Your twenties are supposed to be “the best years of your life,” right? So why does it feel like your ducks are squirrels and they’re bouncing on a trampoline?
If you’re somewhere between “I’m too old to ask my parents for money” and “I have no idea what I’m doing with my life,” congratulations – you’re an emerging adult. This is the stage where you’re supposed to have everything figured out, but instead you’re Googling “how to make friends in your 20’s” and wondering if everyone else got a manual you never received.
Come closer and we’ll tell you a secret: Everyone’s just winging it with varying degrees of success.
What Is An “Emerging Adult”?
Emerging adulthood (roughly ages 18-29) is the life stage where you’re technically an adult but still figuring out who you are and what you want. You’re caught between childhood expectations and adult responsibilities, trying to build a career, form adult relationships, and create an identity that’s actually yours – not what your parents, professors, or Instagram influencers think it should be. There’s often big growth, freedom, and opportunity but also instability, uncertainty and a LOT of pressure (internal and external) to “get it right.”
We work with emerging adults on challenges like:
- Navigating the transition from school to the workforce
- Relationship changes, dating, and breakups
- Identity exploration (values, sexuality, life direction)
- Career uncertainty or early-stage burnout
- Setting boundaries with family (who still see you as their little kid)
- Managing money stress and financial independence
- Mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, or self-esteem issues
- Feeling “behind” compared to peers
- Life skills and decision-making confidence
- Quarter-life crisis “What am I doing with my life?” thoughts at 2 AM
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy gives you space to talk about what’s really going on without the pressure to have it all figured out.
We’ll help you:
- Untangle expectations (yours and everyone else’s)
- Build confidence in your decision-making
- Strengthen communication and boundary-setting skills
- Find healthy coping strategies for stress and uncertainty
- Explore identity and values so you can make aligned choices
- Learn how to balance independence with support
- Develop practical tools for real-life adulting challenges
Therapeutic Approaches
At Counseling with Compassion, we use approaches that honor where you actually are in life – not where you think you should be. This might include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: To challenge unhelpful thinking and boost confidence
Solution-Focused Therapy: To identify what’s working and build on it
Narrative Therapy: To reframe your life story in a way that empowers you
Mindfulness & self-compassion: For stress management and resilience
Career and life coaching elements: To clarify your direction and next steps
Emerging adulthood is full of big changes and even bigger possibilities. With the right support, this chapter doesn’t have to feel like a test you’re failing… it can be the launchpad for building the life you’ve always wanted.
We’ve made it easy for you to get started right now.
Three simple steps. No waiting lists. Just real help, right when you need it.
Reach Out
Send us an email at hello@cwcrvc.com or call us on 516-476-9057 and tell us about what’s going on.
Get Matched
We’ll connect you with the therapist best suited to your needs.
Start Sessions
In person at our Rockville Centre office or online from your couch – either way, we’ll help you take that first real step toward feeling better.
