Therapy for young adults

Sometimes life is not easy. Especially when you are growing up. Your life changes and so do you. Hormonal things happen, you go to another school, you make new friends and you get relationships. In short: you will discover your own life and preferably you do this at a distance from your parents. This period lasts until your brain is fully grown, around the age of 23.

You can solve many of your problems yourself by talking to your parents or friends. Sometimes it does not work and it is time to find help. Therapy may be a good solution for you.

What problems can young adults have?

You may need help with all kinds of problems, such as:

• you freeze when you want or have to do something important (performance anxiety);
• you cannot fall asleep, do not sleep through or wake up tired (sleep problems, fatigue);
• you no longer feel like going to school (motivation problems such as truancy, school dropout);
• you suffer from physical symptoms without a clearly identifiable physical cause (hyperventilation, headache, abdominal pain);
• even if you don’t want to, you light that cigarette every time, roll that joint or play your computer game (addiction problems);
• you don’t feel like doing anything anymore, you feel empty (depression);
• you look for the boundaries of the law and sometimes you go beyond it (criminal behavior);
• you suffer from a divorce or other family problems;
• you are bullied at school, you have little confidence, you feel left out, you have difficulty with making contact;
• you suffer from shyness, ADHD, rebellious or withdrawn behavior;
• you feel insecure about your appearance or have problems with it;
• you are not so good at dealing with special qualities such as spirituality, high sensitivity and giftedness;
• you have an eating problem (eating too much or too little).

Parents

Also for parents puberty is often a difficult period. You see your child growing up, making good choices and sometimes complete mistakes. Intervening as when they were small often no longer works. Your child will not allow it and it can result in conflicts at home. In general, this is a healthy development. Young adults must choose their own path. But not every young adult is doing well. Some get stuck in their development and don’t know how to get out. You see that your child feels increasingly miserable and increasingly withdraws or fights against everything. You notice that talking is not enough and that professional guidance may offer a solution for your child.

What is therapy for young adults?

The young adult is central in the therapy. A listening ear is offered for the problems you encounter. We will also look at the main reason why you do what you do. Because no matter how annoying your behavior is for yourself and / or your environment, there is always a good reason behind it.

In therapy we do not only work on the problem. Also a lot of attention is paid to who you are, your qualities, your (im) possibilities, your dreams and expectations of life. Understanding this will help you solve your problems and take control of your life.

Tailor-made care is provided, which means that your learning style and interests are taken into account. It is important that the guidance has a positive outcome and that will happen faster, if it is understandable to you and if it is in line with your interests.

The length of the treatment process is very individual. Sometimes it is a short process, and sometimes more sessions are needed.

Most young adults up to the age of 16 are registered by their parents

We start with an intake interview with one or both parents. The following questions will be addressed in this conversation: What concerns do you have about your child? What have you already tried to solve the problems? How has your child’s development been? What do you expect from the therapy?

Then we have an intake interview with only you, the young adult. During this conversation you can tell your own story. This will not be easy for everyone. Sometimes it takes more than one session. After these initial conversations, the therapist will determine with you what the goals are and what form the therapy will take. After a number of sessions with you, there will be an evaluation meeting with your parents.

Young adults from 16 years and older can also make an appointment themselves

After the intake interview, you can indicate whether you want to involve your parents in the therapy. Then, in consultation with you, a plan is drawn up. This plan includes the purpose of the therapy and the required type of therapy.

The information we discuss in the conversations is confidential. This information can be shared with your parents if you give permission.

Parental guidance

Do you recognize these statements? It is not easy to raise an adolescent! My child is less and less at home, it sometimes looks like a hotel! I have no idea what my child is doing outside the door! I worry! Every time those fights!

You can have all kinds of reasons for choosing parental guidance. Because raising an adolescent is not always easy. Because you no longer know how to help your child. Because as a parent you always run into certain feelings and patterns that you would like to get rid of. Or because you wonder: am I doing it right?

During a number of sessions your questions will be discussed. Together with you we look for an answer that suits you and your child. The answer may consist of theoretical knowledge about the development your child is currently experiencing, but also concrete advice that can help you respond as a parent.

Contact Psychologen Amsterdam

Do you need help or do you just have a question about therapy for young adults? Then call for an appointment or send a message to practice Psychologen Amsterdam.