THE TWENTYSOMETHING TREATMENT

Caught between adolescence and maturity, twentysomethings are spiraling into crisis, argues a developmental clinical psychologist.

The time between the ages of 20 and 30 is often depicted as a time of freedom, experimentation, and personal growth. Jay, a clinical psychologist who specializes in this age group, disagrees. Her experience, which she bolsters with medical statistics, is that members of this demographic are likely to face depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and loneliness, and their common responses—to reach for therapy, medication, recreational drugs, or social media—often make their problems worse. They seem to have little idea about how to make friends and build relationships, and they’re constantly worried that any emotional connection will leave them hurt and scarred. They crave certainty, but as the author shows, that’s not going to happen. Jay has plenty of stories to illustrate her points, and she’s constantly surprised that the people she treats seem so unprepared for adult life. She covered some of this territory in an earlier book, The Defining Decade, and this book can be read as a follow-up concerned primarily with possible remedies. Even with her solid psychotherapy credentials, Jay’s focus is on non-medical solutions. She offers practical advice on developing social relationships, choosing a suitable job, finding a purpose, and even falling in love. Learning to cook—actual cooking, not throwing something into the microwave—is surprisingly beneficial. So is physical movement, whether it’s a dance class or a stroll around the block. The author also notes that readers should be prepared to accept some scrapes and bruises as essential parts of growing up. “Life is the best therapist of all,” Jay concludes, “and it is affordable, accessible, and right outside your door.”

Jay combines therapeutic experience with personal insights, providing a wealth of guidance to those who most need it.