Late Adolescents and Young Adults

I have spent my whole career working in college mental health, and feel a deep resonance with the special challenges of late adolescence and young adulthood.  The transition from childhood to adulthood is a long and complex one, and it doesn’t follow a linear path.  Separating from parents, coming to terms with sometimes imperfect families, managing expectations (from others or from oneself), discovering and exploring sexuality, trying on new identities, forming close bonds with peers and romantic partners, meeting academic and work responsibilities, choosing which options to pursue and which to let go — these “normal” developmental issues can sometimes feel like insurmountable obstacles.

Other factors, such as death or divorce in the family, illness, learning differences or other childhood traumas can create additional hurdles. People in this formative and potentially rich and rewarding time of life can benefit greatly from the opportunity to speak with a therapist, and are often remarkably resilient and open to the experience.

Adults

Adults may choose to start therapy at any point in their lives:  when forming new identities and relationships in young adulthood; when starting and raising a family of their own or navigating a solo life; when making decisions about career and work life; when approaching middle age alone or partnered and weathering the sometimes unexpected blows and complexities that can emerge; when facing the aging process and the changes in relationships, physical well-being and professional identity that come with it.

In particular, I have worked closely with patients experiencing loss and bereavement at different stages of life, understand the grieving process, and know how crucial it is to seek support.

I have also worked with people involved in creative pursuits, and have a familiarity with the unique issues that can emerge along the artist’s path.

Whenever problems begin to dampen your ability to live as fully as you would like, and the struggle to overcome them on your own feels too difficult – that is the right time to seek help.