Abstract
As a multidisciplinary team of a therapeutic day program for teenagers with various child psychiatric problems (such as depression, anxiety disorders, conversion disorders, developmental issues, eating disorders, trauma), we work closely with both the adolescent and their context . We have deep respect for each family’s life story and process. We view ourselves as hopefully persistent or persistently hopeful and do not shy away from complex struggles.

The adolescents we encounter often exhibit internalizing behavior, where emotions are directed inward, self-destructive behavior is more prevalent, and reaction patterns are characterized by inhibition, blocking, and regression. While externalized violence or boundary-crossing behavior typically elicits more natural resistance from the environment, we frequently observe a protective, accommodating and symbiotic dynamic in response to symptoms within our families. Resistance for these families, in our view, requires a different kind of courage.

We aim to provide you with as much insight as possible into how our team shows resistance. We will illustrate how “gentle but determined” resistance is woven into our approach and attitude. For us, resistance is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of courage and commitment. We will demonstrate how resistance is always embedded in a relational context. How it is an active process of enduring and safeguarding boundaries.

In this workshop we will present a variety of practical examples that illustrate how we implement ‘resistance’ within our work with adolescents whose behaviors often invite accommodation, protection and compliance. We will highlight resistance from different perspectives: that of the adolescent, the parents and the team. We will share both our successes but we will also be honest about the challenges we face and the mistakes we make along the way.

Through varied and vivid practical examples, we aim to offer a comprehensive view. In addition to the team’s perspective, we will also present testimonies from parents and experiences from adolescents. We will use drawings, video, and audio material.