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Complete Family ServicesDr. Corinne Hickson Barez, PhD
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College & young adult

The transition into adulthood can use a thoughtful guide.

College students and young adults face a unique set of pressures (academic, social, existential) often without the structure that carried them through high school. Therapy provides the support, perspective, and practical strategies this transition demands.

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A contemplative setting suggesting the transition years between adolescence and adulthood
A distinct stage

The transition years are harder than they look.

The years between late adolescence and full adulthood, roughly 17 to 28, carry a density of change that few other life stages match. Identity is still forming. Relationships are shifting. The structure of high school is gone, and the expectations of adulthood haven't fully taken hold. For many young people, this gap is where anxiety, depression, and executive functioning challenges intensify.

Dr. Hickson Barez works with college students and young adults who are navigating this transition, whether they're struggling academically, questioning their direction, or managing mental health challenges that have been present for years. Her approach is collaborative, direct, and grounded in a genuine understanding of what this stage of life actually demands.

Common challenges

What brings young adults to therapy.

These are the concerns we see most often in our work with college students and young adults.

Anxiety and perfectionism

The pressure to perform academically, socially, and professionally can become paralyzing. Anxiety that was manageable in high school often escalates when external structure is removed.

Depression and low motivation

Loss of interest, difficulty getting started, social withdrawal, and a persistent flatness that makes everything feel harder than it should be.

Executive functioning struggles

Time management, organization, follow-through, and planning. These are the skills college demands, and many young people were never explicitly taught them.

Identity and direction

Questions about career, values, relationships, and who you are becoming. These can feel isolating when the answers don't come as easily as everyone else seems to find them.

Relationship challenges

First serious relationships, roommate conflicts, family dynamics that shift when you leave home, and the loneliness that can come with newfound independence.

Undiagnosed or under-treated conditions

Many young adults arrive with ADHD, learning differences, or anxiety that was manageable in a structured environment but becomes overwhelming without that scaffolding.

Two approaches

Therapy vs. coaching: what you actually need.

Therapy and coaching address different dimensions of the same challenges. Therapy works with the emotional and psychological layers, helping you understand patterns, process difficult feelings, and develop healthier ways of coping and relating. Coaching is more action-oriented. It focuses on specific skills like organization, planning, time management, and goal-setting.

Many young adults benefit from both. Dr. Hickson Barez integrates elements of each depending on what the moment requires. For students who need structured executive functioning support, our executive functioning services provide dedicated coaching that can complement therapeutic work or stand alone.

Family dynamics

Returning home: navigating the shift.

Coming home after living independently, even for a summer, creates friction that surprises everyone. Parents may expect the same household rules. The young adult expects the autonomy they had at school. Old family patterns resurface, new ones emerge, and no one is quite sure who sets the terms.

Therapy can help both the student and the family navigate this renegotiation. When appropriate, Dr. Hickson Barez involves parents through family sessions or separate parent consultation to create space for everyone to clarify expectations, improve communication, and find a dynamic that works for the family as it is now.

Remote access

Telehealth for students at school.

Many students begin therapy during a break at home and want to continue when they return to campus. Telehealth makes this possible. Sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform and are clinically effective for the issues most college students face.

The only requirement is that the student must be physically located in California during sessions. This is a licensure requirement, not a preference. For students attending school outside of California, we can provide referrals to therapists licensed in their state and offer parent consultation to support the family system from our end.

I have been working with Dr. Corie for almost 10 years, and she has been an incredible guide through every stage. She genuinely cares and it shows in everything she does.

Client · Rancho Palos Verdes
Frequently asked

Questions about college & young adult therapy.

What age range qualifies as 'college and young adult'?+
We typically work with individuals between the ages of 17 and 28, though these boundaries are flexible. This stage of life, whether it involves college, entering the workforce, or navigating the space between, carries its own distinct set of challenges. The common thread is the transition from adolescence to adulthood and the identity questions, relationship shifts, and practical demands that come with it. If you're not sure whether this track is the right fit, a brief phone consultation can help clarify.
Can students who are away at college do therapy via telehealth?+
Yes, as long as the student is physically located in California during sessions. Telehealth is conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform and is clinically effective for the issues most college students face. Many students begin therapy during a break at home and continue via telehealth when they return to campus. For students attending school outside of California, we can provide referrals to therapists licensed in their state and offer parent consultation to support the family system from our end.
What challenges do college students and young adults most commonly face?+
The most common concerns include anxiety and perfectionism, depression and low motivation, executive functioning difficulties (time management, organization, follow-through), identity exploration, relationship challenges, academic pressure, social isolation, substance use, and the stress of transitioning to independence. Many young adults also arrive with undiagnosed or under-treated ADHD, learning differences, or anxiety that was manageable in a more structured environment but becomes overwhelming when that structure is removed.
What is the difference between therapy and coaching for young adults?+
Therapy addresses the emotional, psychological, and relational dimensions of what a young person is experiencing. It helps them understand patterns, process difficult emotions, and develop healthier ways of coping and relating. Coaching is more action-oriented, focusing on specific skills like organization, planning, time management, and goal setting. Some young adults benefit from both. Dr. Hickson Barez integrates elements of each depending on what the client needs, and our executive functioning services provide dedicated coaching for students who need structured skill-building.
What happens when a college student returns home — how do family dynamics shift?+
Returning home after living independently, even for a summer or a semester, can create friction that surprises everyone. Parents may expect the same household rules and routines. The young adult may expect the autonomy they had at school. Old family dynamics resurface, and new ones emerge. Therapy can help both the student and the family navigate this transition by clarifying expectations, improving communication, and renegotiating roles. When appropriate, Dr. Hickson Barez involves parents through family sessions or separate parent consultation.
Do you offer executive functioning support for college students?+
Yes. Executive functioning challenges (difficulty with planning, prioritizing, time management, and follow-through) are among the most common reasons college students seek our help. We offer dedicated executive functioning coaching through our EF services, which can be combined with therapy or used as a standalone service. For students with ADHD or learning differences, executive functioning support is often the most practical and immediately impactful intervention available.
Dr. Corinne Hickson Barez, PhD

Reviewed by

Dr. Corinne Hickson Barez, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY17257) with 30+ years of experience. Founder of Complete Family Services, Inc. in Torrance, California. More than 20 years of experience as a court-appointed 730 Child Custody Evaluator. Author of the forthcoming Life's Lessonschildren's book series. Co-author of a chapter in The Handbook of Juvenile Forensic Psychology.

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Parent Consultation

Guidance for parents supporting a young adult through a difficult transition. Practical strategies without your child in the room.

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Ready to start? We're here for you.

Whether you're a college student, a young adult, or a parent wanting to help, the first step is a conversation. We'll help you figure out the right path forward.

Call (310) 375-8665Begin intake online