Physical and Cognitive Development

Young Adulthood

18 to 25 or 30

18-30 all biological symptoms reach peak 17-21 Maturing frontal cortex ~30 Muscular strength declines

Research on young adults

Post Formal Thinking

Can understand the logic of contradicting perspectives

Can integrate these perspectives into a larger whole

Recognize more than one can be valid

Young Adulthood

More ill defined problems

If the client has not developed beyond dualistic thinking or concrete thinking, they will not be able to handle ill defined problems well anxiety, depression, rigidity

Dualistic- Memorizing Facts

Oppositional (still not individuated) Authority is right Authority is wrong All opinions are equally right Nobody understands it

Relative Subordinate (still not individuated) Some opinions are more legit than others (under

authority supervision)

Relativism- attend to context, summarize, apply facts Contextual Relativism

Authorities as colleagues, same conflicts, more experience (respected vs opposed)

May more back to dualism under stress to seek security of absolute right and wrong- think of how this is similar to identity development

Counselor decision making pitfalls

Why does it Matter?

Remember young adults are Consolidating identity Exploring/solidifying a career path Seeking intimacy

Help scaffold then to make choices when they have several “right” options

Take clients values into account Teach to brainstorm and evaluate within cl’s

own value system Support and challenge to move from dualistic

to relative thinking if not contraindicated (you may increase anxiety here-be sure cl can manage it)