The Troubled Adolescent: Challenges and Resilience within Family and Multicultural Contexts

The "Troubled" Adolescent: Challenges and Resilience Within Family and Multicultural Contexts is written for students and clinicians who want to learn about adolescent behavioral health and psychosocial development. It focuses on the experiences of culturally diverse adolescents and families including, but not limited to, diversity based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, spirituality, ability/disability status, age, nationality, language, and socioeconomic status. Written from a bioecological and strength-based perspective, it views adolescents as having the power to initiate growth and recover from setbacks.

The book is clinically focused and intended to build readers’ multicultural competence when working with youth and families. Six chapters focus on challenges and treatment for specific concerns, such as trauma- and stressor-related disorders, depression and anxiety, suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury, eating disturbances, substance use disorders, and disruptive behaviors. The book balances theory and application, and provides information about screening, diagnosis (based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, DSM-5), prevention, and treatment. Chapters contain case vignettes, self-reflective questions, discussion questions, suggestions for working with adolescents, and key terms. Special attention is given to family and cultural expressions and explanations for symptoms. Interactive learning opportunities are included as QR codes to meet diverse learning needs and to help readers apply information.

Jennifer L. Lovell is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at California State University, Monterey Bay. Her scholarship focuses on health disparities and cultural factors impacting child, adolescent, and family wellness. Dr. Lovell is a licensed clinical psychologist in California.

Joseph L. White spent most of his distinguished career at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. White was a pioneer in the field of Black Psychology and received numerous prestigious awards. He served as a professor, administrator, mentor, consultant, and practicing clinical psychologist for over 50 years and authored four books on African American and ethnic psychology.