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Individual Support: Transition to Adulthood

Moving Towards Independence for Older Teens & Young Adults

The transition to adulthood is a challenge for any young person in today’s competitive society, but even more so for young adults who think, process, and interact with the world in ways that are outside the box. 

The result? Often, it's a string of unsuccessful attempts to move forward. Struggling with classes, unemployed or in unfulfilling jobs, anxiety climbs and confidence fades.  Feelings of isolation and loneliness increase. Parents are frustrated with their young person disappearing into endless hours of gaming or online activities. But the truth is, neurodivergent teens and young adults know the world is waiting. What looks like resistance or laziness is actually anxiety. 

 

Transition to Adulthood support helps older teens and young adults learn to value and harness their own unique talents and abilities. 

 

Together with an expert coach, your older teen or young adult creates a plan to move forward in multiple areas of life. A joyful & independent life includes not only handling daily responsibilities, but also building relationships and having a sense of meaning or purpose.

Some of the areas of life we cover include:

Career. What do you want to be when you grow up is a fun question at five, but often a terrifying one as a teenager or young adult. Should you attend college or go straight into the workforce? How do you get and keep a job? Many individuals pair individual coaching with participation in our Transition to Adulthood Group, which includes a focus on career development.

Executive Function. Executive Function (EF) challenges are common for neurodivergent people.  These often show up as trouble getting started, difficulty staying focused and completing work, as well as challenges with planning and time management. We focus on strategies to maximize EF skills.

Understanding Neurodivergence. Understanding neurodivergence and how to self-advocate is critical for long-term success. Masking (hiding neurodivergent traits to fit in) is exhausting and damaging. Instead, we focus on being the best version of ourselves. 

Relationships. We focus on understanding what it takes to build and maintain friendships, learning how to navigate anxiety in social situations, and improving communication with family members. We also discuss dating and romantic relationships.

 

Purpose. A sense of purpose comes from being connected with things greater than one's self. For some people, this comes through creative or intellectual pursuits such as art, writing, or a focus on a specific interest. For others, a sense of meaning comes from making the world a better place. We work together to build meaningful activities into daily life.

 

Sensory Sensitivities. Neurodivergent people react to sensory stimuli differently than neurotypical people. Loud noises may feel unbearable. Sensitivity to texture or taste may result in eating a limited range of foods. Difficulty with temperature regulation can make a hot room or the entire season of summer miserable. We talk about why sensory sensitivities exist and how to navigate them. 

The Nuts and Bolts of Independent Living. Other goals we often work on include the practical details of life. These can include hygiene (showers & brushing teeth are common challenges), handling household responsibilities, managing money, transit options, making doctor's appointments, and the other routine things we all need to do in life.

Location: Online anywhere, or in person in Reno, NV

Cost: Group $50-75/session, Individual $100-200/session

Group of adult students sitting together under a tree in a park

Group Support: Transition to Adulthood

For Older Teens & 20-Somethings, In Person or Online

Many ND young adults find it challenging to build a fulfilling, independent life.  Parents may find themselves saying "you're smart but not living up to your potential."  This is often due to a combination of anxiety, executive function challenges that make it difficult to figure out and execute the next steps forward, and differences in social communication styles compared to neurotypical peers.

 

Many neurodivergent young adults also feel quite isolated. The journey to building a fulfilling life is much easier with the support of others on the same path. In addition to communicating with peers during group, group members have access 24/7 to a dedicated Discord server for on-going support between groups.

The curriculum for this group includes more advanced coverage of the anxiety management and social development topics addressed in the teen group.

 

In addition, we focus on figuring out next steps forward with academics or career choices. Is a community college, vocational training, or a university education a good choice?  How can volunteering or an internship be a stepping stone towards employment? What sort of employment could be a good fit? Is entrepreneurship an option? What sorts of remote work are available?

 

We have a strong focus in this group on understanding and working with executive function skills like getting started on tasks, paying attention, time management, setting goals, and continuing despite boredom or frustration.  

Other topics include budgeting, transit, handling sensory sensitivities, and making good choices regarding sleep, food, and exercise.

Location: Online anywhere, or in person in Reno, NV

Cost: Group $50-75/session, Individual $100-200/session

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