Abstract
Adolescence is one of the most critical stages in the life of a man. This is because it involves a transition from childhood to adulthood. This means that there are a number of physical, emotional as well as physiological changes that occur during this stage. An immediate observation that well relates to almost any area of life is that any significant change in anything is always met with difficulties and challenges. This is for example illustrated when we are suddenly brought to a halt in a moving car. We tend to remain in a state of movements as our bodies move forward for a moment. When this change is so sudden, we may experience an accident that may lead to injuries and fatality. The process therefore needs to not only be gradual but controlled as well. This research paper looks at how counselors should lead young people in this transitional stage of life. It also discusses some of the things that make young people to go astray. The research used in the paper is mostly secondary data.
Introduction
Adolescence is one of the most critical stages of life. This is because it involves a transition from childhood to adulthood. This means that there are a number of physical, emotional as well as physiological changes that occur during this stage. An immediate observation that well relates to almost any area of life is that any significant change in anything is always met with difficulties and challenges. This is for example illustrated when we are suddenly brought to a halt in a moving car. We tend to remain in a state of movements as our bodies move forward for a moment. When this change is so sudden, we may experience an accident that may lead to injuries and fatality. The process therefore needs to not only be gradual but controlled as well. When the moment comes, the body will automatically start a process of change, which will lead to physical, emotional and physiological changes. The onus is thus on the individual and the society to ensure that this process is successful. It is said that eagles undergo a painful process in an effort of removing a layer of their beaks to obtain rebirth. The same is true for humans who need to transit from childhood to adulthood during the adolescent stage in a gradual process. Counselors therefore need to know the challenges that are faced by this group of the society so that they may be in a position to better guide and assist this group to successfully and safely transit into mature and responsible adults. (Knight, et al. 2007, p.106)
Main Discussion
Some of the observable physical changes that occur during adolescence include the following for boys: breaking of voice, growth of pubic hair, enlargement of shoulders among other changes. During this stage, boys become sexually mature meaning that they can produce children. For girls, their hips become rounded, their breasts enlarged and they become sexually mature. Moreover, adolescents experience internal changes where they become more aware of themselves and become more emotionally sensitive. In short, this group experiences both internal and external changes creating a stage for a new identity. This new identity is an origin of most challenges that are faced by adolescents in our society today. In some traditional societies, adolescence was an important period that was marked by various forms of initiation like circumcision after which a person was given a new status in the society and allowed to marry. In these situations, the society strived to meet most of the adolescent needs that came with a new identity. In our modern society today, there is no binding and well-organized process engineered at assisting young people to successfully transit from childhood and adulthood during adolescence as they enter into a new identity. This is formally done through school curriculums; guidance and counseling programs among other formal means that in essence are not binding to the adolescent or even to the society, which has become more liberated. This kind of situation has left young people vulnerable to influence from unmonitored sources that give our youths a new identity during the adolescence emotional and physiological struggle. The sad truth is that most of these sources of influence are misleading and even confusing our young people. The media for example is telling our young people that the most important thing for them is to be physically attractive. The same case applies to sex, which has been hyped with all manner of lies being spread to our youngsters through the media, celebrities among others. (Poynton, 2009, p.34)
Because of this, a direct challenge that many young people are facing in our society today is identity crisis. This can be seen in various forms and is negatively affecting adolescents in the society today. For example, what is referred to as rebellious behavior among adolescents is a direct result of identity crisis. Many of these people want to be considered as adults and capable of making independent and logical decisions when they are not. They do not have the maturity or the capacity necessary to achieve this status. The result is that, many young people are involving themselves in activities that are meant to send a statement of independence and freedom to their parents and the society as a whole. Getting freedom and independence may override rational decisions. For example, an adolescent may admit that the only reason for getting a tattoo on his body is mainly to make a statement of independence and identity. Physiological counselors are therefore put in a difficult position of guiding young people through this challenge. While doing this, they need to emphasize to young people that independence and freedom is not bad but comes with enormous responsibilities and that it is a gradual process that will take time. Besides, it would also be important for counselors to encourage parents to maintain a good communication rapport with their children in general and adolescents in particular. This should be encouraged with an intention of allowing parents to communicate why they may place some restrictions and boundaries to their children something that should always be driven by the love and care of their children. On the other hand, it should allow adolescents to communicate to their parents about their intentions and seek advice on things that they intend to pursue. A lot of communication among the adolescents, their peers, counselors and other members of the society are key to resolving many challenges that are faced by this group. Moreover, in this endeavor, counselors may need to help young people build bridges and reconcile with their parents and other adult members of their society that may be helpful in guiding them. This is especially true with a great likelihood of conflict arising between parents and their adolescent children as they seek freedom bringing them into a path of conflict with their parents. For example, it is a common thing to see young people involved in verbal exchange or even physical conflicts with their parents. It may therefore be necessary to guide young people in a process of reconciliation with their parents so that they can once again enjoy the critical benefits that come with guidance from their parents that are logical and genuine in most cases. (Poynton, 2009, p.33)
The problem of identity crisis can also be illustrated with the problem of beauty obsession that is affecting many young people and especially adolescents. Young people are continuously lied to by the media and celebrities that they must attain a perfect body appearance. This is an illusion that is not achievable hence forcing many young people to live in an eternal state of misery where they do not feel good enough or attractive enough. The parameter of establishing someone’s worth is reduced to physical appearance. Add this problem to the fact that adolescents at this stage are experiencing sexual identity and you get a clearer picture of the dangerous circumstances that are faced by adolescents in our society. (Perusse, & Goodnough, 2001, p.105)
In an effort of attaining the unrealistic physical image, adolescents are becoming increasingly involved in unhealthy behaviors. One of these behaviors includes cosmetic surgeries, which is increasingly becoming an attractive choice to young people in an effort of improving their physical image. Unlike a few years ago, young people form the bulk of people seeking cosmetic surgery in the society today. Many of these adolescents are even getting financial support for these operations from their parents. This emerging trend can be attributed to influence from the society in general which has placed attractive looks as one of the most important attribute that someone should have. As it can be expected from this, it is the vulnerable adolescent looking for a new identity that is very likely to be affected. Heidi Montag’s case, a 23 year old that underwent multiple cosmetic surgeries in a single day in an effort of attaining a perfect image is an example of what young people are willing to do as they seek to attain an ideal perfect image that is unattainable in reality. (Olson, etal, 2009, p.175)
The economic implications on young people due to their desire to have unattainable physical appearance are enormous. Research has shown that young people in general spend about seven billion dollars per year on cosmetic products alone. This does not include much more billions that are spent annually on physical modifications through cosmetic surgery. These implications are even reaching at the workplace where research has shown that young people and especially girls who do not adhere to particular standards of beauty are impacted negatively professionally and financially. A recent study has shown that the amount of money spent by young people on beauty products alone is so much that it can be used to finance university education when saved by every adolescent for a period of five years. According to a recent study, about 11.7 million cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures were carried out in the United States during 2007 alone. This represents an average increase of over 500% as compared to the previous ten years. Statistics show that a large percentage of these procedures were carried out on young people especially girls. Due to these economic implications, there is need for counselors to guide young people and show them that physical beauty is not the only thing that matters in the life of a human being. If this is not done with urgency, young people will continue to rate beauty above integrity and in disregard of the economic implications associated with this obsession. (Olson, etal, 2009, p.175)
Another area that has been impacted negatively by young people’s obsession with beauty is interpersonal and personal relationships. Obsession with physical body image has contributed to a culture that has certain norms that are harmful for young people. This creates interpersonal behaviors that are damaging to the society. Advertisements featuring thin and physically perfect characters contribute greatly to behaviors that seek to have the unattainable beauty that is advertised. According to experts, the issue of self-esteem is a core character issue that determines if one is happy or not. Once people achieve it, then it is manifested on the outside. (Perna, etal, 2008, p.137)
A study carried out on adolescents found out that young people who watched commercials showing underweight icons were so much affected physiologically that they lost self-confidence and became unhappy with their own bodies. Another study showed that thirty minutes of watching television commercials are enough to change the way a young person views their body shape. Body shapes and size can therefore be affected by observing unrealistic body images on television. It has also been shown by various studies that young people are taught by the media to derive confidence on how sexy they look rather than on their character and what they have achieved. One’s physical image is thus reduced to sexual attractiveness. The standards set by the media, which depict young teenagers, are unrealistic to achieve. This creates a condition where the affected adolescents develop negative thinking to a point where they cannot think cognitively apart from having wrong beliefs on ideal standards that they think they can achieve. For this trend to be reversed there is need for the intervention of professional counselors. (Perna, etal, 2008, p.138)
Besides, many young people in the society today are practicing unhealthy eating habits like unhealthy dieting all because they want to attain and maintain a slim body that is considered beautiful. Many others are even disregarding the harmful health effects that come with smoking again because they want to attain a slim body that is considered more attractive. Moreover, a good number are living in a state of unsatisfaction and condemnation because they think that they are not attractive enough. Generally, a trend is developing in the country whereby physical looks are of prime importance. (Wyatt, 2009, p.465)
In order for counselors to be in a position of helping young people overcome this beauty problem, they need to encourage adolescents to develop a positive self-image and appreciation that is not reliant entirely on physical attraction. It would be important for young people to realize that self-confidence and esteem is almost a matter of choice that will in turn determine what they can achieve and how happy and satisfied they can become. A method that can be used to drive this point home may include enabling and encouraging adolescents to realize areas where they can excel, motivating them in the process and thereby boosting their confidence. This may include activities like sports, academics among many other areas. Moreover, creating environments where adolescents can interact positively should be encouraged. This may include clubs and societies that are greatly monitored by counselors whose intention is to observe self-image of adolescents, a self-image that rises above physical beauty among other attributes that may cause some to feel disadvantaged. Monitoring in this case does not imply controlling every activity that goes on in these groups but rather it means catalyzing an environment of positive self-development as it relates to self-esteem. Another approach that can effectively be used by counselors to help adolescents overcome problems with beauty obsession and self image involves creating an environment where adolescents can freely share their feelings about their self image and beauty with counselors and also theory peers. This can help counselors to know the root of these kinds of thoughts that are leading to poor self-image and beauty obsession enabling them to address such issues. Moreover, it can create an environment where youngsters can encourage themselves and one where they feel appreciated irrespective of their physical appearances developing a positive self-image in them as they interact with their peers in constructive groups. (Perna, etal, 2008, p.139)
Drug abuse is another major problem that is faced by adolescents in our society today. This could be because of various reasons. As stated earlier, adolescents are in a transition stage where they are struggling to find a new self-identity. In this process, they may easily bow to peer pressure from their colleagues and friends as they try out new things that are acceptable to their peers. It is also a well-known fact that there are some people in the society with intentions of recruiting youngsters into drug abuse in order to expand their market for the sale and distribution of illegal drugs. An increasing reason for the abuse of drugs among female teenagers in our country is that they have been misled to believe that smoking would help them to reduce weight and attain an attractive figure. Tobacco companies have taken advantage of this to market their products at the expense of our teens. Moreover, another reason for the abuse of drugs is emotional difficulties and confusion that come with this transition process. In general, adolescents are very vulnerable to drug abuse and addiction. A substantial number of youngsters abuse drugs. (Bertholet, etal, 2005, p.989)
Counselors should help young people to avoid drug abuse as much as possible by preventing this problem in the first place. Reaching to the young people through campaigns where the message of the dangerous effects of drug abuse is spread among this group is one way in which this can be done. This can also be achieved through magazines and periodicals that target this group. In short, counselors should strive to spread a message that would deter youngsters from abusing drugs as much as possible. Giving specific details in relation to the harmful effects of drug abuse would also go a long way in driving the message home. (Thrush, et al, 2009, p.148) For example, instead of just telling youngsters that drugs are bad, it would be appropriate to be more specific. This may include telling them things like if you smoke, you are likely to die from cancer, if you drink, you are likely to die from kidney problems, if you use cocaine, you will lose your memory among other specific information that can be used. Statistics should also be used to illustrate this reality. Real stories of people whose lives have been wrecked by drugs should be told and it would be better for those who have been adversely affected by drugs but had an opportunity to reform be given a chance to speak to adolescents on the effects of drugs. (Bertholet, etal, 2005, p.990)
On the other hand, it is just as important for counselors to help adolescents with drug problems as much as it is important to deter those that have no drug problems from going in a similar way. This would include creating an environment for counseling where youngsters with drug problems are encouraged to talk to counselors about their drug problems. (Ehrlich, etal, 2006, p.280) Creating an environment full of trust and confidentiality is of prime importance. Breaking trust for just one individual may be communicated to other potential drug addicts deterring them from seeking help with their drug problems. The moment an individual has been identified as having drug problems, the physiological effects of these drugs on the person need to be well understood by the counselor handling him/her. Medication would therefore involve not only counseling sessions but would also need to entail physiological and physical medication. Some of these drugs become entrenched in the body system creating a need for detoxification. Moreover, it is of prime necessity to create a monitoring program for adolescents with drug problems, which should spread over a considerable duration of time like a couple of years so that those with drug problems are helped to completely liberate themselves from such difficulties. This requires a lot of patience, concern and persistence from counselors and their affiliate parties since the intended results may appear less helpful and may take a long time to be realized. It is always important to know why some one is abusing drugs in the first place so that you can be able to better help them. A problem that immediately arises here is that drug addicts may not even know why they started abusing drugs in the first place. Counselors therefore need to be armed with skills and tactics that would enable them to dig into the genesis of drug abuse problems with considerable ease. Knowing the root cause of drug problems for someone would help counselors to better manage the problem. When this root cause is not eliminated or tackled positively by the drug addict, slipping back or remaining in the current situation of drug problems would be difficult to escape. (Poynton, 2009, p.35)
Another area where adolescents are having great challenges is on sexuality. This is mostly because of the hype about sex that has been fronted by the media. This very critical group is becoming aware of its sexuality as it attains sexual maturity. When it is vulnerable to influence from the media, celebrities among other parameters, it finds itself in a very precarious position. With the obsession of beauty that I have talked about as one of the challenges that are faced by adolescents, the emphasis on the female is to attain an image that is sexually attractive. Everything is therefore increasingly reduced to sex in our society today. Adolescents are the ones that are most affected as a result. The development of pornography has made matters extremely worse not only to this group but to the whole society in general. Young people including adolescents are accessing misleading information that is intended to encourage them to get involved in sexual activities outside of marriage. With youngsters at this stage facing identification crisis, they are encouraged by pornographic materials to identify themselves with sex. The matter is even made worse when adolescents are encouraged by such materials to identify themselves as lesbians, homosexuals and or are lured into these practices. While this issue of sexual orientation is debatable and is likely to attract passionate pleas from different groups and sides, it is not right to lure adolescents into such practices at a stage where they are having problems with sexual hormones and are also facing a moment that they need to define their identity. It is sad that as much as the society knows about this truth; our society is even encouraging sex indirectly and directly in even many other ways. This has even come to advertisements that zero down to the same theme. The same is true in most programs that are aired on our televisions. What about the internet framework where young people can easily access pornographic materials that can easily pollute their minds to try out dangerous sex practices apart from ingraining what I can describe as a sick mentality towards sex hence an unhealthy mental state? Producers of such materials have even gone ahead to cap their illegal activities by creating a platform that is directly intended to target adolescents. This is done through approaches that encourage adolescents to participate in the production of pornographic activities. (Schellenberg, 2007, p.15)
Addressing sexual challenges faced by young people by counselors is a huge task that requires a lot of effort. This is notably because of the current state of our society that encourages sex. It has even come to a point where a number of counselors have given up on deterring adolescents from completely avoiding sexual activities but have opted instead to encourage youngsters to avoid dangerous sexual practices on the basis where they can acquire diseases like AIDS and unwanted pregnancies. While concentration on such approaches has helped a substantial number of adolescents to avoid such problems, other effects that come with involvement in sexual activities have been ignored. This includes issues dealing with sexual orientation, guilt, feelings of unworthiness and a problem that comes with a general trend where everything has been reduced to sex among other problems that come as a result. (See, & Ng, 2010, p.22)
Addressing the issues that face youngsters as a result of sex includes educating them about sex so that they can overcome myths that are associated with sex. In this regard, it is appropriate to encourage parents and appropriate parties that adolescents can trust to pass genuine information concerning sex to adolescents. In fact, this process needs to start well before they reach the adolescent stage. This is mostly because no choices are left in this situation since the alternative is that children and adolescents will get information on sex from other sources that are misleading. As usual, it will be important to encourage adolescents to talk freely about the challenges and their beliefs and ideas about sex with their peers. This should be done in a framework that is monitored by counselors so that this kind of a framework enables adolescents to attain positive development in the process. An immediate challenge that arises among counselors is that they have divergent opinions as to how best they can guide and counsel adolescents on sexual issues. For example, while others will completely discourage sexual activities among adolescents, others would allow them to participate in such practices provided they have put some issues into consideration. This has gone a long way to prevent counselors from different groups and institutions to cooperate on sexual counseling something that is preventing a more efficient system that could be developed. It is therefore arguably important for counselors to try as much as possible to work together and develop a common approach that can be used in guiding and counseling adolescents on sexual matters. (Shen, & Herr, 2003, p.30)
A great challenge that is faced by adolescents in society today is that they are lacking support from relevant parties. Life has become extremely busy for parents in the modern world as they tirelessly work to earn an income. Most professions demand a lot of time and energy from their employees. This leaves most parents with no time for their children including those that are in the adolescent stage. The result is that the adolescent who is very emotionally sensitive and who is also in demand of guidance on several issues that he/she is facing is not able to get support from the most appropriate source. This creates a very dangerous chain that may lead to problems. (Thomas, 2005, p.17) On one hand, the adolescent may turn rebellious to gain his/her parents attention or revenge for what he/she thinks is unfair treatment from an appropriate party that is not there for him. On the other hand, this pattern will cause the adolescent to seek help elsewhere even from the wrong company and friends who can provide misleading and dangerous cocoons of support. In general, adolescents are not getting needed support that should be available to them as they fight with transition from childhood to adulthood challenges. In fact, most of them may feel that their parents, their friends and the whole society do not understand them. (Chen-Hayes, 2001, p.38) This may explain why our society has experienced a number of teenage suicides. The situation is even worsened by the fact that most teenagers are very likely to cross paths with their parents who may retaliate in an unwise manner. This kind of scenario calls for intervention from counselors among other relevant parties that can help in tackling associated challenges that teenagers face as a result not accessing needed support from the society. (Knight, et al. 2007, p.108)
Moreover, the society cannot be described as being friendly towards the adolescent. If anything, the society can be described as one that is putting many pressures on the adolescent. The pressure to have maintained high standards of beauty in order to be accepted is one area that I have talked about. There is also pressure to dress, talk, eat, walk and do everything in a special manner. Although the rule is not written, one is bound to condemnation if he/she does not become part of the society meaning that he/she needs to adapt to the existing culture that will determine everything that he/she does in life. There is almost no room for failing to dress according to what is considered as fashion at a given time, there is also no room for failing to be educated. Moreover, there is almost no room for failing to be involved in sexual activities. These are just but a few of the rules and pressures that are heaped on the adolescent by our society today. Although this is relative depending on where someone has come from, an adolescent who fails to adhere to these rules is described and seen as weird. To understand the effect of this on the adolescent, we need to remember the fact that this is a person that is facing a stage where he/she needs to develop a new identity. (Thomas, etal, 2009, P.11)
In addressing the problems that come from neglect and societal pressures on the adolescent, counselors need first to be there for the adolescent. They need to create an environment of care, support and trust for the adolescent. This would provide the adolescent with a channel where they can get some of their needs met. Besides, they also need to encourage parents and relevant parties to give the required support to the adolescent like time and attention from parents. It also applies here again to encourage teenagers to participate in groups that would provide them with a forum that enables them to be liberated even if for a moment from the pressures of the society as they interact in an environment catalyzed to appreciate them just the way they are. (Whiston, & Sexton, 1998, P.415)
Conclusion
The challenges that adolescents face in society are many. In general, everyone is feeling the weight of problems that have resulted from a complex that exists today. Society encourages liberation and freedom of individuals in all aspects. The encouragement of diverse opinions on many matters and issues that we could have thought obvious in the past are no longer so today. This is even further compounded by the fact that people have become extremely busy as they strive to be economically and professionally productive, leaving the social weakening social interactions in the society even between parents and their children. In this kind of circumstances, the adolescent is even in a more precarious position. This is mainly because he is struggling to attain a new identity that is inevitable with the external and internal changes that he/she is bound to experience. This leaves a huge challenge to counselors whose professionalism places them in a position where they can directly influence as they guide and counsel adolescents.
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