Adolescents & Young Adults
Let me put it simply: being a teenager or a young adult is hard. There are more expectations than ever placed on young adults today and it's a time of tremendous change and instability. Experiencing a full range of emotions is a totally normal part of being human, but sometimes those emotions seem so overwhelming that you might start to feel out of control and alone. It can feel as though no one understands you and no one is really on your side. It might even feel as though your friendships or other relationships are more stressful than they are helpful. That's where I come in. My goal is to provide a safe, stable space and support for you to navigate all of the difficult relationships, changes, and challenges you're experiencing during this time in life. You are not alone!
Stressors of private and boarding schools
While I don't exclusively work with students who attend private and boarding schools, I do see many kids and teens in these settings, and I believe the challenges of those environments are extremely unique. The major task of adolescence it to find oneself and one's sense of purpose and direction. Being in a high achieving environment during this critical period of development can add an additional layer of challenge to an already stressful and difficult time in life. I love to support students in these environments, because it can be easy for perfectionism and anxiety to take over when surrounded by so many high achieving people. Social relationships are also often complicated by the private school environment, and it can feel like all eyes are on you all the time. The pressure can feel extremely intense--that is why I love to support my teenagers and young adults to set and maintain healthy boundaries, manage fears of failure, plan for the future, and ultimately develop a strong and solid sense of self as they launch into their independent life.
The College Transition
Going to college, whether you go near or far, is an incredible experience. It is the first time that you have full independence and autonomy which is absolutely thrilling and freeing, but also brings with it tons of new potential stressors. All of a sudden you're responsible for making new friends and building a brand new social network, arranging all of your meals, doing your laundry, sharing a living space, learning the geography of a new place, all while trying to maintain good grades and be an engaged student. Who wouldn't be overwhelmed? For many people, there is safety and comfort in familiarity, and during a time when there is so much new and unknown, I am glad to provide a safe, consistent, and predictable space to process all of these fears and anxieties, while you figure out who you're going to be in this next chapter of your life. It feels like you're completely on your own for the first time in your life, but you don't have to be alone in all of the sticky parts of figuring life out.
