People often assume that adolescence is an exciting and carefree time of life; yet the stress of establishing self-identity, self-sufficiency, and autonomy is exceptionally difficult. The escalating rate of emotional disorders in our society can be attributed to several precipitating variables. For example, many teenagers from dysfunctional families live with alcoholism, violence, incest, and abuse. Add to these risk variables rapid social change, cultural pluralism, occupational diversity, and poor interpersonal skills, and a teenager's hopelessness and disillusionment with planning for the future are understandable.