Matters of Interpretation: Reciprocal Transformation in Therapeutic and Developmental Relationships with Youth (Jossey-Bass Psychology Series) - Hardcover

"The authors have initiated a revolutionary line of inquiry, sure to have a major impact across the full spectrum of fields that care about youth development. This ambitious theory and practice book marks a true innovation in teaching. Students . . . will gain a deeper respect for the developmental challenges and cultural complexities faced by the youth they wish to serve. Faculty and supervisors . . . will be amazed at how much more their students can learn when they are trained to use hermeneutic tools to study and support the lives of children and adolescents in the world." (Robert L. Selman, director, Risk and Prevention Program, and professor of psychology and education, Harvard University) "How rare it is to open a chapter in a book of psychology and find a compelling story of human experience." (Frank Richardson, associate professor of educational psychology, University of Texas, Austin)

An effective new therapeutic model that integrates the client's and therapist's values This groundbreaking book offers therapists and counselors an effective new therapeutic model based on hermeneutics - the art and science of interpretation. It recognizes that the clinician is not a neutral observer in the therapeutic process but brings to the interaction his or her own values, judgments, and prejudices. Grounded in theory yet deeply inspirational, the book is filled with rich personal reflections from real-world clinicians who have used this model and found the process to be deeply transformative. This new approach not only deepens the therapeutic relationship but has proven to be especially effective with young clients at risk for negative outcomes.