Over the last few years, we have seen a marked increase in anxiety and depression among adolescents at our practice. In addition, I think it’s safe to say that we have also seen a reduction in interpersonal and coping skills. Anecdotally, we could make the assumption that this could be a result of COVID, tumultuous world events, or an over-reliance on screens to develop friendships or a sense of self. However, no matter what the contributing cause is, many students are going off to college and are ill-equipped to navigate life in this new arena.
In various conversations with parents and students we have seen and heard a lot of stories of students struggling. Some kids are going away to school and have massive challenges connecting with others and making new friends. Some are unable to master the responsibility of living alone and navigating tasks independently. There is also difficulty mitigating the dangers of substances that are easily accessible in this environment, not being able to manage the executive functioning tasks for academic success, and an inability to tolerate loneliness or disappointment.
As a therapist, this deeply saddens me that students are heading off to college and experiencing such distress. Some are even deciding not to return to school or leaving mid-semester. The idea that someone was not able to navigate going away to college successfully can be really damaging to the sense of self. If a student pre-maturely leaves the situation, it robs them of the opportunity of being able to say “hey that was so hard, I really struggled at first, but I was able to work through it”. They may lose the ability to see themselves as resilient and strong, a belief that is incredibly important and helpful in their lives, especially at such a crucial age of development.
In addition, parents are also exhibiting high levels of anxiety about this process. There are finances, optics, logistics, and pressures for everyone in the family. They may also be projecting their own college experiences onto their kids which is exacerbating the situation and creating an unnecessary vigilance around the experience for their child.
Taking this and many other factors into account, we wanted to create a program for college students that could be individualized based on who they are and their unique situation. We know that some students may struggle in one area, but not another, so a one-size fits all approach may not be helpful. We also recognize that a generic template of exercises or tools may work for some students but not all. We can’t realistically (or responsibly) encourage a student who is an introvert to do the same thing as an extrovert- it’s two completely different ways of experiencing the world. We strive to understand for every student, who they are, their current level of functioning, where they have had successes and where they have struggled, and what specific fears and anxieties they may be carrying about starting college.
We want to know what they imagine the college experience will look and feel like and then help them have realistic expectations for when they arrive. We want them to be able to identify where the obstacles may be and how to help them prepare for them or cope if things are not working on the timeline they had hoped. We want to help them be able to share their anxieties with their families, but in a way that does not drive fear and anxiety for anyone.
Our program includes six one-on-one sessions. The first session focuses on getting to know the student and planning the course for the following sessions based on the information provided and the therapist’s assessment. The next three sessions will involve preparation work. The final two sessions will take place once the student has officially started school. During these last two sessions, the therapist will offer supportive counseling, review previously covered material, and identify any potential challenges to address together.
By the end of our six sessions, students will have the tools and confidence to navigate their school environment successfully. We are dedicated to offering personalized, comprehensive support to help every student thrive both academically and emotionally. We look forward to partnering with you on this journey and are here to support you every step of the way.
