THE USE OF A MULTISTAGE CONFRONTATION TECHNIQUE IN THE CONTEXT OF AN ADOLESCENT UNIT

Confrontation is widely used in the treatment of adolescents. However, it has tended to be presented as a unitary process requiring non-spec ific skills. In this paper we discuss the purpose and applications of confrontation and describe a multi-stage technique used by the authors in the context of an adolescent unit. Breaking down the technique int o stages has allowed it to be applied more consistently and problems i n its use to be more readily identified and corrected. The model enabl es a number of predictions to be made about its therapeutic effects by which it may be tested.