Growing up and leaving childhood behind can be a challenging and painful process and young people may find themselves having thoughts and feelings that are confusing and distressing. This can sometimes lead to ‘acting out’ aggressive or self destructive behaviour or ‘acting in’ depression and ‘stuckness’. This can be very difficult for the young person and the people they live and interact with and can affect their wider and peer relationships and their learning and development.
Adolescence brings its own specific challenges related to the developmental ‘task’ of individuation. As young people try to separate to some extent from their parents and care givers they naturally look to their peers for understanding and relationships. This can be immensely exciting and enjoyable but can also bring very difficult feelings to do with competition and comparison, fitting in whilst being true to oneself, sometimes risk taking and sometimes isolation, depression and even self harm.
Sometimes therapy can act as something of a bridge for the young person between the world of peers and of ‘grown ups’ and be helpful during this tricky navigation phase.
Therapy sessions can give the young person a space of their own to explore what’s going on inside them and in their relationships and can work alongside Parenting Support sessions.
As young people enter higher education, leave education altogether and face the world of work and more grown up relationships with peers, colleagues and romantic partners a space to think together with a qualified practitioner can help in the sorting out of priorities and facing of fears.
© Jayne Thomas
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