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The Essence of Effective Leadership with Adolescent Groups: Regression in the Service of the Ego

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Journal of Child and Adolescent Group Therapy

Abstract

Group psychotherapy with adolescents is an activity frequently led by the sturdy, creative therapist and avoided by less flexible clinicians. Adolescents are in the process of creating their identities and as a result can appear to be chaotic in both thought process and behavior. Regression in the service of the ego, a phrase attributed to Ernst Kris, is useful in describing the quality as well as the activities the successful adolescent group psychotherapist provides. Within this framework, the effective therapist is able to temporarily and partially regress when creating exercises or using props that connect with adolescent reality. Employing concepts from earlier eras of psychological thinking facilitates a parallel partial regression that is useful in working with today's adolescents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The City University of New York, New York, New York

    Nancy Nichols-Goldstein

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  1. Nancy Nichols-Goldstein
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Nichols-Goldstein, N. The Essence of Effective Leadership with Adolescent Groups: Regression in the Service of the Ego. Journal of Child and Adolescent Group Therapy 11, 13–17 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016641709341

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016641709341

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