Working with Adolescents

“With a difficult subject, a wealth of impressive research, and case studies that are heart-wrenching, the authors manage to make this book readable. In addition to educating, the book reminds readers of the importance of adolescent work and the scope of the needs of teens who are just trying to find themselves.”

—Doody’s Review Service


“A highly readable book, helpful to novice and experienced professionals alike. This comprehensive volume addresses a broad range of issues that affect adolescents. It is chock-full of tips and clinical examples that portray adolescents within diverse cultural contexts. People working with teenagers will turn to this text again and again to help them understand the young people who come their way.”

—Lisa Aronson Fontes, PhD, Senior Lecturer II, University Without Walls, University of Massachusetts Amherst


“If you do therapy with adolescents, you have to understand their developmental landscape. You need to know what challenges to expect, what variations are typical, and what the influences are that determine each youth's trajectory. Laser and Nicotera have provided that roadmap for us. This second edition is a 'must read' for modern-day therapists who want to deliver treatment informed by science.”

—Guy S. Diamond, PhD, Director, Center for Family Intervention Science, Drexel University


“I used the first edition for a class on social work practice with adolescents, and found it a practical way to teach interventions. The second edition's increased focus on structural racism and discrimination and the trauma that ensues is timely and essential. Mental health professionals have an ethical duty to look beyond labels of individual pathology and take systemic injustice into consideration. This book can be used to train practitioners who work with adolescents in many settings, such as clinics, schools, and community organizations. Students will benefit from the numerous case studies, which illustrate not only challenges but also opportunities when working with adolescents.”

—Robin Deluca-Acconi, PhD, LCSW, Assistant Dean for Student Services and Clinical Assistant Professor, Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare