Therapy for young adults finding direction
I work with young adults 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. This can be a place to sort through pressure, uncertainty, and the shift from one chapter of life to the next.
What people bring me
Young adults often come in when life feels open in too many directions at once. They may be trying to figure out work, school, relationships, identity, or what they want their next chapter to look like. Sometimes they feel behind, disconnected, or like everyone else got clearer instructions. Therapy can be a place to think out loud and notice what’s actually happening beneath the pressure.
- I feel like I should have this figured out by now.
- I don’t know where I fit anymore.
- I keep going through the motions and feeling stuck.
- I’m trying to become my own person, and it feels messy.
How I work with it
I work with young adults in a collaborative way, keeping both practical concerns and bigger questions about identity and direction in the conversation. We can use CBT, DBT, and Psychodynamic approaches depending on what fits the work. Some sessions focus on specific stressors, while others look at patterns that have been there for a long time.
- CBT
- CBT helps when there’s a specific pattern keeping you stuck, especially if thoughts and habits are feeding the pressure. We look at what happens in real life and what keeps repeating.
- DBT
- DBT can be useful when emotions feel intense or hard to manage while everything else is changing. It gives us something concrete to use in the room and outside of it.
- Psychodynamic
- Psychodynamic work helps when the questions go deeper than the current stressor. We look at the patterns, history, and relationships that shape how you see yourself and your future.
What the first sessions look like
The first sessions focus on what’s been feeling most stuck or unsettled and what you hope to get from therapy. We talk about the pressure you’re under, the questions you’re carrying, and what you want to understand better about yourself.
We can look at the parts of growing up that feel exciting and the parts that feel heavy.
Questions people ask
Is therapy for young adults different from teen therapy?
It can be. The focus often shifts toward independence, identity, work, relationships, and what comes next.
Can you help if I’m feeling lost during a big life change?
Yes. That’s one of the reasons people come in, and we can start with what the change is bringing up for you.
What if I’m not sure what I need from therapy yet?
That’s okay. We can use the first sessions to figure out what feels most important to talk about.
Do you work with mental health support for young adults?
I do. I work with young adults around anxiety, self-doubt, relationship stress, and big life changes.
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.