The Positive Group: A Therapeutic Technique in the Hospital Treatment of Adolescents

Many adolescents on inpatient units have a low self-esteem and do not recognize their own strengths. To help such patients, the San Antonio Children's Center includes in its treatment program a weekly group session in which adolescents and staff meet together to review each patient's progress during the week; only positive comments are allowed. A different person— patient or staff member—acts as chairman of each meeting. The chairman initially provides some structure by reminding participants that it is a positive group. He then makes positive statements about himself and about others in the group. Through role-modeling, adolescents learn to accept and to make positive comments.