Lets Talk: A Generation Struggling to Talk

What’s included?

1. Introduction
2. Understanding the adolescent brain
3. Bridging the gap in young adults’ mental health
4. Is there still a place for talking therapies?
5. A holistic and experiential approach
6. How Delamere can help

Talking therapy has been under the spotlight recently.

Earlier in the year, mental health charity Mind conducted some research which found that just under half (45%) of young people aged 16-24 year old say they wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing their mental health, compared to one in five (19%) of adults aged 65 to 74.

More recently, researchers at the University of London conducted a study of 1.5 million people on the effectiveness of talking therapy offered by the NHS, which found that it was less effective for young people with anxiety and depression. 

According to the study, young adults are “25% less likely to meet the threshold for reliable recovery after having talking therapy, and 17% less likely to make reliable improvement” than older age groups. The researchers concluded that more research needs to be done in this area as young people might be suffering from different causes of depression and mental health issues than older generations, so new approaches will be needed.

Talking therapy is, and will continue to be, a central tenet in our treatment model. We combine this with a fully supportive, immersive and connected experience for our guests, who receive a wide range of holistic treatments and a comprehensive aftercare programme. It helps our guests grow beyond addiction through talking and understanding what triggers their addictive behaviours, rather than just emphasising on stopping these behaviours.

At Delamere, we therefore understand that young adulthood is a complex life stage; a time of self-discovery, emotional growth, and rapid neurological change. With all this transformation comes immense potential but also real vulnerability.

It’s often during this time that individuals begin facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, or substance use.

Need help?
Call us confidentially at any time to speak to a member of our team.

Call us now: 0330 111 2015

Understanding the adolescent brain

From a neurological perspective, the brain is still developing well into a person’s mid-twenties.

The prefrontal cortex (which supports emotional regulation, decision-making, and self-reflection) is still maturing. 

Meanwhile, emotional and motivational systems in the brain, like the SEEKING system, are highly active.

What does this mean in practice? Young people are wired to feel and experience before they can reflect and reason.

This helps explain why therapies that rely heavily on verbal reasoning, deep reflection, and cognitive processing can feel less engaging and potentially overwhelming to many young adults.

Bridging the gap in young adults’ mental health

The reduced effectiveness of traditional NHS talking therapies for young people doesn’t mean that talking therapies aren’t working, it means they need to evolve.

At Delamere, we believe the key is integration: combining the insight-building strengths of talking therapies with the grounding and regulating power of experiential work.

Young adults don’t need to change who they are to benefit from therapy. Therapy needs to adapt to them; more embodied, dynamic and responsive

Is there still a place for talking therapies?

Absolutely. But not in isolation.

Traditional talking therapies like CBT that have been the foundation of mental health treatments often assume a level of self-awareness and verbal articulation that young adults may still be developing. 

While they are still highly effective, and we see this first-hand with the outcomes of our younger generation guests, we understand and appreciate that there are many young people that find that traditional talking therapies alone do not fully meet their needs.

Rather than abandoning talking therapies, the answer lies in enhancing and complementing them with approaches that align with how young people naturally process their experiences.

A holistic and experiential approach

Experiential and somatic therapies like breathwork, movement, and body-based practices are often more developmentally appropriate for younger people. 

These methods engage the nervous system directly, helping to regulate emotions through what’s known as bottom-up processing. 

This includes improving vagal tone (a key indicator of stress resilience) and increasing interoceptive awareness, the ability to sense what’s happening in the body.

These practices don’t rely on verbal reasoning or self-analysis; instead, they allow young people to feel safe, calm, and emotionally integrated, even when they struggle to articulate what they’re going through.

How Delamere can help

The Delamere Treatment Model integrates traditional talking therapies with holistic and experiential practices. Guests are invited to engage in a range of activities designed to support the whole self, mind and body, including:

• Equine-assisted psychotherapy – Building trust and emotional awareness through connection with horses.
• Somatic breath work and movements – Supporting emotional regulation and nervous system balance through guided body-based practices.
• Qigong – Encouraging calm, clarity, and energy flow through mindful movement and breathing.

These therapies support bottom-up emotional regulation, working directly with the body to reduce stress, promote resilience, and facilitate deeper healing. 

Healing isn’t always just a conversation; it can be a breath, a movement, or a quiet moment of connection. 

To find out more about our treatment model, please visit here.

Need help?
Call us confidentially at any time to speak to a member of our team.

Call us now: 0330 111 2015

Summary

Article Name

Lets Talk: A Generation Struggling to Talk

Description

According to a study, young adults are 25% less likely to meet the threshold for recovery after having talking therapy. Delamere discusses.

Author

Martin Preston

Publisher Name

Delamere Health Ltd

Publisher Logo

About the author: Mike Delaney

Mike crafted our innovative and person centred approach to addiction treatment. Mike’s experience in the addiction treatment sector encompasses his work as a nurse, psychotherapist and Chief Executive.