College is a wonderful time, filled with both exciting and challenging experiences. Students prepare for college throughout high school, and the dream of college life often doesn’t include all of the difficult transitions inherent in this profound and life changing experience.

The stress of college can trigger the onset of various problems including: depression, anxiety, panic disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse. Oftentimes, the stressors and changes many students experience have not previously been anticipated, leaving young adults feeling lost, confused, and possibly even ashamed.

You are not alone in this struggle.

There are many others who are experiencing the same range of emotions that you are, and many of them choose to embark on therapy to help guide them through this often frightening and stressful time. Academic pressure, financial stressors, peer conflict, loneliness, and confusion with intense self-exploration are issues that many clients bring to therapy.

Psychotherapy can help individuals navigate through this transition with support and guidance, thus reducing feelings of isolation and fear. As a therapist operating from a humanistic stance, I believe that my job is to guide clients to find out who they are, how their current struggles reflect an opportunity for growth, and to help them access resources that may be necessary for their safety, health, and/or psychological support. Though it is inevitable that college life will most likely present you with some form of stress, it is important to realize that it also can bring about a wonderful and invaluable life change. Many individuals often reflect back on their college years as the foundation from which they grew and discovered their authentic self as well as their future dreams and aspirations things they desired for their lives.

If you are struggling with this significant phase of your life, it may be an ideal time to search for a therapist who is a good fit for you. Therapy can help allow you to experience these difficulties as a chance to grow and become even stronger than you could have ever imagined.