This paper indicates how practice (treatment, social work) may benefit from the application of notions deriving from symbolic interactionism and Situational Action Theory. I conducted interviews with therapists from a day care treatment centre. The centre offers educational assistance and counselling to children and youth aged from three to eighteen. In the article I present four methods of treatment of children and youth at risk (including juvenile offenders), which I draw from the analysis of in-depth interviews. The professionals who would benefit from applying the ideas presented in the article are probation offi cers, social workers, counsellors, street workers, and therapists.