Relationship stress therapy for teens and young adults
I work with people who are figuring out who they are, where they’re going, and how to manage everything that comes with growing up and becoming your own person. If relationship stress is leaving you hurt, confused, or stuck in the same arguments, we can sort through what’s happening and what keeps repeating.
What people bring me
People often come in after a friendship, dating relationship, or family situation starts feeling tense or exhausting. They may feel pulled between wanting closeness and wanting distance, or keep ending up in the same arguments without knowing why. Sometimes they spend a lot of time reading texts, rereading conversations, or wondering if they said the wrong thing. The strain can spill into school, sleep, focus, and how they see themselves.
- I keep overthinking every text I send.
- I don’t know how to say what I need.
- I feel drained after being around certain people.
- I end up in the same argument again and again.
We’ll look at the patterns that keep showing up between you and other people.
How I work with it
I use CBT, DBT, and Psychodynamic approaches to understand both the present conflict and the older patterns that may be shaping it. We might look at how you react in the moment, how you communicate what you need, or what you expect from other people before you even speak. The work stays grounded in your actual relationships, not just general advice about communication.
- CBT
- CBT helps us look at the thoughts that get triggered in relationships and how those thoughts change what you do next. We pay attention to the story you’re telling yourself in the moment.
- DBT
- DBT can help with handling conflict, intensity, and the urge to react before thinking. We work on noticing the feeling, pausing, and choosing a response that fits better.
- Psychodynamic
- Psychodynamic work helps us understand why certain people or dynamics hit so hard. We look at the history behind the pattern, especially when the same stress keeps showing up in different relationships.
What the first sessions look like
The first sessions focus on what’s been happening between you and the people in your life, and how it’s affecting you. We talk about the patterns, the feelings underneath them, and what you want to do differently, if anything, without assuming you already know the answer.
Questions people ask
Why do I keep having the same problem in relationships?
That’s something we can explore together. Often the pattern makes more sense once we look at what’s happening in the moment and what it connects to for you.
Can therapy help if it’s mostly friendship stress?
Yes. Friendships can carry just as much stress as dating or family relationships, and they matter in the work we do here.
What if I feel stuck between being too much and not enough?
We can talk about both sides of that feeling. A lot of relationship stress lives in that push and pull.
Do you help with relationship stress support for teens and young adults?
I do. This stage of life can bring a lot of shifting relationships, and the stress around them can feel intense.
About Katie McHugh Psychotherapy
Katie McHugh offers therapy for teens in New York for anxiety, self-doubt, relationship stress, and life changes. My first session starts with what brings you in.
Katie McHughLCSW
Talk it through with Katie
Tell us what has been going on and we will take it from there.