Externalizing Behavioral Symptoms in Adjudicated Youth and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Delivered Through Video Conferencing

Abstract

There is an increasing need to use telepsychology in addressing the behaviors of juvenile offenders, due to its ability to increase connection to specialists, link to community resources, and potential to reduce barriers to service such as travel costs and time away from work. Solution-focused brief interventions may be a useful intervention to use with telepsychology. The goal of this study was to help establish the efficacy of delivering solution-focused brief therapy through video conferencing with court-adjudicated juvenile offenders. The study examined the behavior of four participants with a multiple baseline design using (a) parental report of externalizing behaviors and (b) adolescent report of hopefulness. Dependent variables were assessed daily and at three-weeks after the intervention. Overall, there were no demonstrable changes in externalizing behaviors or adolescent-reported hope following administration of the intervention. Suggestions for modifying future studies are given, including more objective measures and more treatment sessions. Finally, improved methods for working with the court system and families were delineated.