Quarterlife Center - Counseling for Young Adults

Alzheimer’s disease is not limited to the elderly. Although rare, some individuals are diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease in early adulthood—some as early as their twenties and thirties. Quarter-lifers who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s struggle with unique challenges. While coping with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, they are also transitioning to adulthood, launching their careers, getting married, and having children. It is possible for quarter-lifers, particularly quarter-life couples, to enjoy life and manage this disease. For these reasons, it is particularly critical for  Quarter-life couples to prepare for the changes associated with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease by communicating about important, and sometimes difficult, topics. 8 Important Topics to Discuss: 1. Adjusting to the Diagnosis What is your understanding of Alzheimer’s disease? Where can you get information you need? How do you each feel about your diagnosis? What are your hopes, concerns...

Why People Ghost and What To Do If It Happens To You Tired of Getting Ghosted? Dating is not easy. This is something I hear often in my work with quarterlife clients. They describe the ups and downs of dating, their nervousness on first dates, and doubts about whether the other person wants to see them again. In dating, you are consumed with questions like: Will we play games or can we cut through the bullshit and just be real with each other? Is there a future for us? Did I get too drunk? How soon can we have sex? I’ve been hearing a lot about ghosting from clients lately. What is ghosting? It’s when the person you are dating abruptly disappears and stops texting (because, as I’ve been told, no one makes actual phone calls anymore). Ghosting often occurs after multiple dates, sometimes even after months of dating. A recent book of poetry written by Samantha Jayne entitled  Quarterlife Poetry  perfectly describes ghosting. ________________________________ “Our...

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. M...

Dr. Christine Greer O’Connor, PhD — Founder of the Quarterlife Center speaking about the Quarterlife Crisis. Learn more at   www.quarterlifecenter.com

Meet Joanna Strait, LICSW !   Joanna is experienced in providing individual and group therapy to those struggling with grief and loss, perinatal mood disorders, and those struggling to overcome anxiety and depression. She is passionate about empowering her clients so that they feel they are able to overcome quarter-life challenges and can lead fulfilling, healthy lives. Joanna’s approach is very collaborative, and she provides a calm, safe and empathic space for clients to explore possibilities for healing and growth. In addition to her work, Joanna enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and reading true crime. Education MSW, Virginia Commonwealth University BA in Biological Anthropology, Scripps College Advanced Training Maternal Reproductive Mental Health Grief & Loss (Including Infertility and Pregnancy Loss) Hospice & Palliative Care Licenses Licensed Clinical Social Worker Washington, D.C., LICSW Maryland, LCSW-C ...

Are you unsure about your next steps in your career? Are you struggling in your job search? Do you feel stuck in a job you don’t like? Are you trying to decide if you need additional training? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may find it helpful to meet with a career coach, who can work with you to resolve these questions. This post provides an overview of career coaching. It is important to resolve career-related stressors sooner rather than later. Much of our time is spent at work, and if you’re unhappy at work, life can feel very grueling. You may find that your unhappiness at work bleeds into life outside of work, affecting your sense of self, relationships, and social life. Quarterlifers, in particular, report that they spend a lot of time and energy worrying about their career. Part of what makes career choices stressful for quarterlifers is that, compared to their parents’ generation, they have many more career options to choose from, includin...