Course Description
This course reviews adolescent behavior problems from a biopsychosocial perspective. It highlights specific issues including current sexuality and parenting. It also looks at contemporary etiological perspectives such as the relationship between genetic vulnerabilities and environment. The course will examine treatment perspectives involving the family and psychosocial education for parents. The course was written by a therapist licensed in family therapy, with experience as a clinical coordinator for facilities for severely emotionally disturbed adolescents, and extensive experience counseling families with adolescents displaying behavior problems.

A Biological, Developmental, Familial, and Cultural Phenomenon
To understand adolescent behavior problems, we must see adolescence through multiple lenses. These include the biology, development, family dynamics, and cultural context of the adolescent. We must also see the natural developmental drives, the values, and the intentions of adolescents that their negative behavior may distract us from.

Normal is Not Always Positive
What is normal in any given population is not necessarily optimal for the development and eventual adult adjustment of the adolescent. Therapists often must work to educate families about adolescent development and facilitate change in a manner that is sufficiently in harmony with the cultural and family contexts. At the same time, cultural traditions can be a source of unity, strength, identity, and meaning. But when the adolescent is torn between the ways of their immigrant family and the larger culture, the therapist may be in the position of helping the family distinguish between real threats to the child's well-being and the child's need to function and adapt to the environment.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, the participant will be able to:

• Distinguish between normal and pathological adolescent behaviors and family dynamics, and recognize the developmental challenges that they represent.
• Describe the range of adolescent behaviors typically encountered by clinicians and case managers.
• Recognize issues of sexuality and parenting and reasons for concern.
• Understand factors that have historically correlated with fluctuations in the adolescent birth and abortion rates.
• Know features of interventions intended to prevent unwanted pregnancy and SDT transmission.
• Be conversant regarding effects of crime and disasters on mental health in adolescents.
• Understand the impact of situational factors on adolescent behavior and development.
• Know evaluation and steps pertaining to safety for violence and suicide risk.