Today, young adults are facing what may seem significant obstacles on their path to adulthood. In the industrialized and computerized world we live in today, they are expected to navigate everything from leaving high school for college to the potential of finding a job to support themselves. Alcohol and drug abuse are highly possible. The world is highly mobile with technology shifting the environment, which is, itself, deteriorating economically and physically. This makes counseling young adults a challenge for even the most seasoned therapist or counsellor.
Factors of Change
Whether you live in Boulder, Colorado or New York City, the transition to young adulthood can be fraught with anxiety and change for which many late teens are unprepared. They are expected to make the move from high school to college or the workforce in spite of little societal or functional preparation. These major role changes can affect their perspective and self-image heavily and, sometimes negatively.
At a given age, young adults face serious role changes. To an extent, they are suddenly expected to cast themselves into the world and live as an independent being. As young adults, they are now expected to take care of themselves and take control of their life in a world that now seems unfamiliar. Some are simply not prepared to leave family and friends behind as they move into this phase of life. This pales many of them at high risk for mental health problems and substance abuse. While most can handle the changes, not all are prepared adequately enough to do so. The counseling of young adults before reaching this juncture is a necessary tool for them to achieve success in adjusting.
The Role of Counseling Young Adults
Counseling, at its most basic, is the means through which you obtain help to work out your personal problems. The impetus is a trained counselor. He or she is there to listen to what you have to say and help you to focus on the major issues. By doing so, he or she will work with you to arrive at a solution that lets you resolve the issues in a positive manner. The counselor accomplishes this by:
- Listening: A good counselor listens more than he or she talks. They hear what you have to say and take it seriously. They listen before they express an opinion
- Clarifying: The counselor is there to help you clarify what is actually important. Sometimes matters become convoluted – lost in extraneous details or information. A counselor helps you find your way through the important to identify what is relevant
- Options: Counselors allow you to discover and explore the options
- Self-Awareness: If you want to understand yourself, you have to be aware of your being. For young adults this may be a difficult thing to do. A counselor helps you explore our many selves and sets you on the path of self-awareness
While the role may seem innocuous and even unnecessary at times, current research indicates that emerging adults need this extra support. In fact, as the world continues to shift and its expectations of young adults alters with it, mentoring and counseling young adults will no longer be seen as an option but a necessity in cities such as Boulder.