple that a pill is the answer. Dr. McKinnon explains this clearly and in ways that are important.

Anyone raising children would benefit from reading this book. Dr. McKinnon offers rare insight from the world of private residential treatment. In communities, such as his, true healing occurs and the obstacles to maturity are gradually ameliorated. Parents and loved ones, gain new understanding, and can then help their children through clear limits and a relationship that is affirming of their worth. The result takes time, but what could be more important than saving a life and helping a young adult become productive for our society?

Mina Steen

In a world seemingly full of advice for parents of troubled teens, this book is a true standout. John McKinnon does a masterful job of discussing the roots of the problems so many of our children face. As the parent of a former Montana Academy student, I was particularly interested in hearing John's views. They are dead on the mark. (By the way, if you are unwilling or unable to own your part of the "problem" you may not like this book very much. It will cut you no quarter in with regard to your role and duty as a parent to provide an environment for your children to grow up to be mature, responsible, empathic adults.) My only regret is that I didn't read this book before we took the long drive out to Lost Prairie. For those who can't afford the Montana Academy tuition (and it was worth every penny) this book could at least help you regain you bearings and offer a chance for constructive change in your family situation.

Larry Stednitz, Ph.D.
An Unchanged Mind, The Problem of Immaturity in Adolescence
John A. McKinnon, M.D.

If you are a parent of a troubled teen, you will find this book invaluable. If you are an educational consultant, this book provides an excellent understanding of today's youth and the causes and treatment of behavioral and emotional problems. If you are involved with an RTC, therapeutic boarding school, or a wilderness program, this book introduces cohesive and comprehensive approaches to understanding the vast majority of the youth who enter these programs, and viable remedies.

The book weaves McKinnon's journey as a psychiatrist, through the failures inherent in the dis-jointed systems of managed care. He discusses the management and failures of psychotropic medications, which treat the symptoms, but not the causes of behavioral and emotional problems exhibited in so many youth today. His story discusses the beginning of Montana Academy and their ten years of working with adolescents in a near perfect environment. This story is not about Montana Academy, and McKinnon's point of view could apply to any program across the country as well as serve as a parenting guide to many families.

The book proposes that a developmental point of view is necessary for psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and teachers to fully make sense out of the many troubles of adolescents. He suggests that the global breakdown of an adolescent is best explained not as an acute mental disorder that calls for a pill, but as a disrupted maturation that calls for sustained parental intervention of a very different kind.

The book covers normal adolescent development and discusses the devastation caused by an adolescent failing to mature through each developmental stage which leads to breakdowns in their maturation process. The book covers the cause of these maturation lags and are referred to as obstacles to normal healthy development. These obstacles can be intrinsic or extrinsic obstacles, clearly explained in the book. Ultimately, a remedy includes the removing obstacles and the application of day to day recognition, daily limit setting, and boundaries which must be sustained over time. The program can not take over the complete role of limit setting and the parents have to agree to become full participants in the process. The book details the practices at Montana Academy.


Dr. John McKinnon's book took me back years ago when I was a young, eager and energetic man who was excited to find answers from that day's great clinical thinkers and writers. I loved reading Karl Menninger, the founding father of psychiatry, Don Rinsley, a brilliant graduate of the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry, and Sherman Feinstein, known as the founding father of adolescent psychiatry. All inspired those of us in the work of treating troubled adolescents, many of whom were treated previously in long term hospitalization and residential treatment. I found this book to ignite my enthusiasm in treating adolescents. Most people who work with adolescents continually seek answers to the complexities programs face when working with young people. I started reading his book, An Unchanged Mind and found it difficult to put down. I believe this book is the most important book written about what is referred to as the Parent Choice Schools and Programs.

The author of this book, Dr McKinnon, has not just conceived of a theory concerning adolescent immaturity, but has actually put this theory into practice with great success and this book chronicles that success.
The author has not hidden his arguments behind psychological jargon, nor does he patronise the reader, making the book both highly readable and informative. Furthermore, the pragmatic approach adopted in the text will appeal to anyone frustrated by a lack of a causal explanation for symptoms of physiological disorder often absent in similar bodies of work.

One is left feeling that this maturity model may have implications on a sociological scale, there being all too many examples outside the realm of troubled adolescents, of groups lacking empathy towards outsiders and selfish concrete reasoning, particularly in the domain of foreign policy and organised religion. Furthermore, the book comes at a time when it is interesting to look at the traits, associated with immature adolescents in the book, of gross narcissism and inability to forecast into the future, and similar behaviour on an individual and macro scale that many believe took a strong part in instigating the current global financial crisis.

Finally, the reader is left with a feeling of hope on finishing the book. Dr McKinnon's model has been used to help many adolescents out of immaturity and on to lead more fulfilling lives. So aside from just being interesting, this book is also highly inspirational.

Dr. McKinnon's book allowed me to gain a full understanding of why students in my care are unable to learn, no matter how interesting and innovative my lessons are. An Unchanged Mind has made it possible for me to more positively interact with my students, knowing that there are many factors in their lives that are out of their control. Dr. McKinnon provides a great overview of the developmental growth adolescents normally go through as well as the obstacles, both intrinsic and extrinsic, that might delay this maturation. I truly believe that this book changed my teaching and I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to gain this knowledge. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to better understand adolescents and their struggles in school and beyond.

As a parent with a teen struggling in his Wilderness Therapy program, this book helped me "get it". I wish I had read this before he went. It clearly defines how teens get to this "out of control" point and lays out the methods used to help them change. If your child is in a program, reading this will help you to understand what they are doing and remain vigilant when times get tough. It is in those tough times that the real change happens. I am thankful for this book as my son is currentl in Wilderness. I only wish that there was a way to make excellent longer-term programs like Montana Academy affordable for parents with struglling teens. Clearly, the long-term benefits are evident. There should be a better way to demonstrate need and either get help from your health insurance or a greater tax benefit for intervening with the long-term health of your child.

Dr.McKinnon's book is so full of knowledge and I wished I had read it when my children were younger. His insight of the "teenage society" is amazing. I plan on purchasing his second book as well.

Insightful and well-researched. Gives a real view of immaturity, both in the teenager and the emotionally underdeveloped adult.

This is an origianl and informative book that provides a fascinating insight into how disturbed adolescents can be helped to overcome their problems - basically by being schooled in growing up. Even for those of us who have, thankfully, never had to contend with such demanding issues, the book has much of interest to offer. For anyone confronted with a a difficult teenager it would provide great reassurance that change really is achievable with such clear and compassionate guidance as is offered by John McKinnon and his team.