Adolescence is an exciting and sometimes challenging journey extending from about ten to 20 years of age. The adolescent’s body undergoes dramatic physical changes. The adolescent emerges toward adult levels of identity, independence, and importance. Understanding the processes through which an adolescent is moving, a caring clinician can adopt key communication strategies to enhance the adolescent’s healthy development. Clinical encounters should involve an appropriate focus on the adolescent while still engaging the parent(s). Confidentiality about personal concerns, especially related to sexuality, should be affirmed in culturally sensitive ways. The use of standardized questionnaires can help ensure that all necessary input is obtained to best identify and manage specific concerns, especially those related to identity and risk-taking behaviors. Appropriate privacy should be provided during physical exams. Clinicians can help guide adolescents through development of a good sense of self, an appropriate understanding of their independence and their relationships to families and peers and their communities, and a sense of their own purposes and values in life. - yielding adults who contribute favorably to society. Adolescence is an exciting phase during which a foundation for future adult life is established. Adolescence is truly an adventure—with drama, comedy, tragedy, and triumph.