Therapy for young adults (18-25)

Your late teens and early twenties can (and should!) be exciting but they can also feel overwhelming.

This stage of life often comes with huge changes: leaving school, starting university or work, navigating friendships and relationships, managing money, and figuring out who you are and what you want your life to look like. It’s a lot to carry at once.

Many young adults tell me they feel stuck between being a teenager and being expected to suddenly ‘have it all together’. When things start to feel difficult, it can be hard to know whether what you’re experiencing is normal stress or something you might need support with.

If you’re feeling anxious, low, overwhelmed or unsure about yourself, you’re not alone. And if you’re a parent reading this because you’re worried about your young adult, you’re not alone either.

Why this stage of life can feel so difficult

Young adulthood is one of the most important periods for mental health. Research shows that around 1 in 4 young adults experience common mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression.

There are many reasons for this. Young adults today are navigating pressures that previous generations didn’t experience in quite the same way:

• academic and career pressure
• financial stress and the cost of living
• uncertainty about the future
• social media and comparison
• loneliness and relationship challenges
• questions around identity and belonging

Almost one in three students report feeling lonely most or all of the time, and over 80% say financial pressures negatively impact their mental health.

At the same time, the brain – particularly the part responsible for planning, decision-making and emotional regulation – continues developing until around age 25. This means young adults are often navigating major life decisions while still developing the skills needed to manage stress and emotions.

It’s a challenging combination.

When things start to feel overwhelming

Young adults I work with often describe feeling:

• constantly anxious or overthinking
• low mood or loss of motivation
• pressure to succeed or not fall behind
• loneliness or difficulty with friendships
• stress about university, work or the future
• confusion about identity or direction
• difficulties with sleep, concentration or emotional regulation

You might feel like you should be coping because everyone else seems to be managing BUT what you see from others is rarely the full picture.

Struggling doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It usually means you’ve been dealing with a lot without the right support.

How therapy can help

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective approaches for supporting young adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD and low self-esteem.

In therapy, we work together to understand what’s going on beneath the surface the patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviours that might be keeping you stuck.

CBT is practical and collaborative. That means we don’t just talk about problems, we work on strategies that help you move towards the life you want.

My work is:

• evidence-based (recommended by the NHS and NICE)
• fully centred on the young people’s goals and needs
• neurodivergent-affirming
• culturally sensitive and respectful of identity and lived experience

Young adults (aged 16+) can reach out to arrange support themselves. If parents are involved, I also work collaboratively so that families feel supported in understanding what their young person is going through and how best to help.

Mentoring support for young adults

Not everyone needs full therapy.

Some young adults benefit from ongoing mentoring support, particularly during times of transition such as starting university, entering work, or navigating greater independence.

Mentoring sessions are 45 minutes and usually fortnightly or monthly. They are practical and solution-focused. We might work on:

• managing academic or work stress
• building confidence in friendships or relationships
• navigating life changes
• setting and working towards personal goals

The aim is to provide consistent support while building confidence, independence and practical life skills.

Mentoring Fee: £55 per session.

You don’t have to figure this out alone

Many young adults wait years before seeking support often because they think they should be able to cope on their own but early support can make a huge difference.

Therapy can help you understand what’s happening, learn practical tools to manage it, and start moving towards the life you want.

If you’re a young adult looking for support, you’re welcome to reach out directly. If you’re a parent concerned about your young adult, you’re also welcome to get in touch to explore how I might be able to help.

You can also read more about the specific difficulties I support below.