Young Adult Issues Therapist Q&A

Young adults in their late teens/early 20s face many challenges as they reach legal adulthood at the age of 18. Many young adults at this stage in their life, in their quest for more independence, are dealing with the stresses of learning how to be self-sufficient and making decisions that could have life-long consequences.  We all know that the breakdown of a long-standing relationship, moving house or changing jobs are high on the list of life’s top stressors. Add to the mix a young adult who is still trying to find their way in life – and all this can come as quite a shock for the teen who isn’t prepared for the “big wide world”. 

Some teens will leave home for the first time and move away to college, where they will have to make new friends and get used to a whole new way of life.  The environment has changed, nothing is familiar and whilst modern technology makes communication easy, their support network is no longer physically there to offer the support and reassurance that they may have received had they been living at home.

Some of the challenges faced by young adults are:

⦁ College Transition – this is often the first time a young person will have lived away from home for any significant amount of time and this can be particularly stressful, having to acclimate to a new environment, new people and new routines.
⦁ Career issues – a very real problem and concern for teens and young adults across every walk of life.  There is the pressure (whether from self or elsewhere) that they should go out and earn money, to “pay their way”.  In the case of the college student who has studied for years, the pressure is to get a job in their field so that “all the money and hard work was worth it”.  On top of this is the stress of actually going out and finding a job – interviews, rejections, lack of appropriate jobs etc.
⦁ Relationship Issues – young adults are at the stage in their lives when they start to make long-term commitments and relationships. While these can be a tremendous source of comfort and support, when troubles arise it can be particularly hard to deal with, especially if their partner is their main, or only, form of support.
⦁ Couples Counseling – can often carry the misconception that it is not for young people, but couples counseling for young adults is particularly vital for those who find themselves in abusive and toxic relationships and who have no one else to turn to.  Their friends seem to be tired of the drama, and sometimes intimate relationship problems are not easy to share with parents
⦁ New parent challenges – the divorce and remarriage of parents is a tough, emotional life change that many children – whether adult or not – struggle to deal with. There is the loss of stability of the family unit, a new step-parent and (in many cases) step siblings to get used to, changes in routines and holiday traditions, not to mention the divided loyalties that they may face and the feelings of “having to choose”.

So as this shows, young adults do have a lot to deal with and mental health issues, not surprisingly, are very common. It is estimated that 20% (1 in 5) of 18-25 year olds have some form of mental health illness such as anxiety, depression, behavior and attention disorders, which is why it is so important to have somewhere they can go for acceptance and support.

Trained counselors and psychotherapists are particularly well-equipped to deal with the challenges that young people face. These counselors are highly trained and knowledgeable in their field and are able to teach coping skills and how to deal with negative thoughts. Their insight and support make them an invaluable resource to the young adult by helping them navigate their day to day challenges.

If you would like to know more about how we help young adults contact Reaching Resolution today! Call us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located 9719 Northeast Parkway, Suite 100 Matthews NC 28105. We serve patients from Matthews NC, Charlotte NC, Waxhaw NC, Midland NC, Fairview NC, Monroe NC, Mint Hill NC, Indian Trail NC, Pineville NC, and Stallings NC.