This paper describes a treatment modality for the seriously disturbed adolescent involving simultaneous family and adolescent group therapy. This model of treatment is based on the premise that the disturbed adolescent is the symptom bearer for both marital and family pathology. Another important theory underlying the treatment modality is that every family plays out a theme and subthemes that characterize its style of operation. Each family member's role is an enactment of an aspect of the major and minor themes. Focus on the adolescent's behavior and idiosyncracies by the family serves to hide the marital and family pathology. Only when the family has made some strides in defocusing their attention from the adolescent and is able to begin dealing with the hitherto denied pathology in the family is the recommendation of group therapy for the adolescent made. The fact that the family's therapist is one or the other of the two group co-therapists facilitates the defocusing process. This also assures a continuity of approach. (Author/KJ)