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Clinical Handbook of Assessing and Treating Conduct Problems in Youth pp 295–332Cite as

Social Competency CBT-Based Group Training for Youth in Alternative School Settings

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Abstract

The need for alternative educational places for at-risk youth has increased dramatically in the United States with enrolments quadrupling in the last 15 years, and demand exceeding available placements. The United States is not alone in this predicament. Students from other western countries have a similar need for alternative school placements. Australia, Canada, England, Scotland, and Wales all report behavioral problems and their consequences, expulsion and transfer to alternative programs, as growing challenges for their educational system. Given the large number of students serviced by alternative schools, it is critical that students are offered effective remediation. Most educators agree that whether alternative programs or schools “empower or entrap” students depends upon the adoption of evidence-based practice in both academic and therapeutic interventions. Therapeutic treatment and the effectiveness of these treatments constitute the focus of this chapter. We will review published studies to ascertain the effectiveness of skills-based group therapy programs (e.g. anger management training) and consider current knowledge with regard to the risk associated with aggregating groups of youth with conduct problems (i.e. deviancy training).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The term “anger management training” will be used henceforth to denote all skills-based therapy groups used to treat anger and aggression including social skills and conflict resolution training.

  2. 2.

    The choice of teacher, teacher’s aide, and school counselor here is clearly important. They must be well respected, capable of disciplining students, and cognizant of the importance of confidentiality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

    Rachael C. Murrihy

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  1. Rachael C. Murrihy
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Royal North Shore Hospital, Health Psychology Unit, University of Technology Sydney, St. Leonards, Sydney, 2065, New South Wales, Australia

    Rachael C. Murrihy

  2. Royal North Shore Hospital, Health Psychology Unit, University of Technology Sydney, St. Leonards, Sydney, 2065, New South Wales, Australia

    Antony D. Kidman

  3. Child Study Center, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, 24060, Virginia, USA

    Thomas H. Ollendick

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Murrihy, R.C. (2011). Social Competency CBT-Based Group Training for Youth in Alternative School Settings. In: Murrihy, R., Kidman, A., Ollendick, T. (eds) Clinical Handbook of Assessing and Treating Conduct Problems in Youth. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6297-3_12

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