Quarterlife Center - Counseling for Young Adults

Did you experience massive amounts of change in the past year during the COVID-19 pandemic? You’re not alone, and now that COVID-19 numbers are beginning to drop, many other millennials are voicing just how drastically their “normal” has changed in the past year. In fact, for some, it feels like they’ve lived an entire lifetime in the past year. Let’s take a look at why your life may look rapidly different than it did just 18 months ago. COVID-19 Adjusts All “Natural Order” Many millennials have experienced some (and perhaps all) of the following over the past 18 months: Dating someone new Moving in together Getting engaged Planning a wedding Adopting a pet Buying a car Buying a house Starting a family That’s a lot to manage for anyone especially in the midst of a global pandemic. If you’re feeling like your world looks nothing like it used to, you’re in good company. Many millennials are starting to wonder whether they would have done all those things, in the order they did them, in t...

Are you thinking about taking your relationship to the next level? Have you started talking to each other about marriage? Are you already engaged and planning your wedding? As you prepare for your future together, our QLC counselors are here to support and guide you toward a successful, satisfying marriage. Our premarital counseling typically is 3-6 sessions, depending on the needs of the couple. While there are common topics that we address in premarital counseling, the sessions will be tailored to your specific needs and goals. These are some of the areas that we’ll help you explore in premarital counseling: Emotional intimacy and connection Communication Love languages Conflict resolution Sexuality Finances Building Trust Childrearing Religion/Spirituality Relationships with In-laws Relationships with Friends Career and work-life Balance If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, please  contact us .

Are you thinking about starting therapy? Not sure how to choose the right therapist? You may have questions about what it’s all about. People often want to know what therapy is really like and what to expect. In this post, we share  12 common questions  that we receive at QLC.  The following information will simplify the process of finding the right therapist for you.  If you have additional questions, please contact us at  QLC . 1. Why go to therapy when I can just get advice from friends and family? Leaning on friends and family certainly can be helpful. That said, therapists are professionally trained to help you explore and discuss your difficulties and develop solutions to your particular problems. They have expertise in helping you express and evaluate your feelings, focusing entirely on you without bringing their own needs into the mix. Psychotherapy is a treatment process that is often very useful in helping people cope with their problems. Meeting with ...

Individual Career Coaching Are you struggling with a career choice? Do you feel stuck in your job and unable to make a move? Are you feeling unmotivated and burned out? Would you like to make a change, but feeling unclear about what that change should be? Or . . . maybe you know where you want to go in your career, but you’re unsure how to get there? Meeting with a career coach can help you gain more clarity and create more meaning in your career and life. If you’re not sure about committing to 1:1 career coaching, our short-term online career coaching groups are a great place to get started! Here’s how career coaching can help: Gain more clarity about career Figure out what you’re passionate about Reduce burn-out Improve relationships at work Brand yourself professionally Improve your resume and LinkedIn Use social media for your job search Build self-confidence Create a work-life balance Set boundaries at work Career Coaching Groups For many quarterlifers, getting clarity about your ...

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. While suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in America, it’s the second leading cause for quarterlifers (ages 25-34). In honor of the upcoming World Suicide Prevention Day, we’ll look at both active and passive suicidal ideation. How do these two differ and how may they impact your life? Let’s get started. What is active suicidal ideation? Active suicidal ideation occurs when you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm and have developed a plan to carry it out. If you or someone you know has active suicidal ideation, you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately as this is a medical emergency. What is passive suicidal ideation? Passive suicidal ideation involves a desire to die, but it doesn’t include intent or a plan for how to carry out the death. Suicidal ideation and suicidal thoughts are a lot more common than is reported. These types of thoughts are often accompanied by other forms of mental health issues ...

Life transitions that occur in your twenties and thirties can be exciting for couples, but they are also stressful. Building a life together is a wonderful thing, but it also can create significant tension and anxiety. As couples consider taking their relationships to the next level, whether it’s moving in together, planning for marriage or having a baby, they often experience increased conflict and miscommunication, decreased sexual intimacy, and even doubts about their compatibility. At QLC, we understand how these transitions affect couples, and we are here to help you work together as a couple to navigate these challenging times. These are some of the areas our couples counselors can help you with: Communication skills Empathy and understanding Effective conflict resolution Anger and Resentment Decision-making as a couple Emotional Connection Sexual Intimacy Infidelity Trust Conflict about Finances If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, pl...

Emily is a licensed clinical social worker and certified trauma specialist who has extensive experience working with young adults in their quarterlife stage. Emily sees clients for many reasons including: trauma & PTSD, life transitions, identity, relationship and family dynamics, self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Emily’s therapy style is collaborative and empowerment focused. She believes that connection and authenticity are at the core of a strong therapeutic relationship. When not providing therapy, Emily enjoys yoga, spending time with her family and her goldendoodles Sunnie and Teddy, watching spooky movies, and gardening. Education: MSW, George Mason University BS in Psychology, Lynchburg College Licenses Licensed Clinical Social Worker Washington, D.C., LICSW Virginia, LCSW Personally Speaking -  “The quarterlife stage is often a time of many life transitions, both personally and professionally. Therapy can be a road map to help you identify your goals and together w...

Prior to the pandemic, “invisible disabilities,” like mental health struggles, were already prevalent and now they are even more. A silver lining of the pandemic is that mental health is receiving much-needed attention and more people are recognizing its importance. As a result, companies must amp up their mental health support and learn how to properly respond to employees in need. If you’re looking for resources for your company, keep reading! This is bound to have a positive impact on your office dynamics and bottom line. How Can Management Help? 1. Recognize the value of vulnerability It wasn’t too long ago that mental health was a taboo topic everywhere. Slowly but surely the stigma around it is decreasing. The barriers are being broken, and people are discussing how their mental health impacts the overall quality of their life. If anything, the pandemic has increased this effort and has continued to normalize mental health challenges. If leadership is able to genuinely share thei...