Working with Aggressive Youth: Positive Strategies to Teach Self-control and Prevent Violence

Help a child overcome their aggressive behaviors by developing clear and effective treatment interventions that can help lead troubled youth back to the path of success.

Angry, aggressive, or violent youth threaten the well-being of themselves, other children, and caregivers in any setting - schools, foster care, group homes, or mental health facilities. They may need medication and therapy to treat their problems, but they also must learn how to control negative thoughts and emotions without turning to aggressive behavior.

In this book, professionals learn how to build good relationships with youth and teach them pro-social behavior. Also offered are sample treatment plans to address both proactive and reactive aggression in youth and guidelines on how to promote a safe environment for the children in your care.

Included is a social skills chart that can be used as an easy reference guide by caregivers as they teach new skills to replace old aggressive behaviors. The chart shows which skills work best with specific types of behaviors.

This book can help teachers, school counselors, social workers, probation officers, psychologists, foster parents, child care staff, and administrators teach angry youth how to calm down, use self-control strategies, and solve problems in positive ways.

Dr. Daniel L. Daley is Executive Vice President and Director of Youth Care at Boys Town. He has presented over 150 papers at scientific and service conferences, authored or co-authored over 80 articles, book chapters and training manuals. He was on the faculty at Kansas University for over 15 years. His areas of expertise are juvenile delinquency, adolescent mental health, and dissemination of evidence-based programs.