Existential family treatment with an urban-appalachian adolescent

The Urban-Appalachian family often requests treatment for an adolescent member of the family who is manifesting difficulties adjusting to life in the city. Often the adolescent’s adjustment problems serve as a symbol for total family difficulties in adjusting to the city as well as the adolescent’s normal developmental issues which are intensified by the family’s migration experience. In this article, the authors describe and outline an existential treatment approach to working with Urban-Appalachian adolescents and their families. A case illustration is provided to demonstrate the described treatment approach.