The disturbed adolescent and his family: problems of individuation

The intrapsychic developmental task of adolescent individuation is examined from the standpoint of an adolescent‐family system in interaction. Interferences to this developmental task and resistances to treatment arising from both the adolescent and the family are discussed. The author focuses on counter‐separation attitudes and behaviors on the part of the family and the motivation for these attitudes and behaviors. Some therapeutic implications are discussed.