1. Helping Teens Transition into Adulthood

2. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Fulton Psychological Group Individual Therapy Individual Therapy Group Therapy Group Therapy Parent Training Parent Training Family Therapy Family Therapy Couples Therapy Couples Therapy Psychological Testing Psychological Testing Psychiatry Psychiatry

3. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Identity Formation Involves developing own identity separate from parents Involves developing own identity separate from parents This task can be stressful and lead to confusion This task can be stressful and lead to confusion Teen may try many different “identities” Teen may try many different “identities” Happening later in life Happening later in life Increased choices and opportunities actually makes it more difficult Increased choices and opportunities actually makes it more difficult Caught between own identity and following parents’ vision Caught between own identity and following parents’ vision

4. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Identify Your Teen’s Strengths and Weaknesses Identify the specific characteristics of your teen and what she will need to learn to succeed Identify the specific characteristics of your teen and what she will need to learn to succeed Dependent vs. independent Dependent vs. independent Sociable vs. withdrawn Sociable vs. withdrawn Persistent vs. gives up easy Persistent vs. gives up easy Disciplined vs. undisciplined Disciplined vs. undisciplined Resourceful vs. naive Resourceful vs. naive Match the environment to your teen’s style, needs and strengths Match the environment to your teen’s style, needs and strengths

5. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Resilience Factors Social network Having a mentor Having some competencies Having good problem-solving skills Having flexibility and tolerating ambiguity Having good coping skills (e.g. reaching out, dealing with frustration)

6. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Teach Your Teen how to Build a Social Network Important for mental health Important for mental health Help them find a group to identify with Help them find a group to identify with Encourage social activities Encourage social activities Encourage involvement in extra-curricular activities Encourage involvement in extra-curricular activities Teach them about how to seek help Teach them about how to seek help Encourage them to find a mentor Encourage them to find a mentor

7. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Tools for your Teens Teach how to learn from mistakes Don’t get angry at your teen for making mistakes, ask how he’ll learn from it and make it right Teach how to prepare Vocalize your own methods of preparation Have teen practice making a schedule (studying on weekend) Responsibility Be less involved and have teen involved with decisions Your teen should have chores and household responsibilities Problem solving skills Ask for don’t give solutions Empathize, identify problem, identify solution, agree on solution

8. Teach Daily Living Skills Cooking Cooking Shopping Shopping Eating habits Eating habits Cleaning Cleaning Laundry Laundry Time Management Time Management Money Management Money Management Allowance Allowance Make own purchases Make own purchases Budget Budget

9. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com How Much Involvement Depends on how your teen is doing Don’t check homework assignments, check Aeries Know where your teen is and with whom, but let them go out Let them get themselves up and maintain schedule, but check how they are preparing Let them fail or make mistakes within reason

10. Parent Survival Tips Don’t personalize their attempt at independence: breaking rules, lying, sassing & accusations of stupidity Don’t personalize their attempt at independence: breaking rules, lying, sassing & accusations of stupidity Balance your involvement and control Balance your involvement and control Don’t engage Don’t engage Look at the big picture and enjoy your teen Look at the big picture and enjoy your teen Keep up the relationship and be reassuring Keep up the relationship and be reassuring Don’t react negatively to their negative emotions Don’t react negatively to their negative emotions Role model healthy habits Role model healthy habits

11. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Relating vs. Managing Relating Relating Empathize Empathize Communicating: talk, text, email and leave notes Communicating: talk, text, email and leave notes Leisure: attending sports events, movies, concerts Leisure: attending sports events, movies, concerts Hanging out: Meals together, TV watching, reading, driving, listening to music Hanging out: Meals together, TV watching, reading, driving, listening to music Managing Checking up on school work Having teen attend to chores and household responsibilities Corrective comments regarding behavior Reminding

12. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Building Esteem Praise & encourage, don’t over do it Help build skills and competencies Help your teens find their successes, but let them succeed not because of you Train your teen to cope with failure & disappointment Inquire don’t lecture when you see your teen make a mistake Encourage teen to accept both strengths and weaknesses in self

13. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Prepare Teen for Romantic Relationships Love causes an uproar of emotions Love causes an uproar of emotions Birth control and condoms Birth control and condoms Need to prepare girls against date rape Need to prepare girls against date rape

14. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Risks Associated with Transition Drug and alcohol abuse Emotional issues: anxiety, depression Isolation, confusion and withdrawal Vulnerability to abuse Eating disorders

15. www.fultonpsychologicalgroup.com Gap Year Sometimes teens aren’t ready for college Sometimes teens aren’t ready for college Can have an internship, volunteering, traveling or other experience in the interim Can have an internship, volunteering, traveling or other experience in the interim Can involve community service, cultural immersion or language development Can involve community service, cultural immersion or language development Can include some education (including JC) Can include some education (including JC) Can provide some guidance for identity formation or skill building Can provide some guidance for identity formation or skill building Be explicit about your expectations and set goals Be explicit about your expectations and set goals