THERAPY SERVICES FOR UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS IN OTTAWA

The university or college years are times when you’re learning and growing. New relationships are being formed, unfamiliar experiences are being navigated, and you’re claiming your independence in the world. This is supposed to be an empowering and life-changing experience. This change, however, can affect your mental health as well. Being in college or university can easily become a place of imbalance, confusion, and anxiety when there is added pressure to succeed in school, make new friends, figure out adulting for the first time, all that on top of trying to figure out what to do with your career.

Maybe you’re having trouble staying motivated with your assignments or studies. You’re feeling overwhelmed with all your commitments. Along with being in social clubs and making new friends, there are so many classes and study groups you have to attend. Managing that many commitments and managing your time so efficiently is tough for somebody who isn’t used to it.  

Plus, you now have to manage living on your own, perhaps in a new city, and handle all the responsibilities that come with “adulting”, like budgeting and getting groceries. It’s a lot! As you’re constantly meeting new people, you feel a lot of pressure to make a good impression and build friendships. You may struggle to find your “people” and occasionally, you might feel left out by a group of friends. You might feel rejected and isolated, and it’s hard. All these challenges might lead you to feel more anxious, depressed or burnt out. You may lean into over-studying and neglect your self-care. Or, you may engage in procrastination or try and compensate for your emotions with alcohol or cannabis to try and help you “calm down”.

Or you may be a parent who is concerned about your university or college student’s struggles. It seems like a major challenge for them to adjust to this new phase in their lives. Despite your desire to help them, you don’t know what to do.

Graduate school presents many transitions, just as college or undergrad does. Making decisions about the future, the uncertainty of your research findings, finding a job, and pursuing your career can feel overwhelming. Feeling uncertain of your future direction and anxious over the “what’s next” may make you feel anxious or discouraged.

Every experience is different. As your psychologists and psychotherapists, we’re here to make you feel comfortable exploring and processing your life experience so you can make empowered and wise decisions. Our goal is to help you cope with the pressures of college or university so you can be happy and successful.