Adolescent Development

Adolescence is a period of development considered by most to be transitory. It is often viewed as filled with storm, rebellion, and conflict. Although the profession of occupational therapy has developed special practice areas and generated research in the areas of pediatrics and gerontology, little focus in our literature has been placed on adolescents and their special needs in development and treatment. This paper presents an overview of normal development in adolescence. The model of human occupation is used as structure to organize research from other fields to provide therapists with useful guidelines for treatment.