Along with the physical changes of puberty, adolescents undergo significant transformations in the way they think, act, feel and perceive the world. The disruption that is manifest in their behaviour is upsetting and often incomprehensible to the adults surrounding them. In The Adolescent Psyche Richard Frankel shows how this unique stage of human development expresses through its traumas and fantasies the adolescent's urge towards self-realization. The impact of contemporary culture on the lives of young people has resulted in an increasing number of adolescents being referred for psychotherapy and psychiatric treatment. Successful outcomes are often difficult to achieve in clinical work with clients of this age-group. The advice and guidelines which Frankel provides will be welcomed by psychotherapists, parents, educators and anyone working with adolescents.

    . . prepared to grapple with science, social science, andChristian theology, will find [this book] important, thought-provoking, and rewarding. ?Sharon Daloz Parks, Whidbey InstituteIn this deep and enlightening discussion, psychologist, andtheologian James E. Loder demonstrates how a theologicalperspective enlarges our understanding of how humans grow anddevelop from birth through the life span. Loder examines theintimate relationship between human nature and the divine andprovides moving case studies, bringing the work of psychologistsFreud, Erikson, and Piaget to that of seminal Christian theologiansKierkegaard, Barth, Torrance, and Pannenberg.Loder acknowledges that psychological stage theories enable us tounderstand the logic of humans' evolving relationship with theworld and with God. At the same time, he demonstrates that thedivine spirit has a logic of its own, which is not bound by stages.Seminarians, theologians, ministers, and pastoral counselors willbenefit from this rich, thought-provoking guide.James E. Loder is the Mary D. Synnott Professor of the Philosophyof Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary and authorof The Transforming Moment and coauthor of The Knight's Move.