Adolescents with confused identity are a highly challenging client group. They respond to their adverse psychosocial environment with a variety of life-threatening behaviours.

Identity Exploration (IDEX) is a new approach which can be readily integrated into treatment modalities such as IPT (interpersonal), CAT (cognitive-analytic), DBT (dialectical) and SFT (solution-focussed) which are used for such cases.

To identify identity states, their clinical manifestations and presentations by type.

To provide clinical illustrations of each type, highlight where treatment interventions are possible within this paradigm, and report outcomes.

To set out the details of a twelve week group treatment programme. Elements of the programme are - knowing the origins of problems; getting to know self; enhancement of self-concept and self-esteem; discovering self confidence; being satisfied; dealing with rejection and disappointment; taking time out; cooperating and sharing; being kind to self.

Completion of IDEX instrument; qualitative assessment, using the Alston grid, to differentiate comorbid conditions which include ADD, juvenile bipolar disorder, reactive attachment disorder, developmental traumatic disorder and complex PTSD; process notes of group therapy sessions; CORE evaluation of outcomes.

The summary scores for the main parameters - empathetic identification, identity diffusion, conflicted identification and contaridentification - together with how they relate to the four identity states - Achieved, Foreclosed, Diffused and Moratorium - and outcomes will all be reported.

Identity Exploration is an easily administered tool which requires minimal training and which can be integrated into whichever treatment modality a therapist is trained in.