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This article explores a paradox that was identified during an ethnographic study of two Danish therapeutic residential institutions for children with emotional and behavioural problems. The key objective of these institutions is to provide specialized treatment for the individual child. However, the task of organizing everyday life for a group of troubled children is so demanding that little room is left for individualization. In practice, treatment takes the shape of a rather standardized package. Analysing individual treatment as a powerful kind of "institutional thinking", the authors delve into the meaning of an apparent contradiction in terms: standardized individual therapy. (Contains 6 notes.)

Presents several abstracts related to social service as of July 1998. Developments within residential care for substance misusers in Sweden since 1960s; Factors which child protection services consider when assessing risk involved in child protection; Analysis of the Link movement in terms of its character and development as a self-help movement by and for the persons with alcohol problems.