Life Transitions Counseling for Young Adults

 

The major life transitions that teens make when they enter young adulthood are based around the development of independence.   For many young adults, the first major transition you experience is graduating from high school and moving on to the next step.  Many times, getting through this transition can be emotional and stressful for both you and your parents.  I know this might seem strange to imagine because we are brought up to believe that moving on to the next stage in life is exciting and wonderful.  Although this is true, for many people, the transition also comes with worries and fears.

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Getting into a good college is so important…

 

For many teens, the first major life transition is when you finish high school and head to college.  Getting into “a good school” becomes the first priority in your senior year, sometimes even sooner.  Older teens seem to spend an enormous amount of time and effort on achieving high grades and developing the most attractive college application.  Yet, very little time is focused on learning how to manage daily living responsibilities as a young adult, when you start your freshman year at college.  As a result, what causes the most stress for teens and young adults during this transition are tasks like managing a checking account or dealing with part time job, while still managing classes and school assignments.  

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When I talk to parents, they express a lot of worry about the college acceptance process and how their teen will handle it.  Some parents have expressed worries about not being involved in their child’s daily life when they complete high school. Sometimes parents fear that they may not be needed or relevant to their children when they go off to college and become young adults.   The parental role changes when young adults move away to live on campus, or spend less time at home as a commuter student.  It can be hard to recognize that young adults need their parents just as much as they did in their younger years because their needs have changed.  Taking care of children is about being emotionally supportive rather than taking care of their concrete concerns like making dinner or doing their laundry.

When teens transition into adulthood, it can be a tumultuous journey.  Therapy for young adults and/or their families can help ease the bumps in the road.

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How will therapy help with life transitions?

 

You might be wondering how therapy can be helpful in getting through transitions that occur for everyone in life.  The reality is that making the transition from teen to young adulthood seems to be increasingly more difficult.  Imagine a young woman who graduated from high school in the late 1950s, she was encouraged to choose from one of maybe five careers. Maybe she went to college  or she got married and stayed home to raise children.   Many young women understood that her choices were limited and  worked with what was available to her.  

 

Fast forward to a  young woman who graduated from high school in the late 1980s.  There were significantly more options available at this time.   Young women were encouraged to pursue an education, career and family and that it was possible to “have it all”.  

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Today, young adults have access to so much information that the sky is the limit.   Your career and lifestyle options are endless.   However, too many choices can be overwhelming and scary.  It is so hard to figure out which path is the right one for you.

 

• What happens if I make the wrong choice?

• What if I can’t change my decision?

• What if I find something I like better?

• What if I hate the school that I choose?

• What happens if I can’t handle it?

 

If you have asked yourself any of these questions, you have begun to experience some of the fears and worries that go along with the transition to young adulthood.  Therapy will help you gain a healthier perspective on your worries and help you feel prepared to move forward toward your goals.

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I don’t have time for therapy…

 

Your schedule is very busy and adding another commitment could feel overwhelming.   The fact that it is hard to find time in your week to add another appointment is very real.  To make matters worse, therapy works best when sessions occur weekly and consistently.  Therapy not only takes time, but it is also a financial commitment.  Think of therapy as the tool that strengthens your emotional foundation.  Your therapy time is the investment that you make in yourself to help you get through this transitional period.  It will help you feel more confident in your decision making and prepare you for all the changes that are happening and ones to come.  Therapy will help you channel your energy into positive activities that will allow you to grow and move forward in your life.  You will feel motivated and confident to take on new challenges beyond high school.

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Is it time to consider therapy?

 

Preparing for life after high school can be exciting and at the same time, overwhelming and scary.  Talk therapy is very helpful when you are faced with the tough decisions that come with taking your next steps in life.   After the first few sessions, your therapist and Triangle Cognitive Therapy will develop a plan to help you feel confident and ready to move forward.

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