Why is it important for people providing services to young people to understand the different aspects of human behaviour and the development social & relationships stages of young people?

Answer 1

This is a good question. The 5 year age differences between 15 to 20, 20 to 25, and 25 to 30 are drastically different in a young person's life. Once past 30, changes slow down a little bit, though it is still important to be aware of developmental stages and life changes.

If a therapist is giving services to an adolescent or younger, they need to keep in mind that the family dynamic is among the strongest in that person's life. As much as some teens may not want to admit it, they are still being shaped, for better or worse, by their parents. However, as children move into their teen years, their peer relationships also begin to take on a greater pull on their behavior and development. This is one reason adolescence is such a time of feeling out who you are; there are so many different influences around to try to tell you who to be, but you have to ultimately decide.

Also in this period, the physical brain is still developing. Although society has decided we are adults at 21, our brains do not fully develop until around the age of 25. So therapists need to keep in mind that if they are working with young adults, their brains are literally not the same as those of people over 25.

I hope this helps. If you need more information, please feel free to reach out to me.