Remember when turning eighteen signified adulthood and readiness to face the adult world? Nowadays, achieving full-fledged adulthood is more complex. Consequently, psychologist Jeffrey Jensen Arnett noticed this trend and came up with a new term: “emerging adulthood.” This phase typically covers the years from late teens to late twenties. But what exactly does it mean? And why does it matter? Let’s dive in and explore this fascinating stage of life.
Emerging Adults: Navigating the In-Between Years
What is Emerging Adulthood?
First and foremost, emerging adulthood is a time of exploration and change. It’s when young people are no longer teens but don’t feel fully adult yet. This idea builds on the work of Erik Erikson, who studied how people develop throughout their lives. Erikson talked about a “prolonged adolescence” in modern societies. Subsequently, Arnett took this idea further and identified specific features of this in-between time.
The Big Five: What Makes Emerging Adulthood Unique
- Identity Exploration: To begin with, young people are figuring out who they are. They’re asking big questions about their values, beliefs, and goals
- Instability: Furthermore, this is a time of many changes. As a result, people often move houses, switch jobs, or change romantic partners.
- Self-Focus: Additionally, free from school rules and not yet tied down by adult responsibilities, young people can focus on themselves.
- Feeling In-Between: Moreover, many feel they’re taking on adult tasks but don’t quite feel like full adults yet.
- Possibilities: Lastly, most emerging adults are hopeful about their future. In other words, they believe they can achieve their dreams.
Why is Emerging Adulthood Hard?
Let’s face it – being in your late teens and twenties isn’t always a walk in the park. This time of life can feel like a rollercoaster, with plenty of ups and downs. At Center for Anxiety and Behavior Management, we’ve talked with countless young adults who are trying to find their footing in this tricky phase of life. Here are some of the common hurdles that make emerging adulthood tough:
- Uncertainty: First of all, the future feels unclear, which can be unsettling. Many emerging adults struggle with questions like “What will my career look like?” or “Will I find a life partner?” This uncertainty can lead to anxiety and stress.
- Financial Struggles: In addition, money troubles are a significant source of stress. Many emerging adults are burdened with student loan, while trying to establish financial independence with entry-level salaries. Balancing rent, bills, and loan payments can feel overwhelming.
- Career Pressure: Furthermore, there’s immense pressure to choose and establish a career path. The job market is competitive, and many feel rushed to find their “dream job” right away. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy or fear of making the wrong choice.
- Evolving Relationships: Relationships become more complex during this period. Romantic partnerships often become more serious, bringing new emotional challenges. Meanwhile, friendships may change as people move for jobs or school, potentially leading to feelings of loneliness or isolation.
- Independence vs. Support: Emerging adults often feel caught between wanting independence and still needing support. It can be challenging to assert autonomy while still relying on family for emotional or financial backing. This balancing act can create tension and confusion.
- Identity Formation: Figuring out who you are and what you want from life is a central task of this period. This ongoing process of self-discovery can be both exciting and stressful. Many struggle with questions of personal values, beliefs, and life goals.
- Social Comparison: Social media has intensified the tendency to compare oneself to peers. Seeing curated highlights of others’ lives can make emerging adults feel like they’re falling behind or not measuring up, leading to feelings of inadequacy or anxiety.
- Shifting Expectations: Society’s expectations for this age group have changed. There’s less of a clear roadmap for adulthood than in previous generations, which can leave many feeling lost or behind schedule.
- Mental Health Challenges: This period often coincides with the onset of various mental health issues. The stress and change associated with emerging adulthood can exacerbate conditions like anxiety and depression.
- Work-Life Balance: As emerging adults start their careers, many struggle to find a healthy work-life balance. The pressure to prove oneself in a new job can lead to overwork and burnout.
At the Center for Anxiety and Behavior Management, we understand these unique challenges. We’re here to provide support and strategies to help emerging adults navigate this complex life stage. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by these or other issues, remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our specialized services can provide you with the tools and support you need to thrive during this transformative period.
How Do Emerging Adults Find Themselves?
Remember when you were a kid and adults would ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Well, emerging adulthood is when you actually start figuring that out – and it’s not always easy. This is the time when you’re trying on different hats, exploring your options, and sometimes feeling a bit lost in the process. But don’t worry, that’s totally normal!
At our Center, we’ve seen countless young adults navigate this exciting (and sometimes nerve-wracking) journey of self-discovery. It’s like putting together a puzzle, but the pieces keep changing shape. One day you think you’ve got it all figured out, and the next, you’re back to square one. But that’s okay – it’s all part of the process.
So, how exactly do emerging adults start to piece together who they are and what they want out of life? Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but we’ve noticed some common paths that many young adults take. Let’s dive into the different ways emerging adults often find themselves:
- Job Exploration: To start with, trying different jobs helps them find what they like and what they’re good at.
- Relationship Exploration: Additionally, dating different people helps them understand what they want in a partner.
- Travel and Study: Moreover, seeing new places and learning new things broadens their horizons.
- Self-Reflection: Furthermore, thinking deeply about their values and goals helps shape their identity.
- Education: Similarly, college or vocational training can open up new interests and career paths.
- Volunteering: In the same vein, helping others can give a sense of purpose and direction.
- Hobbies: Lastly, exploring interests outside of work can lead to passions and even careers.
What Comes After Emerging Adulthood?
As people settle into more stable patterns, they move into young adulthood. This usually happens in the late twenties or early thirties. Young adults typically have:
- More stable jobs or clear career paths
- Long-term romantic relationships or marriage
- Clearer life goals and values
- A stronger sense of identity
- More financial independence
- Possibly starting a family
However, it’s important to remember that everyone’s path is different. There’s no strict timeline for these changes, and there are no rules; you are unique, and your path will reflect that.
How Can We Support Emerging Adults?
To help young people navigate this tricky time, we need:
- Better Career Guidance: First and foremost, help young people explore different job options and understand the job market.
- Mental Health Support: Offer counseling and resources to deal with the stress and uncertainty of this age. At our Center for Anxiety and Behavior Management, we provide targeted therapy and counseling services for emerging adults, addressing their unique needs during this transitional period.
- Financial Education: Teach money management skills and how to handle student loans.
- Life Skills Programs: Furthermore, help young people learn to cook, manage a household, and make big decisions.
- Mentorship: Additionally, connect emerging adults with older adults who can offer guidance and support.
- Flexible Education: Moreover, offer more options for college and vocational training that fit different needs and goals.
- Community Building: Finally, create spaces for emerging adults to connect with peers and feel less alone.
Understanding and supporting emerging adulthood is crucial for helping young people successfully transition into full adulthood. By recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities of this life stage, and providing resources like those we offer at the Center for Anxiety and Behavior Management, we can create a more nurturing environment for the next generation to thrive.
Here’s what to expect…
FIRST CONTACT: Free phone consult
Prior to beginning emerging adult treatment with us, we want to make sure that we are a good fit for your needs. For this reason, we offer a free 15-minute initial phone consult to learn more about your current circumstances and to determine if we are the best resource for you. Assuming that we are a good match, you would then set up an intake session.
WEEK ONE: Intake Session
During this initial 90-minute session, the assigned therapist will meet with you to gather background information and have you fill out rating scales to provide an assessment baseline upon which to build our treatment plan and goals.
WEEK TWO: Feedback Session
Now that we’ve thoroughly assessed your needs, we will meet with you to discuss the diagnoses, to identify starting goals, and to provide education on the apparent causes and factors which are leading to your symptoms.
WEEK THREE: Emerging Adults Therapy
At this point, you will attend regular weekly therapy sessions. A typical course of treatment calls for 12 to 16 weeks of therapy sessions, but treatment length depends on many factors and, therefore, could require more or less weeks. Additionally, your therapist may determine that you need to come more or less frequently, depending upon your presenting symptoms.
Together, in each subsequent session, you and your therapist will use evidenced-based psychotherapy models to help you learn to identify trigger situations and thoughts that contribute to barriers to your feeling of independence. This typically includes the integration of techniques from Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), or other evidence-based modalities.
Each session is designed to help you overcome the barriers that are keeping you stuck. You and your therapist will work to overcome these barriers and to provide you with effective solutions. You will also spend significant time exploring your negative coping patterns and developing more helpful strategies for managing the overwhelming feelings.
TERMINATION: The Final Sessions
Transition to Independence As you approach your therapy goals, we will develop a plan for successfully transitioning you into a life without weekly therapy. This often means moving sessions from once a week to every other week, to monthly sessions, or to finishing out services completely. Your therapist also works with you to develop a relapse prevention plan at this time. Our goal is to equip you with the tools and confidence to navigate the challenges and opportunities of emerging adulthood successfully.
Are we the right providers for you?
Click below to request more info, and we’ll be sure to give you all the details about how we can help you take back control of your life.
More About The Center for Anxiety and Behavior Management
As a team of licensed therapists, we are experts at teaching you to make the behavioral choices that get you closer to your goals.
We work from an evidence-based perspective. This means that our job is to help you understand your struggles and provide solutions proven to be very effective. Negative thoughts, distressing feelings, and unhelpful behaviors don’t have to be part of your life, and anxiety therapy at The Center for Anxiety and Behavior Management is about changing the way you think, recognizing how your beliefs are holding you back, becoming informed, seeing the world more accurately, and engaging in behaviors that you won’t regret later.
We make it our mission to help you regain control of your life by providing effective strategies supported by science. We are dedicated to being on top of the most recent knowledge and helping you solve problems based on what the research says is effective. It is our passion to educate you on what is and isn’t working in your life so that you can get back in the driver’s seat and take yourself where you want to go.
Who Benefits Most from Emerging Adult Counseling
Therapy for emerging adults is ideal for those navigating the complex transition between adolescence and full adulthood. It’s particularly beneficial for those experiencing uncertainty about their future, struggling with identity formation, or feeling overwhelmed by new adult responsibilities. Our scientifically-validated and evidence-based techniques can help you find direction and build confidence during this crucial life stage.
You will benefit from emerging adult therapy if:
- You feel stuck or uncertain about your career path or life direction
- You’re struggling to form or maintain meaningful relationships
- You’re having difficulty managing new adult responsibilities like finances or independent living
- You’re experiencing anxiety or depression related to life transitions
- You’re feeling pressured by societal or family expectations
- You’re grappling with questions of identity and personal values
- You’re having trouble balancing work, education, and personal life
There are certain situations where you might not be ready for counseling sessions with us. These include, but are not limited to:
- Situations where your schedule is too hectic to commit to regular therapy sessions
- Cases where you’re not willing to engage in self-reflection or practice techniques outside of sessions
- Instances where you’re seeking a quick fix rather than committed to the process of personal growth
- Situations where severe mental health issues require more intensive treatment
- If you’re currently experiencing any of these issues, we can provide you with appropriate referrals for your level of care. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and it’s never too early or too late to start your journey of self-discovery and growth.
What Does Therapy for Emerging Adult Therapy Cost?
Please see our FAQ page for more information.
When and Where are the Counseling Sessions?
Our office is conveniently located at 259 Main Street in Chester, NJ, 07930.
We also offer virtual appointments if that’s more convenient.
Sessions are currently held by appointment only Monday – Saturday.
Your Next Steps
It’s entirely possible for you to overcome the barriers keeping you from the independence you desire.
Being confident, balanced, and equipped to tackle challenges may seem a long way away, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t start to take small steps towards adult independence. You just need the support of a caring professional and evidence-based treatment strategies while you move to overcome it.
You will be able to more fully engage in your everyday life.
Ultimately, you will be able to handle the tougher times in life. We can help.
Call or text (908) 883-4173 or book an appointment to schedule your 15-minute phone consult to see if we’re a good fit for your anxiety treatment needs today!
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Our therapists’ commitment to providing quality treatment and giving you practical, action-oriented strategies are why we are one of the most sought after mental health practices.
