I love working with teenagers, as in helping out adolescents with their life questions. I wouldn’t say I’m great at it, but I do enjoy it.
It’s during our adolescence that we first start to gain some autonomy, wanting both independence in the world yet security and safety at home. Social circles start to form and the family is no longer the primary source of close relationships. Our bodies and desires change and things like sex, drugs and drinking go from academic subjects to life choices.
Add on to all that the questions, issues and disruptions we have covering all kinds of subjects: relationships, violence, sports, bullying, parents, divorce, sexual orientation, insecurities, anxiety, role models, emotions, peer pressure, abuse, uncertainty, first jobs, driving, spirituality, sadness, depression, suicide, defining interests, music, arts, close friends and creativity. Life as a teenager is a recipe for a perfect storm.
Growing up, I was always able to identify with adults better than people my age. As an adult, I can relate to teenagers far better than adults. I can identify personally with a lot of the problems adolescents encounter, and I am still finding answers to this day that I couldn’t figure out when I was younger.
I’m not doing this work out of a goal of closure for myself, but rather with a genuine sense of caring for others and a desire to give counsel to those who are facing important decisions in life and looking for help in making choices.
I’d love to hear what you think, so drop me a line.
