Therapy for College Students and Young Adults
Your day might be over, but your mind is still going. You replay something you said in class, worry about an assignment you already submitted, or think through everything you need to do tomorrow. Even when you have time to relax, it can be hard to stop thinking about what you should be doing next.
For college students and young adults, anxiety can show up as pressure to succeed, fear of making mistakes, or the feeling that everyone else knows what they’re doing. Starting college, graduating, beginning a career, or figuring out what comes next can add to that pressure.
Zehra works with college students and young adults navigating anxiety, overthinking, fear of failure, and life transitions. She offers virtual therapy throughout New York.
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When Your Mind Won't Slow Down
You finish an assignment, then wonder whether you did enough. A conversation ends, but you keep replaying it to check whether you said something wrong. Even when nothing urgent is happening, your mind finds something else to worry about.
All that thinking can make it difficult to focus, sleep, or enjoy time away from school or work. You might feel exhausted while still struggling to switch off.
When You're Afraid of Getting It Wrong
Grades, career decisions, family expectations, and comparisons with other people can make it feel as though every choice matters enormously. A small mistake might leave you questioning your abilities, while a disappointing result can feel like proof that you aren't doing enough.
Success can start to feel tied to self-worth. Rest brings guilt, asking for help feels uncomfortable, and even accomplishments offer little relief before the next goal takes over.
When You're Figuring Out What's Next
College, graduation, moving away from home, starting a job, and changes in relationships can bring questions about who you are and what you want your life to look like.
Family expectations and cultural values can add another layer, especially when your own goals differ from what others expect of you. Making decisions can be difficult when you're balancing your own priorities with the opinions of people who matter to you.
What Therapy With Zehra Can Actually Look Like
Sessions can begin with something that's been taking up a lot of mental space, whether it's an upcoming exam, a difficult conversation, a decision about the future, or the feeling that you're falling behind.
Zehra draws on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), somatic approaches, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care. Sessions might involve looking at the thoughts that turn one mistake into a judgment about your abilities, noticing how stress shows up physically, or exploring how family expectations and past experiences influence your response to pressure.
She also considers how culture, identity, and family dynamics shape a person's experience. These parts of your life can be important when exploring what you want for yourself and how to make decisions that reflect your own priorities.
Why Work With Zehra?
Zehra is a graduate clinical intern in Mental Health Counseling and Wellness who works under the supervision of licensed clinicians. She holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Forensic Psychology, along with a graduate certificate in Victimology Studies from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Her experience includes supporting survivors of trauma, including sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as individuals navigating anxiety, panic, and major life transitions.
As a first-generation Bengali American Muslim clinician, Zehra also brings an understanding of how culture, identity, and family expectations can shape a person's experience of stress and self-doubt.
Zehra offers virtual therapy to clients throughout New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can therapy help with anxiety and overthinking in college?
Therapy can provide space to explore recurring worries, pressure around school, and the difficulty of switching off mentally. Sessions can focus on how these concerns affect your daily life and how you respond when anxiety builds.
Can I go to therapy if I'm struggling with fear of failure or perfectionism?
Yes. Therapy can include concerns about grades, work, disappointing others, or feeling that mistakes say something about your worth. You can explore where those expectations come from and how they affect your choices.
Can therapy help with the transition from college to adulthood?
Graduating, starting a job, moving, or reconsidering future plans can bring uncertainty. Therapy can give you space to talk through those changes, your priorities, and the expectations you're navigating.
Can we talk about cultural or family expectations in therapy?
Yes. Family relationships, cultural values, and personal goals can all be part of the conversation. You can explore how these experiences affect your decisions and sense of self.
Does Zehra offer virtual therapy in New York?
Yes. Zehra offers virtual therapy to clients located throughout New York. Cardinal Hope also offers a free 15-minute consultation with Laura, the practice administrator, to answer questions about getting started.
Let's Talk About Getting Started
If anxiety is taking up too much of your time and energy, or pressure about school, work, and the future is becoming difficult to manage, a consultation is a chance to discuss what you're looking for and whether working with Zehra may be a good fit.
Cardinal Hope Mental Health Counseling Services offers a free 15-minute consultation with Laura, the practice administrator.