Adolescents with acute psychiatric illness need an environment that emphasizes containment, structure, support, involvement and validation. Within such an environment therapeutic relations based on collaboration can be developed. However, these relations require nursing actions that facilitate adolescents' acceptance of containment, their ability to form attachments and development of achievement. The proposed collaborative approach for nursing care positions the adolescent as an active participant in the treatment process. The collaborative approach encourages a sense of responsibility for self and enhances the adolescent's skills to cope with situations and relations that pose difficulties through the development of self-awareness and problem-solving abilities.