Therapy for Young Adults
On the surface, you seem to have it all together. Inside, you feel stressed, overwhelmed, trapped, lost, and lonely. After achieving some of your goals, you’re left wondering, now what?
Maybe you’ve made it through school and into your early career, but it’s not what you were hoping for. You feel the pressure to be perfect and fix everything, but you don’t know how to stop.
You’re excited to finally be “adulting,” but the responsibilities—laundry, cooking, cleaning, paying bills, and staying on top of everything—don’t feel like much fun. You find yourself wondering if this is as good as it gets, and then imagining doing this for the next 50 years feels like a huge letdown. There has to be more to life than this, right?
Maybe you want a relationship but the idea of dating feels petrifying, or you’re already in a relationship that isn’t what you expected. Perhaps you worry if you’ll ever find “the right one” or if happiness in love is possible.
You want to say no and take care of yourself, but you don’t want to upset anyone or cause problems. You want to stop people-pleasing—but you don’t know how.
Something’s missing, but you’re not sure what it is or who to talk to about it.
You’re Not Alone in Feeling This Way
Here’s something we want you to know right away:
The anxiety about your career path, the pressure to “have it together,” and the uncertainty about who you are outside of others’ expectations—these are all completely normal.
They’re not signs that something’s wrong with you. They are signs that you’re navigating one of the most challenging developmental periods of your life.
When you look around, it seems like everyone else has it figured out—but the truth is, most young adults are struggling with the same anxiety, confusion, and self-doubt. The friend who seems to have the perfect relationship probably questions it sometimes. The coworker who looks like they’re crushing their career may wonder if they made the right choice.
Behind the curated social media feeds and “I’m fine” responses, everyone’s navigating the same messy emotions and fear of falling behind.
You’re not the only one who hasn’t figured it all out—you’re just one of the few being honest about it.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or behind on some invisible timeline, you’re in good company. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.
“You’re not behind—you’re just one of the few being honest about how hard it feels to figure it all out.”
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Interested in Young Adult therapy? Send us a message!
How Therapy Can Actually Help
Therapy for young adults isn’t about being told what to do. It’s about discovering who you are, what you truly want, and learning how to move through life with more confidence and less self-judgment.
At Therapy Cincinnati, we use approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)—proven, practical methods that help with the real-life stressors young adults face.
CBT helps you recognize thought patterns that keep you stuck, such as believing you must be perfect or that one mistake will ruin your future. It gives you tools to challenge and change those beliefs.
DBT teaches emotion regulation, relationship skills, and how to tolerate uncertainty—all crucial for managing anxiety, conflict, or relationship struggles. Think of it as building a mental health toolbox for when life gets overwhelming.
Therapy also helps you explore big identity questions:
Who am I becoming?
What do I actually value?
How do I build a life that feels authentic?
These aren’t questions you have to answer overnight. Therapy gives you the space to explore them at your own pace, without judgment.
How Our Practice Can Help
What makes our practice different is simple: our therapists get it—because we’ve been there.
We understand the unique pressures of being a young adult right now: student loans, social media comparisons, and the feeling of being between two worlds—not quite a teenager, not quite “settled.”
Our therapists are easy to talk to, down-to-earth, and focused on helping you build clarity and confidence, not perfection.
In therapy designed for young adults, we want to know the real you—not the version others expect. We’ll explore your thoughts, emotions, the things that keep you up at night, and what you want to achieve for yourself.
Learning to Set Boundaries
One of the biggest skills we work on in young adult therapy is setting boundaries. Healthy boundaries help us form relationships that are safe, respectful, and fulfilling. They let us express ourselves clearly and prevent toxic dynamics from taking hold.
It takes time to learn what healthy boundaries are and how to set them—and therapy is a great place to practice and strengthen that skill.
Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs
Everyone has an inner voice that says what you can or can’t do and where you do or don’t belong. In therapy, we’ll work to quiet that voice and replace it with one that empowers you. You’ll learn how to move past self-doubt, fear of failure, and the belief that you’re “not enough.”
How Medication Can Help
Sometimes therapy alone isn’t enough. For some young adults, medication can play an important role—especially when anxiety or depression feel unmanageable.
Our psychiatric provider understands the unique challenges young adults face and can assess whether medication may support your mental health alongside therapy.
For many, the right medication makes a real difference—it can quiet constant worry enough to focus in therapy or lift the fog of depression so you can start rebuilding your energy and motivation.
You don’t need to have everything figured out to get help. In fact, not having it figured out is exactly why therapy and medication can be so beneficial.
Whether you’re dealing with quarter-life anxiety, relationship struggles, family conflict, or feeling lost about your direction, we’re here to help you navigate this phase with clarity and compassion.
Common Questions About Therapy for Young Adults
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You don’t need to have a mental health diagnosis to go to therapy. Many people seek counseling to live better, not just to “fix” something. Therapy helps you deepen relationships, manage stress, set better boundaries, and gain clarity on what you truly want.
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Therapy has been shown to be incredibly effective for young adults. Talking with a neutral professional who understands what you’re going through can be a huge relief. Our therapists help you gain perspective, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and build new skills for handling life’s challenges.
We also offer a free 15-minute phone consultation so you can learn more about how we work and decide if therapy feels like a good fit.
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It’s true—therapy is an investment. But it’s one that pays off for life.
The coping skills and emotional awareness you build now can help you for decades to come.We also accept some insurance plans and can assist with out-of-network reimbursement. Please reach out to learn more.
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Friends and family can be supportive, but therapy offers something unique: a confidential, judgment-free space focused entirely on you.
Your therapist brings training, expertise, and neutrality—helping you see patterns and solutions you might miss otherwise. -
Most clients start with weekly sessions. As progress is made, we may move to every other week or a custom schedule based on your needs. You and your therapist will create a plan that fits your goals and life.
How to Get Started
It’s easy to take the first step. Schedule your free 15-minute consultation. We’ll discuss what you’re looking for help with, answer your questions, and set up your first appointment.
You don’t have to figure everything out alone—let’s start building a life that feels like yours.
Our therapists that specialize in young adults
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Sheldon Reisman
LISW-S
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Liz Gray
LPC
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Dorothy Rees
LPC
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Kendra Niese
LSW
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Caroline Crick
LISW-S