Coming of Age — A Personal Perspective*

The age of Australian family therapy would place it as an adolescent rather than as one who has ‘come of age’. Using the metaphor of the life stage of adolescence, an assessment is made of cognitive and personal development, separation and autonomy, and peer relationships. It is suggested that while specific progress has been made in most areas, peer relationships are characteristic of a younger stage. The paper concludes with the challenge of the future — to move forward with adolescent limitations or to mature further and ‘come of age’.