The young adult time period consist of very rapid emotional, physiological, sexual and cognitive shifts and changes. These young adults move into roles that are new and take on more responsibility. They go into college, the workforce, leave home and some start a family at a young age.

They are expected to start to accept responsibility for their lives, start making adult decisions. Legally they are now responsible for their actions, and are for many solely responsible for providing financially. This is a large developmental time period where they are going from dependence to independence.

Studies shown from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) find young adult’s brain development is not fully formed or matured till around the age of 25. After puberty the largest change is in the prefrontal part of the brain called the cerebellum. This is the area of brain that is responsible for emotional control and higher skills needed for cognitive functioning. This frontal cortex affects impulse regulation and control and is responsible for developing strategies that are long term. This is important when a young adult is deciding what they want to do with their lives.

Fifty years ago young adults on average were married by the age of 22. Today that age for men is 28 and for women the age is 24. Studies show an increase in positive mood and feelings towards their immediate families when they did not live at home. There are several factors that show us integration from young adulthood into independent adulthood takes much more time than it did in the past.

There are significantly more issues that our young adults face today.

• Drug Abuse

  Today drugs and alcohol often displays, a sense of peer bonding and are more widely accepted among their peers as normal recreational use. This leads to early addiction, impacting their chances to get a fresh start into the workforce. College grades are affected. This leads to feeling of low self worth, dependency on their family and often failure to launch and go out on their own.

• Decline in Education

  The cost of college is increasing making it very hard for our young adults to start out on the right foot. Many young adults are showing little to no desire to continue education after high school. This leaves our young adults feeling aimless and forced to take jobs that are not fulfilling.

• Economic Downfall

  It is becoming increasingly harder for our youth to find jobs. Lack of funding to public schools means less access to quality education. Our young adults are ill prepared and thrust into the main population expected to work and be proficient. It is very hard for our young adults to find jobs and are now living back at home with parents.

• Social Isolation

  Social media and gaming has taken the place of face to face interaction for our young adults. They struggle to navigate the workforce and be team players. Due to increased technology friendships are not formed. Texting has replaced talking. Time spent with peers is done through Facebook and Instagram. Building lasting and quality relationships is vital for young adults as they head out into the world. This has increased isolation, social anxiety and it has made it much harder for them to mature.

The young adult time period consist of very rapid emotional, physiological, sexual and cognitive shifts and changes. These young adulThe many benefits include:

• Understanding core belief systems and values unique to themselves.
• Assisting in transitioning into adulthood and creating a plan that supports them.
• Addressing the importance of family issues and expectations that the young adult feels pressure about.
• Assisting in making and maintaining healthy peer relationships.
• Therapy that addresses social anxiety, performance anxiety, depression and fear in regards to transitioning from family to independence.

When our young adults seek the help they need for mental health concerns, they will benefit from the use of several interventions and therapy models. Among these models are CBT Therapy, Narrative Therapy and interpersonal therapy. These approaches assist young adults to identify negative belief and thought patterns as well as feelings. It is a great opportunity for them to speak with a therapist that is not biased and allows them the time to process the many often times conflicting inner turmoil they face as they are entering the adult world.

Call today at 407-967-1327. Let’s get started planning your next step in this world. You deserve to have all the support you can get. Understand more about my approach when working with young adults.