Does child therapy work?

Children and families often find immediate improvement because they’ve learned techniques that they didn’t know before. That excitement can be very motivating and euphoric, and result in the most important element of therapy; consistency.

Why is my child so easily frustrated?

This is a very common question for an even more common experience. Without knowing the specifics, what I can say is that there is a need (or STRONG want) that is perceived as not being met and they don’t know what to do or how to communicate it. This need / “strong want” can be anywhere from literal to symbolic, and can be due to isolated or patterns of events. Child counseling and therapy can help your child find the words and solutions needed to effectively manage their anger and frustration and have a positive mindset moving forward.

Can a 5 year-old go to therapy?

Yes! Child counseling and therapy is highly effective during these developmental years, and is accomplished via a combination of talking and engaging in fun activities. In fact, it can be easily argued that child counseling and therapy provides effective strategies that will set the foundation of how your child addresses difficult times for the rest of their life! Especially considering that most children enter the school phase at age 5, it provides the perfect opportunity for the strong start that they could greatly benefit from as they begin navigating so many new elements at once.

Young Adults Therapy San Diego, CA

Are you struggling and don’t know what to do?

Home » Teen Counseling San Diego, CA » Young Adult Therapy San Diego, CA

Young adult therapy can provide the skills and techniques you need to overcome struggles and guide you towards who you want to be today and every day after...

Are you a young adult struggling to express yourself in a healthy and productive manner? Do you experience difficulties in your relationships with others? Are you struggling with self-esteem issues due to a specific event; or sequence of events? Are your struggles with self-esteem causing you to isolate yourself from others, experience difficult mood swings, feel hopeless, or be hypercritical of yourself or others? Do you struggle to understand and express your emotional process in a way that appears healthy and productive? Have you lost interest in activities that you once enjoyed? Have you noticed side effects of these struggles; such as muscle tension, headaches, poor sleeping patterns, stomach aches, decreased/increased appetite, inattentiveness, and risky/careless behaviors/choices. This is important because young adult behaviors are refined versions of childhood, adolescent and teen behaviors that were repeated and later engrained; a process that continues and evolves into the adult behaviors we have later on. The more a pattern repeats itself, the more momentum it gains and the harder it becomes to break and even recognize as we get more accustomed and diverse with our use of the pattern.

The young adult years are arguably the most developmental and influential years of one’s life.

Not to say this can’t/doesn’t happen earlier or later in life as well, but it’s that middle stage… the in-between… You have enough experience and understanding to have outgrown the title of “teenager” and sometimes “kid”, but not enough to experience the trust and autonomy you get with the title of “adult”. It’s as if we know just enough to know all the things we don’t, so we know where to pretend for others; as well as ourselves… I remember that all too well, and it seemed to endlessly rotate between exciting and stressful; with “stressful” getting the lion’s share of my time. This is a lot, and it’s before including the specific hardships and life events that set our beliefs and choices in motion. So, if you are struggling, it’s important to remember that it’s a natural part of development and you’re not alone.

Why Do Young Adults Seek Therapy?

Young adults typically experience one or more of these issues throughout their life and establish strategies that they believe produce the best results most easily. As they add, remove and refine strategies from childhood/teenage years, they eventually figure out an apparent solution or resist/accept their circumstances in numerous ways; depending on what they’ve learned from peers, adults, and personal experiences.

Seeing a Young Adult Therapist Can Help!

Child therapy teaches numerous perspectives, techniques, skills and strategies to lead to healthier and more productive self-soothing, problem-solving and emotional awareness/expression to avoid obstacles and achieve goals. Most importantly, child counseling and therapy intervenes at a time when problematic systems are being developed, as opposed to years later when patterns are further cemented and opportunities have already been impacted. During this crucial time in your child’s life, I will be there to provide the space and safety required to make real change. I will listen to their side of the story and consistently remind them that I am here for them and always on their side. In addition, I will make time for the child’s loved ones to assist, simplify and educate wherever needed so that your child can experience consistency and support in as many areas as possible. Simply put, if it benefits your child, I’m in!

Benefits of Effective Young Adult Counseling Can Be:

Why Book a Young Adult Therapy Session With Me?

I have worked with young adults (and their families; if desired) all throughout my career in a variety of circumstances and treatment settings including school, community-based mental health care, and private practice. Additionally, I very much remember the trials and tribulations of my young adult years, and the pressure and expectations that came with it. With my self-esteem-focused approach, I have successfully helped many young adults process significant events and overcome obstacles through improving self-worth, emotional awareness, communication, problem-solving, and overall perspective of their circumstances and options.

I have found that I really connect with young adults. Not only because of my positive psychology background and relaxed and friendly approach, but because many of my personal interests align with theirs; including sports, music, video games, movies/tv shows, and experiencing adventure. Furthermore, I personally understand what it’s like to try and navigate the transition from high school (which is difficult as it is) and then having it coincide with times of great hardship in my personal life. I find this creates a very specific and special bubble of trust and safety because, as a result, I am often viewed as an adult you can trust and as a peer with whom you can relax. I will use this unique relationship to relate and empathize with your struggles, so that you can feel more confident and better trust approaches that I have found to be effective and helpful.

Are you ready to feel better and overcome obstacles?

Contact me today to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation and see if young adult therapy is right for you!

MY STANDARD RATE IS $200 PER SESSION (50 MINUTES)
Prefer a longer session time? Just ask for details!

I do not accept insurance but I do offer Superbills that can be presented to insurance companies for reimbursement. Learn more about my rates and insurance.

Here are some typical questions regarding young adult counseling and therapy...

What type of therapy is best for young adults?

Seeing as young adults are still learning and growing into who they will truly become, I personally believe that the best type of therapy is a client-centered approach. This means that you honor the client’s individual experience, and meet them where they are at. Once I have gotten to know the client a bit, I am able to tailor the therapeutic experience even further and implement other techniques that I am trained in such as strength-based therapy, positive psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the Enneagram.

Should I see a therapist or a psychiatrist?

That’s a great question! Therapists and psychiatrists have different roles and serve different purposes. People visit a psychiatrist when they are looking to get evaluated for potential psychiatric medications. People see a therapist when they are looking to process emotions, work through a difficult time, identify/improve patterns that create obstacles, or any other reason emotional work would be beneficial. So to answer your question, both can be helpful but for different reasons. I always recommend starting with a therapist and, together, assess from there whether a psychiatrist referral is necessary.

What are signs that I need therapy?

Although there is no all-encompassing answer to this question, common instances where people seek young adult counseling and therapy is when they are struggling with…

Low self-esteem
Regular nightmares/intrusive thoughts
An inability to concentrate, think clearly, or make decisions
An inability to sit still
A sudden, unexplained drop in grades at school/work performance
A loss of interest in activities that they once enjoyed
Regular conflict with peers and/or support figures
Changes in patterns of sleeping or eating
Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
Constant anger or sadness, and a tendency to overreact to situations
Persistent worry, anxiety, or fearfulness
Preoccupation with physical illness or their own appearance
Reclusiveness, preferring to be alone rather than in the company of friends or family
And more…

However, in all honesty, I believe this question is best answered with another question: could you benefit from additional support with regard to a specific pattern, event, or circumstance in your life? If you’re still not sure, you can always [contact me] for a free 15 minute consultation and to see if I am the right therapist for you!

What to Expect in a Session With a Therapist for Young Adults?

A young adult therapist can assist you in understanding harmful patterns you engage in and how/why they were created in the first place. Improving your pattern recognition gives the control and awareness to avoid falling back into similar – if not the exact same – patterns and adjust existing strategies to achieve desired results more effectively. Young adults can often forget how much more control they have compared to their childhood/teenage years, so reminders from an unbiased person you trust can make a world of difference. No judgment. No criticism. Just support and understanding. Once you feel comfortable, sessions with me will just feel like having a conversation with anyone else who supports you… I’ll just know more and have less of an agenda than you’re used to. This becomes incredibly important during times of repetitive struggles and the self-deprecation that often follows. Where someone in your inner world might express emotions that could interfere with your ability to be receptive and effectively move forward, a young adult therapist has the ability to provide support, patience and guidance; while remaining neutral.

Approaches I Use in Child Therapy

Positive Therapy

Positive Therapy is a relatively new therapeutic approach, influenced by both the humanistic and psychodynamic approaches towards diagnosis and treatment. Its core focus is on moving away from what’s ‘wrong’ or the negative aspects of an individual, and instead move towards what’s good and positive; which promotes solution-focused problem-solving, increased confidence and self-esteem, and a positive mindset… all of which play a huge role during young adult development!

Mindfulness Therapy Practices

Engaging in mindfulness practices assists in calming down the nervous system and decreasing the impulsivity, restlessness, and struggles with memory and focus that are so often experienced by individuals with ADHD, or its symptoms. However, what I love most of all about mindfulness practices is how easily and seamlessly they can be incorporated into our lives. Although mindfulness is often associated with specific approaches, such as yoga, mindfulness can be as simple as focusing on your breathing; or what you are eating. By promoting a calm environment for the body and mind, mindfulness can decrease the impulsivity and reactivity that often complicates what we value or desire in our lives, and increase the focus and motivation that allows us to be our best selves.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic modality that focuses on the cause and effect patterns we fall into and the power of mindset. Through increased awareness of the negative thinking patterns and factors that influence our less-desired behaviors, CBT provides the tools necessary to effectively break the patterns that put us in our own way and develop productive patterns to put us back in the driver’s seat.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) is a therapeutic modality that focuses on solutions and what has worked in the past. Instead of examining negative patterns or identifying “problems”, SFBT promotes solution-oriented and positive thinking that is so beneficial for the decreased self-esteem and repeated frustrations that are so often experienced throughout young adulthood.

Young Adult Therapist in San Diego, CA

If you are ready to overcome obstacles that leave you feeling frustrated and stuck, and want to learn more about my therapy services, please use the form above or call (858) 634-0502 for a free 15 minute phone consultation.

Spencer Chernick, LMFT
ADHD, Teen & Couples Therapy
5330 Carroll Canyon Rd Suite 120,
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 634-0502

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