Quarterlife Center - Counseling for Young Adults

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 .

  Relationships aren’t perfect, and mistakes are inevitable. However, as you and your significant other learn and grow together, there are some common mistakes that you can avoid. Read through the list below to see how you can expand your perspective and  improve your relationship   now and for the long term. Here are 5 common mistakes that couples make: 1. They talk about hot button issues while intoxicated. If you have an important topic to address, make sure you put it on hold if one or both of you is drinking. Sometimes you may feel tempted to bring up subjects that one of you has on your mind, but being intoxicated often makes people more emotional and less tactful. Unfortunately, for many couples, discussing while drinking often escalates to arguing. To avoid this mistake, be conscious and mindful of the fact that this can happen. Remember: Don’t drink and discuss. Before the night begins, agree together which topics are off-limits for the night and should be saved ...

  Meet Patricia Anderson, LPC! Pronouns: she/her Patti brings a unique style and extensive experience to working with quarterlifers. This is the time to consciously take the opportunity presented to explore who you are now and navigate your way to who you want to be and what you want your life to look like. Patti can help guide you through this time with her collaborative style and expertise in using mind and body modalities, in addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, to enhance your insight and ability to create the life you want. Her own quarterlife crisis led her to this work and propelled her to take risks in  career  and relationships. The struggles and stress of this time in her life was the driver to promote change and growth. Education: MA in Educational Psychology, University of Texas, Austin Advanced Training Center for Mind-Body Medicine PACT Institute Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) Brainspotting Licenses Li...

  While both premarital counseling and couples counseling help couples connect and communicate, they differ in their structure, style, and goals. During the course of therapy, the two might look identical in a specific moment, but the overall course of each type of counseling looks very different. Premarital Counseling Premarital counseling is ideal for couples who are planning to be married or who have decided to make a lifelong commitment to each other. At QLC, this type of counseling is short-term (4-6 sessions) and focuses primarily on the couple’s future together. We help premarital couples improve communication skills and create good habits. Although premarital counseling is tailored to the specific needs and goals of the couple, it usually includes some structured exercises, like creating a vision statement for your marriage. Importantly, it addresses topics that are common triggers for conflict in long-term relationships. One of our primary goals is for couples to leave pre...

  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...