Empirically tested psychotherapies for youth internalizing and externalizing problems and disorders

The term psychotherapy has come to be applied to a broad array of nonmedical interventions designed to alleviate psychologic distress, reduce maladaptive behavior, or increase deficient adaptive behavior through counseling, interaction, a training program, or a predetermined treatment plan. Although the specific term is relatively recent historically, the general idea is ancient. Roots of psychotherapy can be found in the ageless tradition of helping by listening, discussing, and questioning. Among the early Greek philosophers, Socrates developed a method and a thesis that presaged some modern forms of psychotherapy. His approach involved questioning others to provoke them to examine their beliefs, with the goal of bringing them closer to truth. His method reflected his ‘‘midwife thesis,’’ the notion that the philosopher’s role is to deliver the truth that already is within others, much as the midwife delivers the baby that is within a mother. This idea, of course, is not so different from the view many modern therapists have of their own professional roles. Other approaches that fall under the ‘‘psychotherapy umbrella’’ do not involve talk therapies but rather procedures that parents, teachers, and other adults use to limit disobedient or disruptive behavior by boys and girls or to help youngsters focus attention or behave less impulsively. The struggle by adults to shape, manage, and guide youth behavior certainly predates even the ancient Greeks.

Journal

English

Weisz, J. R., Hawley, K. M., & Doss, A. J. (2004). Empirically tested psychotherapies for youth internalizing and externalizing problems and disorders. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North American, 13, 729?815. doi:10.1016/j.chc.2004.05.006