Sustaining Relationships with Young People: Key Elements and Pitfalls

This essay discusses the crucial elements for establishing and sustaining relationships with young people, highlighting the unique characteristics of teenagers and the importance of understanding their perspectives. It emphasizes the need for active listening, empathy, and respecting boundaries. The essay also addresses potential pitfalls, such as boundary crossing and personality differences, and stresses the significance of closure in maintaining healthy relationships. Furthermore, it provides specific strategies for building trust and rapport with young people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, including engaging them in volunteering activities and providing emotional support. The essay concludes by reiterating the importance of understanding and supporting young people in their journey towards healthy development and social integration.

Running head: SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
Sustaining Relationship with Young People
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
Introduction
Sustaining a relationship with that of a young person is crucial for his healthy growth
and development. The teenagers are unique and they often prove to be a self-contradictory
group. The young people look for peer acceptance and at the same time strive for the element
of individuality. The young people feel invincible but at the same time they are insecure.
There are some young people who want to challenge the authority. The young people want to
experience independence along with that of selfhood (Arbeit et al. 2016). They like to
challenge the power of other people and the boundaries should be articulated very carefully
when dealing with them. This essay throws light on the elements that can help in establishing
a relationship with that of a young person. It discusses regarding the pitfalls that one should
avoid and the significance of closure. This essay also elaborates regarding how one can build
a relationship with a young person who is addicted to drug and alcohol.
Discussion
A key element in establishing a positive relationship with a young person is that they
should be paid proper attention that can help in the fostering of a high quality relationship.
An important aspect that can help in developing a healthy relationship with a young person is
by accepting and celebrating the difference. The world can be perceived in different manner.
It is important to know the view point of the young people that can help them in maintaining
their self-esteem. It is important that a young person should be listened to that can help in
boosting the self-esteem of a person. Understanding the view point of the young people is an
important element pertaining to successful interaction with that of a young person. Active
listening is the right method that can enable us to understand the thought process and want of
the young person (Shepherd, Luebbers and Ogloff 2016). The restatement of their message
and the feedback process helps in setting apart active listening. Technology has destroyed the
ability of building real rapport and providing time to the young people can help in building a
good relationship with the young people. It is important to be attentive and being present in
time so that we can understand the problems of other people. Good communication skills are
integral for developing a positive relationship and it can prove to be of great benefit for a
young person. Empathizing with the problems of the young people can help in building a
strong bong with them (Howe et al. 2018).
Hormonal changes take place in the young person that leads to behavioural changes in
them. The young people are subject to increased aggression along with that of mood swing.

2SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
The massive changes that take place at the hormonal level at the stage of puberty lead to
erratic behaviour on the part of the young person. It is important to understand things from
their viewpoint at this stage so that they can adjust properly within the environment. The
teenagers have the tendency of feeling things at a more extreme level and they are more
prone to becoming sad, excited or happy (Bennett et al. 2016). The young people struggle in
recognising the emotions of other people and they become extremely self-centred at this
stage. They cannot understand the effect of their action on that of other people. An important
element that can help in sustaining relationship with a young person is that they should be left
to themselves and should not be disturbed by the family.
The pitfalls that should be avoided when dealing with a young person is that of
boundary crossing. The parent-child relationship can be said to be an emotionally intense
social tie. The relationship can be said to be supportive but it can also give rise to feelings
pertaining to irritation along with tension. Boundary crossing when dealing with a young
person can set forth interpersonal tension (Hartas 2016). Parents want to know what their
children is doing all the time that can give rise to friction within the relationship. The young
people often feel intruded upon and the parents have a tendency of being more invested with
the relationship as compared to that of the children. It is important to maintain a distance
when dealing with a young person and disclosing too much of oneself can prove to be
detrimental in relation to establishing a sound relationship. Personality differences along with
that of parents who provide advice can cause more problems within that of the relationship.
The basic differences in personality can give rise to conflict and the young people should be
given proper room so that they do not feel stifled (Aked 2015).
Change along with transition is an inevitable part of life. It is important that one
properly terminates with any kind of population with whom they are working. In the event of
dealing with a young person, conflicts and disagreements may occur at some point. It is
important to forget the conflict so that it does not dampen the relationship. Closure refers to
the ending of something. Emotional closure is important when dealing with a young person
because the young person often exhibits rough and aggressive behaviour (Kelly et al. 2017).
It is important to forget certain things so that the relationship with the young person is
sustainable. Closure refers to an acceptance regarding what has happened and it means
honouring the change. There are disagreements that are sure to occur when dealing with a
young person and there are certain things that should be forgiven in the young person
(Giordano, Stare and Clarke 2015).

3SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
The young people turn to alcohol and drugs so that they can cope with stress and
relate with the peers. They also get drawn into these kind on intoxications so that they can
rebel against that of the authority. Curiosity also drives them to take recourse to drugs along
with that of alcohol. They want to be accepted by that of the friends that compels to take up
these regressive habits. In order to sustain relationship with a young person who takes drugs
along with alcohol I would try to build rapport along with trust with them. The benefits of
volunteering are of immense nature and it can help an individual in dealing with depression
and loneliness. I would take the young children who is addicted to drugs along with alcohol
to an animal rescue shelter. I would take him to Australian Animal Rescue who are always in
need of volunteers. There are many stray dogs and cats who are left in a bad condition on that
of the streets and we would together offer our services to help these helpless animals. The
rescued animals are well cared for in the Animal Rescue Centre and we could offer our
valuable services to offer help to these animals (Rise et al. 2014). It will provide him with
fulfilment and help him in overcoming his hunger for alcohol and the drugs. We can together
take steps to cure the animals out of their miserable condition that can help in soothing the
emotional distress of the young person addicted to that of drug along with alcohol (Wnuk
2015).
We shall go for camping in the Mitchell Falls, Mitchell River National Park and the
spectacular sight of the unique Mitchell Falls can soothe the soul of an anguished person.
This remote terrain in Australia will provide us with enough opportunity to engage in deep
conversation. We can discuss regarding the things that have troubled him that have caused
him to get addicted to the different kinds of malpractices. Talking freely with the person can
help him in revealing his innermost feelings and he would feel free to confide in his secret
fears. The desire to help should come from the right place and wrong attitude can lead to
more harm than that of good. They should always feel well-supported that can make them
forget the inner worries. Addiction can leave the victims completely separated from that of
the family and friends so such a person will need emotional support (Lehman and Dixon
2016). I will express sincere concern and making them know that they are important can
make them feel wanted and safe. I shall not be judgemental when dealing with them that can
help them in clearly expressing the way they feel. There are certain scenarios that should be
discussed with him like what were the incidents that propelled him to take up such an
addiction (Petrova et al. 2015). I shall communicate to him regarding the negative impact
pertaining to the addiction that can help him in understanding the severity of the situation and

4SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
what this path may eventually lead him to. Sharing feelings with the other people in the camp
can help him in relieving him of stress and help him in regaining his mental composure.
We shall together attend the Melbourne International Arts Festival that is held in the
month of October. The international arts event is a thriving event in which different kinds of
cultural festivals are held like that of dance, music along with that of art. The Melbourne
Festival is a significant event within that of the Australian Cultural Calendar. The festival is
renowned for offering family-friendly event that can help the young person in getting rid of
the intoxication related problems. The Melbourne Festival hosts performance by that of
renowned artistic companies that can help him in rising above the problems of his life. The
festival helps in the connection of different kinds of art forms and presents unique events.
The event will prove to be of great help for my intoxicated companion and the different
performances will make him feel that there is a lot more to achieve in life (Earp et al. 2017).
The dramas held will reveal incidents inspired by that of real life and he will be able to look
at life from a different perspective. He will come to know about the problems that cripple the
human mind and how one can be of help for another human being. This will help him in
rising above the difficulties and successfully assimilate within the society. The festival
celebrations can help in relieving stress of the person and make him feel to be an important
part of the society.
Conclusion:
The young people are unique and they often act in a contradictory manner. Paying
proper attention to that of the young person can help in building a relationship of high
quality. The differences of the young person should be celebrated and accepted so that they
can assimilate perfectly within the society. The hormonal changes taking place in the young
person often lead the adolescent to behave in a strange manner. Viewpoint pertaining to the
young people should be understood that can help then in preserving their self-esteem. The
opinions of the young person should be heard so that they feel themselves to be an integral
part of society. Coping with stress becomes easier for the young person if they start
consuming drugs and alcohol. Rapport along with trust should be built with a person who is
addicted to drugs and alcohol. The young people want to rebel against the forces of authority
which is why they take up the bad habits. Volunteering in an Animal Rescue Centre can help
in keeping the addicted person engaged and it can help them to deal with loneliness. It will
help the young person to forget the worries in his life and keep him mentally healthy.
Camping in the Mitchell falls can help in soothing the soul of a troubled person. Camping

5SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
will be able to provide great amount of opportunity that will enable us to converse about
different kinds of topics. Attending the Melbourne International Arts Festival in October can
provide abundant opportunity for relieving the mind of the young person addicted to drugs
and alcohol. This thriving event can provide opportunities for different kinds of activities like
that of dance, music and art.

6SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
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