Quarterlife Center - Counseling for Young Adults

Quarterlife is marked with heavy decisions. Making choices in order to live authentically is difficult in this world of conflicting norms and expectations. Caroline views therapy as a compassionate space to explore your experience, and experiment with what it means to live authentically. Having worked in university counseling center settings, Caroline has extensive history working with quarterlifers who are navigating life transitions. Their areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, sexual orientation and gender identity development, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, and academic concerns. Social justice and multiculturalism are at the core of their approach. In addition to working with clients, Caroline enjoys camping, hiking with their dog, watching psychological thrillers, and traveling. Personally Speaking -  "Quarterlife comes with pressure to get it right the first time. It is a joy to collaborate with clients to break free from the pressure of perfection, ...

If you visit a college campus these days, you may be asked to introduce yourself with your name AND pronouns. This is unusual for older generations, but for quarterlifers, it’s necessary. According to a  2019 Pew Research Center  survey, 25% of Millennials and 35% of Gen Z know someone who uses gender-neutral pronouns. As more non-binary and trans people live openly, this topic is essential for people to understand. It can help our culture become more accepting of differences. In this blog, we’ll discuss the different pronouns and why they’re important. Defining important terms To understand the context of pronouns, here are some terms you should become familiar with: Gender identity Gender identity is one’s personal experience of oneself as male or female (or both or neither). Gender identity is “a person’s deeply felt, inherent sense of being a boy, a man, or male; a girl, a woman, or female; or an alternative gender (e.g., genderqueer, gender nonconforming, gender neutral) ...

Worried about a loved one in their twenties or thirties who seems depressed? They may be having a quarterlife crisis, which is a common experience during emerging adulthood, as young adults are turning 25 or approaching 30. Millennials who are going through a quarter life crisis are at risk for depression and anxiety. A quarter life crisis is real and shouldn’t be ignored. Are you wondering how you can help? Family members, often parents, contact me for guidance on how to help their millennial child. They express concern about their son or daughter seeming sad and lost in life. Here are some of the most common quarter life crisis symptoms: tearfulness irritability lack of motivation hopelessness anxiety about the future difficulty making decisions changes in appetite changes in sleep substance abuse (read more about  binge drinking among millennials ). If you have observed any of these symptoms in your loved one (or any of the symptoms described in this post), you may be wondering ...

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 ...

Katie DiMuzio is a licensed clinical social worker with a decade of experience successfully helping young adults manage anxiety, career concerns, relationship issues, and trauma. After experiencing challenging personal situations in her mid-20s, Katie found therapy to be immensely valuable in navigating her way toward the next phase of her life. Now, as a therapist, she is passionate about using her expertise to help those who are working through the ups and downs of life in their 20s and 30s. The knowledge gained from therapeutic exploration helps quarterlifers gain clarity and recognize the opportunities to make purposeful, satisfying choices in their lives. Katie’s practice is virtual – you will meet together through secure video appointments, which allows for flexible scheduling. When not helping clients, Katie enjoys spending time with her loved ones and pets, running, solving crossword puzzles, and traveling. Katie is also passionate about education and provides teaching assistan...

Experiences with grief during the COVID-19 crisis can be multi-layered and complicated. Grieving the death of someone close to us, whether from COVID-19 or another cause, poses unique challenges during young adulthood and the quarter-life period. As you are faced with news coverage of COVID-19 related deaths, you may find that grief related to previous losses is triggered. Grieving the death of a loved one due to COVID-19 is also a challenge that many young adults are facing. This group provides a safe space for emotional exploration, structured support, and grief education, especially in the context of the pandemic. It will also give you an opportunity to connect with other quarterlifers who are grieving during the pandemic. This support group can help you: Receive structured support from an experienced grief counselor in a small-group setting (max of 6 people). Learn about the grief process. Explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe space. Connect with other quarterlifers who are ...

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...

Melissa* is a 35-year-old single woman living alone in her condo in the city. Her biological family consists of only her father who lives in another state. Melissa is an only child, and her mother died several years ago.   Before the pandemic, she had a vibrant social life with her neighbors, coworkers, and friends. She regularly hosted dinner parties and relatives visiting from out of town. Since the pandemic, she reports feeling isolated and lonely. Despite having a solid social network, she hasn’t found anyone to bubble with. Many of her married friends have created COVID bubbles with their spouses and kids. Her single friends have left the city to stay with siblings or parents. If you’ve ever taken a psychology class, you’re familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It’s a motivational theory comprised of a five-tiered model of human needs. Right in the middle of it is the need to feel a sense of belonging. One way that people do this is by being part of a family. Quarterlifer...