Adolescents and Teenagers

Adolescence can be an incredibly disruptive developmental stage — physically, emotionally, psychologically and hormonally. Teenagers suddenly find themselves grappling with massive changes in their bodies as well as their emerging sexuality; with shifting social rules and norms, increased academic demands, growing social and peer pressure, all while testing the limits and boundaries of their newfound independence.

One difficult transition for teens is the move from elementary to middle school, and from middle school to high school. The anxiety of a new school, the pressure of increased academic responsibilities, the competition in sports and/or the arts, concerns about college and beyond, all create turmoil and confusion for adolescents and their families.

In addition, teens may face pressure from their parents, many of whom are highly educated, high performers themselves. The impact of parents’ expectations can be overwhelming. For some kids, going to school every day is stressful for fear of disappointing parents, teachers, coaches, and maybe even their friends.

Overview of General Development:

• Physical appearance and body image are paramount
• Cognitive development (evolves rapidly toward higher level of thinking) allows consideration of the future, evaluation of alternatives and setting of personal goals
• Adolescents face the developmental challenge of defining who they are and how they fit into the world
• Identity development is a complete process that involves applying the training and teaching we have given them, while "teens" try on different identities
• Teens attempt to discover who they are and clarify their values through exploring different facets of their personality