We’re well aware of the differences between childhood and adulthood. But it’s the years between 18 and 26, when young people develop psychologically in ways that bridge these differences, that we may pay less attention to.
These are the years of the young adult and are often overlooked. Some young adults manage this process without problems, but for others additional support is needed. Transitional living services are one such support that can play a critical role in helping young adults.
The Challenges of Young Adulthood
Social functioning in young adulthood is often described in terms of five major role transitions [1]:
- Leaving home
- Completing school
- Entering the workforce
- Forming a romantic partnership
- Transitioning into or moving toward parenthood
In the US, the transition to these adult roles is taking more time and becoming more unpredictable compared to the past. Young adults in the US are taking more time before entering family roles that typically defined adulthood, compared with their parents and grandparents. And contemporary parents believe that their active parenting role extends further into their children’s life course than was the case for parents in the past.
In today’s rapidly changing world, being a young adult is more challenging than ever. This is due to various factors, including:
- Difficulty finding employment
- Increased cost of living
- High cost of education
- A rise in mental health problems
Nearly two-thirds of the burden of disability in young adults is associated with either mental health or substance use disorders. By age 29 more than half of all individuals have experienced such a disorder [1] .
Most parents want to see their youth grow into successful young adults who can handle the challenges of daily life on their own. But for young adults with mental health challenges, this can be tough, requiring extra guidance.
What Is a Transitional Living Program?
Transitional living services provide a space for young adults to live in a community that fosters their independence while still supporting them through the stressors of everyday life. They often offer educational opportunities, career guidance, vocational training, and workshops to promote independent living skills.
Most transitional living programs also have access to mental health care so young adults can build healthy coping skills for their emotional development.
A transitional living program (TLP) gradually helps young adults adjust to the pressures and stresses of the “real world”. It provides a space for young adults to build healthy habits, work through underlying mental health problems, and connect with others to foster community. Unlike a typical mental health treatment center, there is a high level of autonomy, supporting each young adult on their journey to success.
The transitional living approach understands that each person is different, helping them transition to a life that meets their needs, desires, and passions. Some young adults may want to earn a college degree, while others want to enter the workforce.
TLPs offer young adults a safe, nurturing space to navigate life’s uncertainties. For a 20-year-old, learning to budget for groceries while balancing college classes may be a big step forward. Or, imagine a recent high school grad discovering how to cook their first meal and sharing it with friends.
These programs provide more than just a roof—they’re a foundation for self-discovery. Whether it’s mastering public transportation, landing a first job, or simply figuring out how to resolve conflicts with roommates, these safe havens allow young adults to stumble, grow, and ultimately thrive on their own terms.
Transitional living programs help young adults establish their goals and turn them into a reality. They are often apartment communities, where services and resources are always available. Some of the services offered in transitional living programs include:
- Safe, stable, independent living accommodations
- Life skills workshops
- Educational opportunities
- Vocational training
- Mental health care
- Physical health services
- Psychiatric services
- Recreational programs
Understanding Transitional Living For Young Adults
There are several factors that have increased the rates of transitional living services among young people. Two of the most influential are individual mental health challenges and economic problems affecting this generation.
A Pew Research study reported that over 50% (26.6 million) of young adults have been living at home since the COVID pandemic, with the sharpest increase being among 18-24-year-olds [2].
Many of the young adults who enter transitional living services also struggle with mental health and executive functioning—planning, focusing attention, switching gears, and juggling tasks.
One of the most transformative aspects of transitional living programs is the sense of community they foster—a lifeline in an increasingly disconnected world. For many young adults, isolation exacerbates the mental health crisis, leaving them feeling adrift and unsupported. Transitional living services counter this by creating spaces where connections flourish.
Picture a group of peers sharing stories over a communal dinner, offering encouragement during job searches, or simply laughing together after a long day. These moments of belonging together in the real, not virtual, world, remind participants they’re not alone in their struggles. Loneliness among young adults is rampant, despite, or because, they are connected online. TLPs provide a vital antidote: a face-to-face network of understanding, empathy, and shared growth, helping young adults heal and build resilience together.
Therapeutic communities can help young adults break their feelings of isolation, work through unresolved trauma, and build positive coping skills to aid in mental health recovery and manage life. Some common mental health problems that transitioning programs provide support for include:
- Depression and isolation
- Anxiety
- Attachment issues
- Autism Level 1
- ADHD
TLPs are deeply personalized, recognizing that no young adult is the same and that no issue is too small to be addressed. They will often work with mentors to build healthy habits related to fitness and nutrition.
One study showed that building healthy routines can minimize symptoms of various mental health conditions [3]. They help young adults identify their strengths and passions, develop goals, and create processes to work towards achieving success. This makes the transition from young adult to being a functional adult much smoother.
Some of the skills young adults may learn by participating in a TLP community include:
- Time management
- Finances
- Communication skills
- Meal planning & cooking
- Fitness and exercise
- Stress-reducing activities
The Benefits of Transitional Living for Young Adults
Transitional living can offer several unique benefits to young adults. One key feature of transitional programs is the emphasis on independence. These are not mental health residential centers with heavy monitoring and daily structured treatment programs. TLPs often promote and respect autonomy while offering high levels of therapeutic support.
Educational Opportunities
Many young adults in transitional living programs set goals around their education. This may be starting a program at a university, technical school or finishing their degrees. Transitional programs may partner with local schools or educational consultants to help residents achieve these goals. Mentors and life coaches at the TLP may support young adults with:
- Applying to schools
- Learning support
- Time management and study skills
Vocational Training
Getting an advanced degree isn’t for everyone, and many young adults are looking for employment opportunities, training, or the skills to enter the workforce. Some of the tools that young adults may learn during a TLP to support their vocation include:
- Resume building
- Interview skills
- Building a professional network
Building Connections
Today, many young adults struggle with high levels of isolation that contribute to mental health problems such as depression or anxiety. It can be difficult to make friends and communicate, and in turn, this lowers their self-esteem. Some services offered during TLPs that can help them build connections include:
- Group therapy sessions
- Life skill workshops
- Recreational activities
- Adventure programs
- Networking events
- Music, art, or dance classes
- Cultural events
- Fitness programs
- Cooking classes
Fostering Independence
Unlike typical mental health centers, TLPs focus on respecting the autonomy of young adults. They provide a space for growth and skill building. Many TLPs offer independent apartments, providing young adults the privacy and freedom they deserve.
Providing Stable Living
Some young adults in TLPs come from unstable home environments or have even spent periods of their lives homeless or living in shelters. These therapeutic communities give these young adults a sense of safety and security to help them get back on their feet.
Low Supervision
Young adults who enter transitional housing have often already spent time in residential centers. Rather than heavy supervision, TLPs focus on high levels of autonomy and therapeutic support. Young adults can spend their free time as they please and often have their own rooms or apartments. And if they receive therapy or structured treatment, they may meet multiple times a week.
Supporting Young Adults In Their Journey to Independence
Engage Young Adult Transitions is a transitional living program and therapeutic community that assists young adults on their path to independence. Using attachment theory, we provide a foundation for forming connections, getting involved with the community, managing mental health, and building life skills for long-term success.
Located just steps from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, we offer access to services seven days a week, including academic support, vocational training and career guidance, life skill coaching, mental health therapies, and recreational activities.
Our community offers high levels of therapeutic support that honors autonomy and independence while guiding young adults to a life of freedom, emotional wellness, and success. Get involved with the Engage Transitions community today!
Sources
[1] Committee on Improving the Health, Safety, and Well-Being of Young Adults; Board on Children, Youth, and Families; Institute of Medicine; National Research Council; Bonnie RJ, Stroud C, Breiner H, editors. Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2015 Jan 27. 2, Young Adults in the 21st Century.
[2] A majority of young adults in the U.S. live with their parents for the first time since the Great Depression. Pew Research Center.
[3] The Importance of Creating Habit and Routine. National Library of Medicine.
Simpson, R. 2018. MIT Young Adult Development Project.