Interpersonal Interventions

Abstract

Within the context of the services described in chapters 5 and 6, the human service professional translates the overall service objectives into realities for adolescent clients and their families through direct and indirect interventions. The latter include policy analysis, program planning, development, evaluation, administration, supervision, and case management. Important as these are for the quality of the end product, they are not the topic of this book. The focus of this chapter is on direct, interpersonal helping activities with adolescents and their families. Several counseling and therapeutic modalities are at the human service professional’s disposal. This chapter presents some pros and cons in the choice of one modality over another depending on what the adolescent client wants and needs, what parental preferences are, what the agency is sanctioned and charged to do, and what the human service professional’s education and training render him or her competent to deliver.