Psychoeducation is an orientation to the education and treatment of kids with emotional and behavioral problems that emphasizes the importance of adult-child relationship.  The psychoeducator sees most "problem behavior" as a reflection of the child's inability to deal with situations maturely and productively, purposeful but misguidedly so.

Within the context of a professional, caring relationship, psychoeducation . . .

     1.  Focuses on the unique needs of the troubled child;
     2.  Helps the child recognize and understand how his or her needs drive behavior; and, 
     3.  Supports development of new and more productive ways of working and living with others.

Psychoeducation involves many therapeutic elements but is not "psychotherapy."  Psychoeducators are concerned with the child's developmental status, and strive to help the child find productive ways to cope with problems. Psychoeducators recognize that a child needs a reasonable degree of self-understanding to relate well with others, and so have the goal of helping the child learn about himself or herself. 

Adults who have a psychoeducational orientation may be found in schools, agencies for troubled kids, and in the juvenile justice system.  There are many "psychoeducators" who do not know what the word means, or that it might apply to them! 

Psychoeducators do not see the world through rose-colored glasses, but are reality-based.  Most acknowledge that certain children may not benefit maximally from a psychoeducational approach.  Some kids lack the intellectual skills to gain much through psychoeducational strategies, for example, or suffer from neurologically-based syndromes that pose therapeutic obstacles.  Still, the majority of kids with problems are simply trying to cope -- however maladaptively -- with their life situations, and flourish when a caring adult shows real interest in them.