We live in very different times from what our parents and grandparent lived in and went through, which means that youth today need different ways of approaching and dealing with their issues.
And with young adult issues arising from those in their late teens to the ones in their early 20s, dealing with issues like peer influences, development, and sexual concerns, as well as career, school, and family differences and challenges, might call for therapy and counselling.
Why would I need counselling as a young adult?
For many, this is a time of self (soul)-searching as you are adjusting to early adulthood. You may be asking yourself the following questions. Who am I? Where do I fit in? How do I get along with others? What do I believe?
As a young adult, developing your own identity, uniqueness, and being your own person can be a confusing time. Along with this comes the deep confusion, feelings of despair, and not knowing who you are; even as you search deep for your own sense of self and identity can often cause anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, for most young adults, this can often lead to experimentation with lifestyles, which may not always lead you down the right path, in the process, taking you away from your goals and values.
What Does Counselling For Young Adult Issues Looks Like?
While there are different types of counselling approaches that may be used for young adults to ensure that the issues they struggle with are handled professionally, and in the most effective way, only a few counselling and therapy options seem to work best. These include:
Mindfulness – Mindfulness is used in combination with CBT in therapy with young adults. This approach has been shown to be effective because it helps young adults to focus on some of the difficult feelings and thoughts they struggle with instead of avoiding these thoughts. Thanks to this approach, the fear the previously engulfed them will lessen. Some of the mindfulness techniques recommended include yoga, meditation, as well as breathing exercises.
Psychotherapy – This is also known as talk therapy. It is a long-term therapeutic approach that involves talking about the different effects of the past events they may have endured. This approach has been shown to be quite effective in helping clients work through different long-term problems like eating disorders and depression, etc. According to NHS psychotherapists, psychotherapy can be used pretty much anywhere, including clinics and hospitals, as well as private practices (and telehealth too).
Family Therapy – This counselling approach involves the involvement of the entire family. The family is often involved in a bid to understand where the young adult’s issues are coming from. Often, family therapy improves communications between the family members, and it also addresses issues like family breakdown, children’s behavioural problems, domestic violence and addiction, disability, etc.
How Can Counselling Be of Benefit to Young Adults?
- Enables self-awareness
- The young adults get to learn healthy and more resilient ways of coping with hard times and hard feelings.
- A better understanding of life, and gaining knowledge of the fact that they are not alone and that they are normal
- Counselling offers them a private and safe environment to share their deepest thoughts and feelings honestly.
- Counselling equips them with healthy coping mechanisms and tools.
- Improved sense of self after counselling
Why Finding the Right Counsellor for Young Adults Is So Important?
This is an important consideration because finding the right counsellor means finding a professional who understands the young adults and the young adult issues, as well as the importance of maintaining the secrecy and keeping the discussion confidential. Also, this is important in ensuring that young adults get the best tools, advice, solutions, and respite for their issues. Most importantly, it ensures that young adults have a safe space they can go to, grow, and be better humans.
Inner Voice Counselling Cronulla is located in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, New South Wales. Young adults’ counselling consultations are available in person, via Zoom, or the telephone.