DSM-III and DSM-III-R aid diagnostic clarity but do not help clinicians plan for common therapies available. A psychodynamic formulation has been described for adults to complement diagnosis and guide management. Child and adolescent psychiatrists would benefit if such a scheme were available for their use. Psychodynamic formulations based on current models are offered and their elements are described. Case vignettes and therapeutic plans are presented to show the practical value of a formal psychodynamic formulation, regardless of the treatment employed.