Quarterlife Center - Counseling for Young Adults

  The past or anticipated death of someone we love can be especially difficult during the holiday season, a time when many people around us are celebrating with close family and friends. Rather than being a time of celebration, it can sometimes become filled with sadness, longing, and emptiness. Here are some tips to help you  get through this holiday season : Allow yourself to acknowledge that this time of year might be different or difficult and that it’s okay for it to feel this way. Make a plan for where, when, and with whom you want to celebrate the holiday. You might want to change your traditions or plans to accommodate the fact that this year feels different and you might need more/different support. Try to anticipate and communicate your needs to others you will be with during the holidays. Consider picking out a gift for yourself that reminds you of the person you’ve lost (favorite music, a hobby you’ve shared, picture frame, charm or ornament, etc.). Give yourself p...

  Nervous that you haven’t figured out what to do with your life? Worried that you’re getting left behind as your peers move on? Lacking motivation or direction? Trying to find your passion? Thinking about starting graduate school? Struggling in a relationship? Feeling pressure to get married and settle down? Relying on your family for financial support more than you’d like? Feeling overwhelmed by all of the options available to you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, meeting with a therapist can help you figure these things out. Our therapists are compassionate and dedicated to supporting you as you make some of the most important decisions of your life. They are skilled at listening and providing feedback about challenges you’re facing and ways to resolve them. It’s common to feel nervous when beginning the therapy process.  Our professional and caring counselors   will work with you to help you feel comfortable opening up about yourself and your relationshi...

  As  Thanksgiving   approaches, you’re probably thinking about all the things you have to be grateful for this year. This  holiday   is often our reminder of all the blessings in our lives…even if the year has been a tough one. For many, gratitude has either been an incredibly easy or an overwhelmingly difficult thing for the past couple of years. With a pandemic, racial justice issues, climate change, financial crises, food insecurity, gender equality, and so much more, learning how gratitude fits into your “new normal” may feel daunting. Here’s what we recommend if you’re struggling this year or just want to remind yourself how to focus on appreciation and thankfulness. What is Gratitude? Gratitude is the ability to recognize the goodness in your life. This “goodness” could be due to your surroundings, the actions of another person or group of people, opportunities you’ve been given, or your own hard work. Being grateful is a virtuous quality that provides yo...

  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....

  Caitlin is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Career Coach who specializes in working with people in their 20’s & 30’s. Caitlin provides career groups and retreats at QLC. She believes that being in community can  help quarterlifers   build connection, inspire vision, and instill hope as people move towards their goals together. The unique thing about Caitlin’s work is that she has training both as a therapist and a career coach, and she integrates mental health counseling with career, relationships, and the rest of life to help clients take steps toward feeling better. Through talk therapy and  career coaching ,  clients gain new insight into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which leads to more confidence. When Caitlin’s not working, she enjoys taking Zumba classes, being outside in the sun, and spending time with family and friends. Education: BA Corporate Communications, Elon University MS Mental Health Counseling, Johns Ho...

  “Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate.”  — Barnett R. Brickner Is your marriage struggling? Or are you looking to actively prevent obstacles? A successful marriage can be broken down into three simple F’s. If you follow this formula, you increase your chances of creating a happy and healthy partnership. Here’s what you should know. 1. Fun When is the last time you and your significant other kicked back, relaxed, and simply enjoyed time together?  Relationships   simply don’t work without our time investment, and any marriage needs intentional, quality time together. You may have heard the idea that you shouldn’t stop dating each other, and this is true. If you aren’t actively attending to your partner’s heart, planning dates, and thinking of them as if you don’t already have them, then this could damage your relationship long-term. Even if you have a job, family, or everyday stress, remember to have fu...

  Are you undecided about your career path? Trying to find your purpose? Looking to explore new possibilities for the future and find new inspiration?  QLC’s Career & Life Design Group   is great for people who want to find more clarity about their career and life while being supported in a group with others on a similar journey. In this deep dive group, you’ll gain more clarity about where you are, and where you want to go both personally and professionally. In this 4-week online group, we’ll use design thinking, which is all about finding new ways to frame problems to generate new solutions. Through experiential exercises and group conversation, you will gain new insight about what’s next and leave with a plan to move towards your goals. You’ll receive group support as well as one individual coaching session with QLC’s Certified Career Coach,  Caitlin Magidson . Clients will need to purchase the  Designing Your Life Workbook   by Bill Burnett and Dave...

If you’re a parent of a quarterlifer, you may be looking at your son or daughter in distress. These 20- or 30-something Millennials and Gen Z-ers are at a pivotal point in their lives, and along with everything else going on, the last couple of years haven’t been easy on them. Yet, as much as you want to help, sometimes your actions may be making the situation worse (doesn’t every parent love to hear that!). In this blog, we’ll discuss the top 3 mistakes that parents of quarterlifers make and how you can redirect your energy and actions to actually improve their situation. 1. You offer too much help We all know these types of parents — and you might be one of them. Those that are overbearing and micromanaging. Of course, they mean well and want to help their child. It’s difficult to see your child struggling, and as a parent, you want to do anything you can to help them. However, now that your children are emerging adults, they’re developing independence and autonomy. This is the time ...

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,  perinatal   counseling may be a good fit for you. Maternal and paternal mental health is important for you, your relationship, and 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, preparing for the birth of your baby, and bringing a baby into your family. QLC provides mental health support for women and partners 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 adj...