Therapy for Young Adults
For those in their late teens through mid-twenties
Young adulthood can be a time of great personal growth and transformation. It can also be a time of overwhelming change. On the one hand you may have new and intense connections—with friends, co-workers, roommates, or intimate partners. On the other hand it can seem like the people you care most about are far away, especially if you’ve left your childhood home. You’re suddenly on your own, navigating the world and all of its uncertainties. This independence brings with it both perks and pressures, as you work to establish a true sense of yourself and an understanding of how and where you fit into society.
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Feeling mentally and even physically strained by this time of transition? You’re not alone. I’ve worked with countless young adults who are facing a range of challenging situations.
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Some are having trouble transitioning to college or life outside of their childhood home. Others are dealing with difficult family dynamics, including situations where their identities or life choices are not accepted or respected by family members. Some are seeking guidance as they develop their professional identity and consider their life trajectory. Others are healing from trauma, including sexual assault or abuse. Young adulthood is often the first time they’re ready to begin addressing the traumas they have faced.
Sessions are available at a local walking trail or at my office.
With this range of life situations comes equally varied signs that these young adults are struggling, including:
Self-harm, such as cutting or scratching
Depression or anxiety
Low self-esteem or self-worth
Fears about the future
Low motivation
Panic attacks
Suicidal thoughts
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Can you relate? These struggles are common, some even natural—and yet, you don’t have to push through them alone. The strongest thing you can do is reach out for support when you need it, even when—especially when—it feels like the hardest thing to do.
Young adulthood is a time of self-reflection—
of deciding which of your old patterns you’re ready to release, and which areas you want to embrace and strengthen in your life. A time to let go of shame and guilt about the past. To learn how to look towards the future with a sense of optimism and hope. To develop enough self-mastery to feel okay in this world and at home in your community.
But how? If you’re already feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or unworthy, it’s hard to even know where to start.
I’m here to walk with you in this time of growth and change—
knowing that both your story and your needs are unique. From trauma processing, to finding connectedness in your community, to strengthening your relationship skills, to finding the confidence to live independently, I’m here to guide and encourage you to connect with your authentic self, to learn who you really are, and to understand how to take care of yourself.
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The treatment I offer involves deep attachment work. I find this to be incredibly important in our society that seems to perpetuate disconnection, imbalance, and competition. Attachment work helps people to strengthen their connection with their truth and authenticity. Being true to ourselves leads to greater self-worth, intuition, empathy, and better relationships. With a stronger attachment to authenticity, we can more confidently pursue our passions and purpose, leading to a greater sense of hope and joy.
The tools I draw on when working with young adults include talk therapy and EMDR—and I also find mediums like sand tray and art therapy to be useful.
Through talk therapy, you have an opportunity to release thoughts and emotions that can be both physically and mentally damaging if held in or repressed. Sure, you can talk with your friends about problems—and maybe you feel like you’re already aware of what’s causing your stress or uncertainty. What’s important to consider is whether you know how to care for your body and manage your emotional responses to your problems, even if you’re cognitively aware of them. We live in a society that teaches us to separate our mind from our body, and yet we can’t fully identify, understand, and manage our struggles until we accept and embrace our mind/body connection.
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If you’re not yet familiar with the process of talk therapy, it’s so much more than talking or sharing quick advice. Talk therapy creates a deep relationship and connection between us as we work together to strengthen and shift your body and brain’s responses. It allows you to practice skills of connection, communication, and developing a sense of safety—all of which are key to having strong and fulfilling relationships.
I find EMDR to be very effective when paired with talk therapy. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, aids in integrating traumatic or stressful memories. This can help you to shift your relationship to the memory so that it won’t continue to prompt as much distress. It can be used to address recent events, past events, or even concerns about the future. There is no memory too big or too small to address in EMDR. Each memory is connected to a belief about yourself. By shifting your relationship to the memory, you can also shift your beliefs about yourself.
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You’ll find EMDR to be most effective when you have a sense of embodiment, coping skills, and resourcefulness—all things that we work on it talk therapy. It’s a helpful next step for those who need further resolution from the process.
My experience working with young adults includes both group and individual therapy sessions. I trained extensively working with young adults while completing a post-masters fellowship and subsequently working at University of Colorado, Boulder. I’d love to use my experience and training to help you on your journey.
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Reaching out for support and committing to self care can open new doors in your life. Depending on your personal needs and goals, this could mean developing a sense of community outside of your family—creating a chosen family. It could mean finding a sense of empowerment after being disempowered through sexual assault or abuse. You can learn how to have long-distance relationships, or strengthen bonds with friends and intimate partners. Doors could open toward independence, as you acquire new life skills or learn how to separate from family patterns that may not serve you as an individual. Most importantly, you can gain a better understanding of who you are, and how best to care for yourself.
