Child and adolescent characteristics that impact on therapy

Abstract

This chapter describes background knowledge that a therapist should possess when working with youth experiencing internalizing disorders, and has four major foci. First, knowledge regarding internalizing psychopathology, its presentation in youth, and the impact of comorbidity on treatment will be discussed. Second, the influence on therapy of cognitive, social and emotional developmental issues will be presented. Third, discussion will centre around the impact on therapy of individual differences in young people, with a particular focus on demographic variables, health conditions and learning disorders. Finally, the impact on therapy of environmental factors (parental psychopathology, parenting style, and conflict) and life events (stressful life events, trauma, and bullying) will be discussed.