Therapy for Students & Young Adults

Are you a college student or young adult struggling to manage the demands of school, work, social situations and the tasks that come with everyday life?

• Do you have difficulty concentrating, or are you feeling unmotivated or stuck?

• Do you feel sad and lethargic or have you lost interest in activities that you used to enjoy?

• Have you recently suffered a significant loss or experienced a traumatic event, and have struggled since to feel like your normal self?

• Do you have difficulty with relationships or making friends and wish you could develop deeper connections with people in your life?

• Do you often feel lost or alone even when in a group of people?

• Do you wish you could get to the root of what’s causing you distress and enjoy happiness and success in your life?

At Positive Regard Therapy (PRT), we have experience working with young adults dealing with depression, anxiety, family conflict, trauma, or other challenges. Students and young adults have to make difficult decisions and encounter many life changes in a short period of time. Counseling creates a solid support to help you identify goals and improve your quality of life.

Navigate the Transition to College

For many young adults, starting college can be a very exciting time in life. College can be a time full of freedom and opportunity. There are big decisions to navigate (i.e major selection, career path, and personal growth and development), while simultaneously learning to be in charge of your new life schedule.

For many individuals, however, the transition to college is far from smooth. Socially, emotionally and academically, the adjustment can be very difficult. Incoming students must adapt to new peer groups, the pressure of an increased and more advanced workload and learning to manage time. Finding a balance between work and leisure can be challenging. For those who struggle to make friends, trying to navigate the social setting on campus can be intimidating and frustrating.

Many people experience symptoms of depression for the first time in college. While everyone experiences ups and downs in life, there are times when depression and anxiety—which are also prevalent among college students—can make it difficult to function. Socializing, completing work and even performing simple everyday tasks can feel insurmountable.

Sexuality and Sexual Orientation

In addition, college and our 20’s is a time when many young adults explore their sexuality. While fully mature physically, most college students are still new to sex and sexuality. Creating a space where young adults feel comfortable talking about sex is a strength of our therapists and a non-judgmental stance is key.

The object isn’t to insist on a particular set of values or practices, but to support young people to understand their bodies and the feelings that accompany sex and attraction, and to make conscious decisions about where they stand. This can include creating a map, of sorts, of their sexual values–a better understanding what they need in order to make decisions about sex to feel safe and have fun with a partner.

Sexual orientation is in focus at this moment in life. If young adults find themselves attracted to the same sex, they may need help making sense of this attraction, talking to their parents and friends about this–when ready–and dealing with the bias that’s inevitably present even on the most progressive campuses. It is important to recognize that suicide rates are higher among LGTBQIA+ individuals and to give these young adults the help they need.

Identity and Self Discovery

Coming into your true identity is also a common occurrence while in college. You may realize that you no longer identify or feel conflicted with the person you were before college. This can take the form as: being transgender or non-binary, multicultural or racial identity conflict, or diverting from the identity in which you were raised.

Young adults are suddenly surrounded by peers and teachers with different world views and from various backgrounds. This can be an exciting time to question one’s own beliefs, or it can be overwhelming and confusing navigating these new experiences.

Counseling is a great opportunity for young adults to explore these concepts in a safe space, where you can process your identity without having the social pressures to define oneself.

How does Therapy Work?

The good news is that while life may seem out of control and overwhelming now, you don’t have to navigate overwhelming thoughts, emotions and experiences on your own. An experienced and compassionate therapist can help you work through your struggles, gain insight and feel supported.

Counseling for young adults can be extremely effective, and help you gain a deeper understanding of your needs, goals, desires and difficulties as a young adult. Throughout the therapy process, you’ll have an opportunity to process feelings and learn more about patterns, behavior and relationships.

In a safe and non-judgmental setting, you will collaborate with your therapist to explore both areas of strength and aspects of your life that you would like to develop or improve. At your own pace, you may examine the nature of your problems, identify patterns, behaviors and unresolved issues that could be interfering with your happiness and personal goals. You can learn new ways to manage stress and resolve conflicts.

Get Support

If any of the above sounds like something you are dealing with, please contact psychotherapist Alex Chiodo, for a free 15-minute phone consultation at 773.985.2034 or use our contact form and select Alex to email us your information.