Adolescence: A Critical Stage of Development

According to the developmental theorist Erik Erikson, the fifth stage of human development is that of adolescence: identity versus role confusion. During this critical phase, adolescents must define who they are as people. They may wrestle with the pressures of academic success, personal priorities, and which peer groups to identify with in school. This period may include a substantial period of so-called acting out on the adolescents part (Eriksons eight stages of development, 2018). Culturally speaking, within Western culture, there is often a great deal of leeway granted to adolescents during this period. A certain amount of rebellion and acting out is normal.

Adolescents have their own distinct culture, music, and critical, defining milestones such as going to high school, the prom, and away to college. Because of the need to define a separate identity and the social pressures of this stage, adolescents may be vulnerable to anxiety and conflict remained unresolved, then it was impossible for the individual to move on to the next phase of development.

Given the extent to which certain critical choices regarding sexuality, career, and educational choices occur at this phase, this makes adolescence particularly difficult. Some adolescents my struggle with defining an independent identity, because of conflicts about sexuality, peer or parental pressure, or unresolved mental health issues...

…there are many instances where confidentiality may need to be broached, such as in cases of sexual abuse, threats of suicide, eating disorder, or dangerous substance abuse.

Overall, the therapist has an important role in enabling the adolescent to resolve the conflicts which come to the forefront of this stage. Such stages may include cognitive strategies to replace black-and-white thinking (such as Im worthless) with more positive thought patterns, or offering positive rather than unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with stress and peer pressure. The therapist should also be cognizant of different situational factors which may influence development, such as the social distancing which isolated many teens during the pandemic. Overall, the therapist must be aware this is…