Counselling for Young Adults

When everyone expects you to have life figured out

Early adulthood can be a confusing, pressured time. You might feel as if you should know where you’re going, while it seems like everyone else has things sorted. Friends are making plans, moving out, getting jobs or starting relationships – and you’re not sure where you belong.

You may feel anxious or sad about separating from your family, or frustrated that gaining the independence you want feels so hard. Friendships and dating can feel complicated. It’s easy to end up comparing yourself to others and wondering what’s “wrong” with you.

Counselling for young adults offers a confidential space to press pause, make sense of what you’re going through and work out what you need.

What is counselling for young adults?

I offer one-to-one counselling for young adults, supporting you with the pressures and transitions of this stage of life – your identity, relationships, studies, work and independence.

In our sessions:

• You don’t have to pretend you’re “fine” or have a plan
• We pay attention to what matters to you, at your pace
• We work in a relational, collaborative way – no judgement, no advice-giving, just compassion, curiosity and care

Together, we’ll explore your struggles and challenges and find ways to navigate the path ahead that feel more manageable and authentic to you.

Common reasons young adults come to counselling

Young adults come to counselling with many different experiences. You might recognise yourself in some of the themes below.

Anxiety, overthinking and “what ifs”

You may feel caught in constant worry about the future, unsure how to make decisions or whether you’re doing the “right” thing. It can be hard to switch off, with spiralling thoughts about work, studies or relationships.

Low self-esteem and perfectionism

You might not feel “good enough”, even when you’re doing well from the outside. Perhaps you put constant pressure on yourself to meet your own and other people’s expectations and feel like a failure when you can’t.

Friendships, dating and situationships

Friendships and dating in your late teens and twenties can be intense. You might feel left out or as if you don’t quite fit in with a friendship group. You may be navigating first serious breakups, experiences of ghosting, or feeling stuck in “almost relationships” and situationships.

Independence, family and boundaries

Becoming more independent can bring up a lot of mixed feelings. You might be struggling with living back at home and feeling like a teenager again or worrying about finances for moving out or going to university. Family expectations around study, career, culture or relationships can feel heavy and hard to talk about.

Identity and feeling “different”

You may have a sense of feeling “too sensitive”, “too much” or often overwhelmed, and sometimes wonder if you might be neurodivergent. You might feel unsure about who you are – your values, beliefs, sexuality or gender.

I offer an inclusive, affirming space for LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent young adults, as well as for anyone exploring these parts of themselves.

How counselling can help at this stage of life

Counselling is not about telling you what to do or giving you a life plan. Instead, it can help you to:

• Make sense of your feelings, rather than pushing them down or masking them
• Understand your patterns – like perfectionism, people-pleasing or avoiding conflict – and where they come from
• Develop more self-compassion and self-trust, so your inner voice becomes kinder and less critical
• Practise new ways of relating: saying no, asking for what you need, handling differences and conflict
• Feel clearer about what you want and what matters to you, even if you still don’t have everything mapped out

My experience with young adults

I have worked as a university counsellor with young adults (18–25) who are struggling with stress, self-esteem, relationships and becoming independent. I also have over a decade’s experience in coaching and counselling adults and young adults, particularly around relationships, anxiety, depression and life transitions.

I have supported young adults who identify as LGBTQ+, who are neurodivergent or exploring this, and clients from many different cultural backgrounds. You can read more about my background and training on my About page.

What to expect

1. Introductory call
I offer a free 15-minute introductory call so we can see whether we feel like a good fit to work together, and you can ask any questions about counselling for parents and carers.

2. First session
In our first session, there is space to explore in more detail what has brought you to therapy, who you are and what you’d like to be different. You set the pace.

3. Ongoing sessions
Sessions last 50 minutes and usually take place weekly, in person in Ealing (W13 / W5) or online across the UK.

• • I usually suggest committing to at least six sessions and then reviewing our work together
  • You decide what feels manageable in terms of frequency and timing
  • I won’t tell you how to parent or care – instead, we explore what matters to you, what feels possible, and what support you need

Is now the right time to reach out?

You may have been feeling lost thinking, “I’m not sure where I’m going,” for some time.

Signs that change is needed might include feeling stuck, numb or overwhelmed, tired of pretending you’re fine when you’re not or thoughts of “I should be able to cope but it keeps getting harder”.

Young adulthood can be full of questions and uncertainty, and many people find counselling helps steady the way forward. Having someone who listens without judgement can make decisions feel less overwhelming. Seeking therapy isn’t a weakness – it’s a commitment to caring for yourself.

If this resonates, I’d be happy to support you. You’re welcome to get in touch to arrange an introductory call.