Therapy for Young Adults

Young adulthood can bring big transitions—new responsibilities, shifting relationships, and questions about identity and direction. Therapy offers a supportive space to process these changes, reduce stress, and build confidence for the future.

THERAPY SERVICES

Schedule Consult
Young woman sitting thoughtfully on a couch, symbolizing the challenges and transitions addressed in therapy for young adults.

BASED IN REDONDO BEACH, CA

Navigating Life, Change, and Identity

The transition into adulthood can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Between shifting responsibilities, changing relationships, and questions about identity or purpose, it’s easy to feel uncertain or stuck. Therapy offers a supportive space to sort through these experiences — helping you gain clarity, develop coping tools, and reconnect with your sense of direction.

At Catherine Alvarado, LMFT & Associates, our therapists understand the unique pressures young adults face today — from navigating independence to balancing career, school, and relationships. Sessions focus on helping you build insight, self-trust, and emotional resilience as you move through this stage of life.

Supporting Young Adults Through Growth and Transition

⟶

Therapy for young adults can help with managing anxiety, stress, and self-doubt; setting healthy boundaries; or finding balance during major life changes. It can also be a space to explore identity, values, and goals — supporting a stronger sense of self along the way.

Our approach is collaborative and flexible, meeting you wherever you are in your journey. The goal isn’t to have everything figured out, but to feel more grounded, capable, and confident as you move forward in life.

THERAPY ISN’T ABOUT HAVING IT ALL FIGURED OUT

It’s about having space to figure it out as you go.

common concerns

Therapy for Young Adults Can Help With

Calm ocean waves at sunset alongside a therapy website section highlighting areas where counseling can help, including anxiety, depression, life transitions, and emotional healing in Redondo Beach and the South Bay.

  • Anxiety and stress management

  • Depression and mood challenges

  • Relationship concerns and communication struggles

  • Life transitions and major changes

  • Grief, loss, and emotional healing

  • Self-esteem, boundaries, and confidence building

  • Trauma recovery and PTSD support

  • Work-related stress and burnout

  • Emotional regulation and healthy coping skills

  • Personal growth, self-awareness, and clarity

  • Standard EMDR Therapy

    Standard EMDR therapy is delivered in 45–50 minute sessions, giving space to process distressing experiences within the traditional therapy hour.

  • Intensive EMDR Therapy

    Two-hour EMDR intensive sessions offer additional space for structured reprocessing beyond the standard 50-minute format.

  • Adjunct EMDR Therapy

    Adjunct EMDR therapy offers the option of standard or intensive EMDR sessions, scheduled as needed alongside ongoing work with a primary therapist.

  • Somatic Therapy

    Focuses on how trauma and stress are held in the body, using awareness, movement, and grounding techniques to support nervous system regulation.

  • Attachment-Focused Therapy

    Explores early relationship dynamics and how they influence present-day patterns in trust, connection, and emotional safety.

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

    A skills-based approach that helps build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and healthier ways of relating to self and others.

  • Narrative Therapy

    A collaborative approach that helps separate people from their problems and rewrite the internal stories that shape identity, behavior, and self-worth.

  • Internal Family Systems & Parts Work

    A gentle method that explores and supports the inner “parts” of a person — including those carrying pain, fear, or protection — to restore balance and healing from within.

  • Play & Art Therapy

    Creative, nonverbal approaches that support emotional expression, healing, and self-awareness—especially helpful for children or those who find it hard to put feelings into words.

  • Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)

    An approach that combines mindfulness practices with cognitive strategies to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and increase present-moment awareness.

Young adult therapy in Redondo Beach & South Bay – Catherine Alvarado, LMFT & Associates webpage with seashell image.

Catherine alvarado, lmft & associates

Therapist for Young Adults in the South Bay Area

At Catherine Alvarado, LMFT & Associates, our therapists specialize in supporting young adults as they navigate the unique challenges of early adulthood. Young adult therapy provides a supportive space to explore identity, build confidence, and develop coping strategies for managing stress, relationships, and life transitions.

We offer therapy for young adults facing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, career stress, and feelings of being “stuck” or uncertain about the future. Sessions are tailored to help young adults gain clarity, strengthen resilience, and create meaningful change in their lives.

Therapy is available in person at our holistic space in Redondo Beach and online across California, making young adult therapy accessible to clients throughout the South Bay, including Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, and El Segundo. If you’re looking for young adult therapy in Redondo Beach or searching for a trusted South Bay therapist, our team is here to provide compassionate care and guidance.

  • Portrait of Catherine Alvarado, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Redondo Beach, specializing in EMDR and trauma therapy.

    Catherine Alvarado, LMFT 134744

    OWNER & CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

    Catherine is a Licensed Therapist in Redondo Beach and an EMDR Certified Therapist & Consultant in Training who specializes in anxiety, trauma, and EMDR therapy for teens and adults. Learn More

  • Portrait of Emily Feldt Shabel, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in Redondo Beach, focusing on couples and family therapy.

    Emily Feldt Shabel, AMFT 151325

    SUPERVISED BY CATHERINE ALVARADO, LMFT 134744

    Emily is a registered associate therapist in Redondo Beach, specializing in individual, couples, and family therapy for relationships, self-esteem, and creative professionals. Learn More

  • Portrait of Monika Arana, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in Redondo Beach, offering individual therapy and EMDR.

    Monika Arana, AMFT 140548

    SUPERVISED BY CATHERINE ALVARADO, LMFT 134744

    Monika is a registered associate therapist in Redondo Beach, specializing in individual, couples, and family therapy for trauma, inner child work, and nervous system regulation. Learn More

Explore Rates and Offerings
EMDRIA Certified Therapist credential badge.
Verified by Psychology Today therapist directory badge.
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) membership logo.
EMDR International Association logo, Creating Global Healing, Health & Hope.

Resources to improve your mental health, increase your self-awareness, and invite growth.

Blog
How to Set Boundaries as a Young Adult (Without Feeling Guilty)
young adult therapy, setting healthy boundaries, people-pleasing and guilt, emotional wellness for young adults
How to Set Boundaries as a Young Adult (Without Feeling Guilty)
young adult therapy, setting healthy boundaries, people-pleasing and guilt, emotional wellness for young adults

Setting boundaries can feel uncomfortable—especially when guilt or fear of disappointing others gets in the way. This post offers gentle guidance for young adults learning to protect their energy, communicate limits with confidence, and build relationships grounded in mutual respect. Therapy can help make boundary-setting feel less overwhelming and more empowering.

Read More →
young adult therapy, setting healthy boundaries, people-pleasing and guilt, emotional wellness for young adults
Understanding EMDR Therapy and the Different Ways It’s Offered
emdr therapy, intensive emdr, adjunct emdr
Understanding EMDR Therapy and the Different Ways It’s Offered
emdr therapy, intensive emdr, adjunct emdr

EMDR therapy can be offered in several ways — standard, intensive, or adjunct. Each format supports healing in a unique way, helping you process what feels stuck at a pace that feels right for you. Learn the differences so you can find what best fits your needs.

Read More →
emdr therapy, intensive emdr, adjunct emdr
Common Myths About EMDR Therapy (And What’s Actually True)
emdr therapy myths, trauma and anxiety treatment, emdr for healing
Common Myths About EMDR Therapy (And What’s Actually True)
emdr therapy myths, trauma and anxiety treatment, emdr for healing

Even though EMDR therapy is one of the most well-researched treatments for trauma and anxiety, myths and misconceptions can make it seem intimidating. This post explores the most common misunderstandings about EMDR therapy—what’s true, what’s not, and how it actually supports healing.

Read More →
emdr therapy myths, trauma and anxiety treatment, emdr for healing
Schedule Consult