Quarterlife Center - Counseling for Young Adults

Given all the changes that come with pregnancy and parenthood, you might be wondering if the emotional and physical differences you are feeling are cause for concern. While adjustments, including some feelings of sadness and worry, can be normal, there are also signs that might indicate it is time to seek additional support. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are a group of emotional and sometimes physical symptoms that can affect pregnant and postpartum parents. Symptoms of PMADs can appear anytime from conception up until 1 year after birth. This group of disorders can affect parents in every financial, cultural, racial, religious or age group and can be caused by changes in biology (hormonal), physiology, and environmental factors. Although less commonly talked about, partners can also experience these symptoms, for men referred to as Paternal Perinatal Depression (PPND). While experiencing symptoms of a PMAD or PPND can be distressing, it’s important to remember that ...

This year, some chose to put up holiday decorations on November 1, the day after Halloween. “It’s 2020!” They said, “We deserve it!” This visible reminder has brought on a number of emotions for quarterlifers. In addition to big decisions about their education, career path, and romantic relationships, they’ve been dealing with the ongoing pandemic this year. And now? The holidays. How should you approach a holiday season (already a time of high emotions) that is like no other? Keep reading for our best tips about handling this season during the pandemic. 1. Plan ahead. If you’re feeling stressed about the holidays, one thing that may alleviate your anxiety is planning. In past years, you may have known exactly what your plans are. With new health recommendations, it may not make sense to follow through with these due to the risks. Start thinking about what you’ll choose to do and who you’ll choose to spend time with. Knowing what to expect is always helpful. 2. Assess the risks. A pand...

Are you stuck at home quarantined during COVID-19? Our virtual career coaching groups are great while you’re teleworking and have more flexibility in your schedule! Our groups are a perfect way to stay connected, socialize, and build new connections. Let’s use this time well to get ahead together! For many quarterlifers, getting clarity about your life and career, and finding a job, are huge sources of stress. Whether it’s the job you have, the one you wish you had, or the one you have not yet imagined—thinking about it probably consumes a lot of your time and energy. We know that there are unlimited career issues that quarterlifers deal with, and we are skilled at helping you figure it all out. QLC’s career coaching groups are a great way to receive support and guidance from our certified career coach in a small-group format. We offer 2 types of career groups at QLC, and they are offered virtually: 4-Week Career & Life Design Group 4-Week Job Search Skills Group 4-Week Career ...

Are you pregnant and feeling more anxious than normal? Do you and your partner find yourselves feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, down, and irritable after the birth of your baby? Is your struggle with infertility taking over your life and your finances? Do you blame yourself? Do you blame your partner? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone. And we are here to help. Maternal and paternal mental health is important for you, for your relationship, and for your baby. One of the best ways to cope with these feelings is to talk about the ups and downs of trying to get pregnant and giving birth to a baby. QLC provides mental health support for women and families trying to navigate fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum life. Adding a baby to your family is a huge life transition that introduces new challenges and new joys. At QLC, we understand how stressful it can be preparing for the birth of your baby and adjusting to life after your baby is born. Perinatal & p...

Each year, there’s one day in November that we spend counting our blessings. And although Thanksgiving is the perfect reminder of how truly blessed you are, it doesn’t start and stop there. Thanksgiving 2020 may be over, but why not keep the gratitude going? Studies have shown that gratitude is associated with more optimism, positive emotions, the ability to deal with adversity, and better overall well-being. When we practice gratitude year-round, we choose to focus on the things that fulfill us rather than the things that aggravate us. This year, during the pandemic, you may feel you have plenty of things to annoy and irritate you, but you also have the power to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. Now more than ever, it will serve you well to focus on gratitude. It’ll provide a buffer for adversity and strengthen your relationships. Here are three ways you can practice gratitude (even when it’s difficult!). 1. Focus on the past Reflect on memories and experiences that yo...

Looking for gift ideas for that young adult in your life? Here are some books and apps to help them feel supported. BOOKS Quarterlife Crisis  by A. Robbins & A. Wilner - This book explores the quarterlife crisis, which is a landmine period in adult development. It can be overwhelming to emerge from college graduation after almost two decades of schooling and need to make several choices regarding their careers, finances, home, and social networks.  Quarterlife Crisis  not only documents the phenomenon but offers insightful advice about the challenging transition. Conquering Your Quarterlife Crisis  by A. Robbins - This book is a follow-up to  Quarterlife Crisis , which addressed the difficult and confusing time during the transition from childhood to adulthood.  Conquering Your Quarterlife  Crisis delivers a roadmap and puts readers on the path to answer their soul-searching questions. The Defining Decade  by Meg Jay, PhD - This read aims...

Our team at QLC has designed several online support groups as a way to meet quarterlifers’ need for connection and socialization, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our online support groups meet for   4 weeks   and are provided in a   small-group format (4-6 people) via Zoom . They are facilitated by a QLC therapist*, are confidential, and require registration. Our groups are being offered for a reduced fee during the pandemic. * Your group leader will chat with you individually before you join the group in order to familiarize you with the format and to answer any questions you have.   Dating Today In this group, we’ll focus on dating as a quarterlifer, especially in the context of a pandemic. TedTalks and articles will be used to explore central themes. What are current trends? What is working for you? What isn’t? We’ll explore questions like, “What am I looking for in a partner?” What do I want people to see, and not see, about me? How do I bring...

The holidays can be an extremely difficult time for those experiencing infertility. Holiday gatherings can cause anxiety, sadness, and even jealousy–it’s hard to see women who are pregnant or a family that has the baby that you are longing for. If you are dreading this holiday season, here are 5 tips to make it more bearable: Change of Plans If you are feeling overwhelmed by holiday festivities this year, it is okay to change your plans. Think about the parts of the holiday that are important to you this year and consider ways to prioritize those experiences and ditch the rest. Detox Social media and photo holiday cards can be especially triggering for some during the holiday season. Consider going on a digital detox and limiting your exposure during the holidays. If you find you are having difficulty, make a plan for opening holiday cards, which can include waiting until after the holidays to open them, or opening them with a friend or partner present. Plan Ahead Holiday gatherings ca...