Young Adult Counseling
Counseling for young adults may help the young adult explore their identity, including their values, interests, and questions of who they are in the world. Instability is addressed for young adults who may experience a feeling of being “in between” one stage of life and the next, often striving for independence from parents but needing to depend on them for financial or emotional support. Young adults tend to be naturally self-focused at this time of their life, but may need help in seeing a bigger picture in terms of how they fit into the world and their relationships with others.
The Struggles of a Young Adult
Young adults’ sense of possibilities can help to establish hope for the future, but can also hinder progress if the young adult is overwhelmed by possibilities. At this point, the young adult may need assistance narrowing down choices. Group therapy can be a powerful intervention for this cohort, as many young adults are feeling isolated and alone, as if everyone else “has it together” except for them. Group therapy helps young adults to see that this is not the case, and gives them a place to feel less isolated and more supported as they grapple with issues of what their life will be about.
The brain is not fully mature until at least age 25. Most significant changes after puberty are in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum, the regions involved in emotional control and higher-order cognitive functioning. The limbic system explodes during puberty, but the prefrontal cortex keeps maturing for another 10 years. This is the part that allows the young adults to control their impulses, come up with a long-range strategy, and answer the question, “What am I going to do with my life?” Many serious mental illnesses tend to appear in the late teens or early 20’s. Other common problems may include substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. These illnesses and issues complicate the already complex question of life choices and direction.