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ABSTRACT
In clinical work with adolescents there is a stark similarity between what they experience and the concepts of existentialism. However, surprisingly very little has been written in terms of how the concepts of existentialism can or should be applied to this age group. Rather, existentialism seems to be a concept reserved for its application to the adult population. In fact, a search of the literature included in PsychINFO under "existentialism" and "adolescent development" results in only 5 hits. Perhaps by avoiding the use of these ideas as they might apply to adolescents, for various reasons a disservice is being done. Drawing on ideas posited in existential literature will not only benefit adolescents, it will assist caring adults in their work with them and encourage professionals to expand on existing ideas when conducting research and developing theories that apply to this age group.
Existential psychotherapy is a dynamic approach to therapy which focuses on concerns that are rooted in the individual's existence.
Yalom (italics added)
The above quote out of Yalom's "Existential Psychotherapy" (1980) is a good summary of the approach one needs when working with others in a therapeutic alliance from an existential perspective. This seems particularly true when working with adolescents. Adolescents often hear from adults that the adult knows best or that they should behave in a certain way, often according to what the adult knows or dictates. Thus, the perspective and experience of the adolescent is often devalued, if appreciated at all.
There are many different approaches to working with and understanding adolescent development. Beginning early on with Erikson's idea of an identity crisis occurring during this period and continuing with more recent theories, many of the theories themselves include assumptions that are imposed on the adolescent by an authoritative external, primarily adult perspective. There is a great deal of merit to this view because in general the adult has the ability to look back on his/her own growth and draw on knowledge that can come only from firsthand experience. But at the same time it is a sure way to put off the naturally oppositional adolescent who is getting directives from numerous adults.
There has been an upsurge in the literature that addresses the uniqueness of adolescents. In part...