Adolescent Development

By Curtis Reed

The years that fall between childhood and adulthood are the most fraught, emotionally perilous time of a young person’s life—adolescent development poses many challenges. Parents may find themselves feeling misunderstood, underappreciated, confused and angry, the same feelings likely to be experienced by teens proceeding through adolescent development. Falcon Ridge Ranch Academy (866-452-8775) is a residential treatment center for troubled girls, specializing in helping adolescents navigate the stormy waters of their teenage years.

Adolescent development is different for each young girl, but most girls will encounter some identity issues, as well as feeling strange about the changes happening to her body. As a girl begins to seek privacy, she may push for further independence from her parents, whom she may now be realizing are imperfect and may not be able to solve all of her problems for her. The friends she makes during this time will begin to assert more influence over her than her parents do. This is troubling for many parents, but very natural. That is why it is very important for parents to instill healthy values in their daughters from a young age, because behavioral patterns that emerge during adolescent development may stick around for the rest of her life.

As she continues to establish her identity, she may encounter certain struggles—depression, difficulty coping with stress, alcoholism or drug abuse—these behaviors can interrupt adolescent development catastrophically.

If your teen is struggling with development issues, it may be necessary to consider seeking professional help. Falcon Ridge Ranch offers troubled girls the opportunity to get back on the path to positive development. The program is structured around the technique of Positive Peer Culture, a values based system that helps girls to internalize positive values, develop a healthy self-image and increase efficacious decision making.

 If you would like to learn more about the struggles girls face in adolescent development and the treatments available at Falcon Ridge Ranch Academy call 866-452-8775.