Applied Teen Social Support: Identity, Dating, and the Long Arc

Applied teen social support spans identity formation, dating and early relationships, and the long arc into young adulthood. This applied course teaches integrated reasoning through case-based modules. By the end of this course you will be able to support identity formation through peer relationships, navigate dating and early romantic relationships, respond to specific social challenges, and sustain support into young adulthood. What you will learn: - Approaches to supporting identity formation through peer relationships - Approaches to dating including timing, partners, and family conversations - Approaches to specific challenges including social isolation, dramatic friendships, and rejection - Approaches to supporting teens with social differences including shy or intense temperaments - Approaches to coordinating with mental health support when warranted - Approaches to supporting friendships into and through young adulthood - Approaches to your own role as your teen becomes more independent The course is structured around six applied modules. Each produces a written artifact: an identity support plan, a dating framework, a specific challenges response, a social differences plan, a mental health support reflection, and a long-arc plan. This course is written for parents thinking across the long arc. By the end you will have moved from anxious watching to sustained, deliberate support.