ABSTRACT
There is a difference between an adolescent's awareness of illness and seeking medical or psychosocial treatment. This chapter focuses on theory and data concerning the motives and reasons that play a role in determining why adolescents do or do not use health services, especially those offering psychotherapy or psychological counseling. In analyzing some of the components of adolescent aversion to physicians and other health care providers, emphasis is placed on considering the general developmental dynamics particular to adolescence. As will be seen, the reasons why adolescents do or do not seek and accept medical or psychosocial care are strongly linked to their general reservations about accepting help from adults. In addition, the concrete expectations parents have about help offered by physicians, psychologists, and other health care professionals is discussed.
