The College Transition

You're in High School

As a high school junior or senior, the anticipation of college is all around you. It’s exciting, competitive, and all-consuming. It may even get a little overwhelming or anxiety-provoking. You’re balancing school, extracurriculars, friends, and family, and it can be hard to fit college preparation into your already full schedule. It can also be difficult to add additional stress to an already full mind.

Talking to a counselor — even just a few times — can be enormously helpful. It creates a space just for you to pause, quiet the noise of daily life, and talk about this incredibly important time of transition, along with anything else that may be on your mind.

You Just Graduated from High School

You’ve been accepted to college, and you’re leaving high school behind. If you’ve been to counseling before, this can be a great time for a tune-up. If you haven’t been to counseling, this can also be a helpful time to check in and talk about this big change.

Some topics that may be worth discussing with a therapist include:

• How to say healthy goodbyes
• How to make the most of your freshman year of college
• Learning how to identify when you might need support while you’re away at school
• If you are on medication, how to plan ahead for managing symptoms that can sometimes emerge during transitions or in new environments

You're in College

You made it! Now the newness has worn off, you know your way around campus, and your new life has begun. Somehow…it’s not how it was supposed to be. Maybe you have acquaintances, but haven’t found your group. Maybe you’re feeling a little lonely, a little adrift, and not super connected there. Maybe it feels like everyone else has found their people and their major, and somehow it seems easier for them than it is for you. Maybe you’re considering transferring — but the money! The time investment! Starting over at a new school?!

You are not alone.

Take a breath. Let’s talk about it and figure out your path forward.

A Word to Parents

Congratulations — you got them to the finish line! Maybe you’re just catching your breath, only to realize that everyone around you is stretching for the start of the next marathon.

You may be wondering:

• How do I support them from a distance?
• Are they really ready to go that far away?
• Did they pick the right school?
• Do they have enough inner resources and self-advocacy to get the help they need when they need it, or will I have to step in?
• How would I step in…should I step in?
• What if college isn’t for them?

Although I am not a couple’s counselor, I can help parents navigate the questions, uncertainties, and discomfort that often arise during this major transition. I can also help you think through how best to support your child before they leave for college, while they are away at school, and when they return home.

I have been a therapist for over two decades, including 12 years working in college mental health at art schools, state schools, and large private universities. I have served as a staff therapist, Assistant Director, and Director of Mental Health Services. Through these roles, I have helped students and families navigate the transition to college and understand how to integrate mental health support when needed.

Here is a wonderful article you may find helpful as you think about this transition: “What To Do When Your Kids Leave Home” by Psychologist Gretchen Schmelzer, Ph.D.

A Word About College Mental Health Care

After many years working as a psychotherapist on college campuses, I can say that demand for mental health care has never been higher. Many college counseling centers provide groups, time-limited therapy, and referrals, but wait times can sometimes be long. Planning ahead can make a significant difference.

My actionable advice as a therapist for college students and high schoolers:

• If you think you may want therapy while you’re away at school, start looking into mental health resources in the weeks and months before arriving on campus.
• Find out what mental health services your school offers and make an appointment as soon as you reasonably can once the semester begins. Initial appointments (or intakes) can sometimes book out weeks in advance.
• Ask questions such as, "How many therapy sessions are offered?" Are appointments time-limited? How far apart are they scheduled?
• If you need a referral to a private therapist off campus, ask how that process works and whether the counseling center helps coordinate those referrals.
• Find out what support options are available if you need to speak with a professional therapist urgently and cannot wait for a regular appointment.

If you are already working with a therapist at home, it can sometimes be helpful to stay connected by video sessions when possible, even if only occasionally, to check in. If your therapist is not licensed in the state where you attend school, it may not be possible to meet while you are there in person, but it can still be helpful to schedule check-ins during visits home.

Planning ahead can make these transitions smoother. Many therapists’ schedules fill up during long weekends or school breaks when students return home, so booking early and adjusting plans if needed can help ensure you have support when you need it.

Let’s Talk

The transition to college is one of life’s most significant developmental milestones. Support during this time can help students and families feel more prepared, confident, and grounded.

Let’s talk and navigate this transition together.