ABSTRACT
Relationships are central in the lives of young people, and relationship quality impacts adolescent well-being. Positive relationships with family, peers, romantic partners, and community members can foster youth resiliency and buffer against stress. Culturally diverse adolescents may have a broad and flexible definition of family. This chapter addresses the importance of relationships and the increasingly important role of technology and social media in adolescents’ lives. Therapists and practitioners are encouraged to collaborate with an adolescent’s social support network to seek positive change. The chapter includes a vignette, reflective questions, suggestions for working with adolescents, and supplemental resources to promote critical thinking and multicultural competence.
