Defiant Teens: A Clinician's Manual for Assessment and Family Intervention

This authoritative manual presents an accessible 18-step program widely used by clinicians working with challenging teens. Steps 1-9 comprise parent training strategies for managing a broad range of problem behaviours, including those linked to oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Steps 10-18 focus on teaching all family members to negotiate, communicate, and problem solve more effectively, while facilitating adolescents' individuation and autonomy. Practical reproducible handouts and forms are included; the print book has a large-size format and lay-flat binding to facilitate photocopying. Purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials.

New to This Edition

• Incorporates 15 years of research advances and the authors' ongoing clinical experience.
• Fully updated model of the nature and causes of ODD.
• Revised assessment tools and recommendations.
• Reflects cultural changes, such as teens' growing technology use.

Table of Contents

Introduction

I. Prerequisite Information for Using the Program

1. The Rationale for the Program
2. Clinical Assessment of Defiant Adolescents
3. An Overview of the Family Training Program

II. Session Instructions

Step 1. Discussion of ADHD and ODD

Step 2. Principles of Behavior Management

Step 3. Developing Positive Attention

Step 4. Developing Parental Attending Skills

Step 5. Establishing a Behavioral Contract

Step 6. Using Response Cost

Step 7. Completing the Contract/Point System

Step 8. Grounding

Step 9. School Advocacy

Step 10. Introduction to Problem-Solving Communication Training

Step 11. Practicing Problem Solving

Step 12. Practicing Problem Solving, Continued

Step 13. Introduction to Communication Skills

Step 14. Practicing Communication Skills

Step 15. Dealing with Unreasonable Beliefs and Expectations

Step 16. Practicing Problem-Solving and Communication Skills: Catching Unreasonable Beliefs

Step 17. More Family Practice

Step 18. Concluding Treatment

III. Assessment Materials

General Instructions for Completing the Questionnaires (Form 1)

Child and Family Information (Form 2)

Developmental and Medical History (Form 3)

Issues Checklist for Parents and Teenagers (Form 4)

IV. Parent Handouts for Steps 1-18

Parent Handout for Step 2. Principles of Behavior Management: Four-Factor Model of Teen Misbehavior

Parent Handout for Step 2. Coercive Behavior Cycle

Parent Handout for Step 3. Paying Attention to Your Teen's Good Behavior

Parent Handout for Step 4. How to Give Effective Commands

Parent Handout for Step 5. Sample Behavioral Contract

Parent Handout for Step 5. The Home Point System

Parent Handout for Step 8. Grounding

Parent Handout for Step 9. Accommodations for Improving Teen School Performance

Parent Handout for Step 9. Educational Rights for Children with ADHD in Public Schools

Parent Handout for Step 10. Steps to Better Problem Solving

Parent Handout for Step 10. Problem-Solving Worksheet

Parent Handout for Step 10. Problem-Solving Exercise

Parent Handout for Step 13. Communication Habits

Parent Handout for Step 15. Unreasonable and Reasonable Beliefs

Adolescent Handout for Step 15. Unreasonable and Reasonable Beliefs

"The second edition of Defiant Teens does an outstanding job of bringing together parent management training and parent-adolescent problem-solving communication training. The skills taught in this program have a long history of empirical support and are presented in a straightforward and systematic manner that facilitates effective implementation. Clinicians can use this book to help families with adolescents live more harmoniously. Instructors should consider adding it to the reading lists of child and adolescent behavior therapy courses."
- Rex Forehand, PhD, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of Vermont

"The talents and clinical insights of two preeminent scholars in child and adolescent mental health are united in this practical and well-conceived treatment manual. Defiant Teens, Second Edition, provides well-validated, family-based intervention protocols to help adolescents get back on track in their family relations, friendships, and school functioning. A valuable resource for any mental health professional working with adolescents."
- Scott W. Henggeler, PhD, Family Services Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina

"Defiant Teens continues to be the authoritative clinical guide for those helping families cope with challenging teens. Clinicians may rest assured that this updated second edition is even better, enhanced by inclusion of the latest research and honed by many years of clinical work with families. Since school issues are a major source of family conflict, I find the section on school interventions to be invaluable."
- Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, MS, author of Teaching Teens with ADD, ADHD and Executive Function Deficits, Second Edition