Starting with Where You’re At

Being a young adult in the GTA comes with a lot. University life can feel like you’re standing at the edge of so many possibilities, including academics, career paths, relationships, independence—but also carrying weight you didn’t sign up for. If you’re a BIPOC student, there’s often an extra layer: balancing your family’s expectations, navigating cultural differences, and moving through systems that weren’t always built with you in mind.

In my work supporting students in postsecondary institutions, I’ve heard again and again how overwhelming this stage can feel. You might be questioning who you are, where you belong, or whether you’re “enough.” And if you’ve been carrying stress silently, trying not to worry your family or friends, you’re not alone in that either.

Therapy can be a space to put some of that weight down—to process, reflect, and figure things out with someone who understands.

Life Transitions: More Than Just Change

Transitions are a normal part of young adulthood, but “normal” doesn’t mean easy. Starting or finishing university, moving away from home, living in a new city, or trying to map out a career path—these changes can shake up your sense of stability.

For many BIPOC students, transitions can also mean stepping into worlds where your culture, accent, or traditions aren’t reflected back at you. Maybe you’re the first in your family to go to university. Maybe you’re trying to bridge the gap between what your family wants for you and what you want for yourself. Those tensions can leave you feeling pulled in opposite directions—grateful for your roots, but also craving independence and authenticity.

Therapy doesn’t erase the messiness of transitions, but it gives you space to slow down, notice what’s really going on, and build tools to move through it.

Identity: Figuring Out Who You Are

University is often when questions of identity come to the surface. Who am I outside of my family? What does it mean to be a student, a friend, a partner? Where do I fit as a racialized person in spaces that might feel very white or very different from how I grew up?

For young BIPOC adults, identity exploration isn’t just about personal growth—it’s also about navigating microaggressions, racism, and systemic barriers. It might look like being the only Black, Brown, or Indigenous student in a class and feeling like you have to represent your entire community. It might mean dealing with professors or peers who make assumptions about your background. Or it could be the internal conflict of balancing multiple cultural identities that sometimes feel like they clash.

In therapy, we can unpack these layers. You don’t have to leave parts of yourself at the door. Therapy can be a space where your whole identity is acknowledged and respected.

Relationships: Connection and Complexity

Relationships in your twenties are complicated—friendships, dating, family dynamics, all shifting at once. You might be meeting people who finally “get you,” or struggling with loneliness even when you’re surrounded by others. You might be figuring out boundaries with parents who still see you as a teenager, while you’re trying to step into adulthood.

For BIPOC students, family relationships can come with cultural expectations that aren’t always easy to navigate. Maybe there’s pressure to choose a certain career path, maintain family traditions, or prioritize responsibilities at home while also balancing academics. Sometimes, the guilt of wanting something different from what your family envisions can be heavy.

Therapy gives space to explore these dynamics without judgment. It’s not about rejecting your family or community—it’s about understanding yourself within those relationships, and finding ways to honor both your values and your well-being.

Stress, Anxiety, and Mental Health

Let’s be real: university is stressful. Exams, papers, part-time jobs, financial pressures, trying to keep up socially—it can feel like there’s no room to breathe. Add on experiences of racism, immigration stress, or feeling like you have to constantly “prove yourself,” and it’s no wonder anxiety and burnout show up so often.

In my work with students, I’ve seen how many carry this silently. Mental health isn’t always talked about openly in BIPOC communities, so reaching out for therapy can feel unfamiliar, even risky. Some students worry their families won’t understand, or that asking for help means they’re weak. But the truth is, therapy isn’t about weakness—it’s about giving yourself permission to be human.

Therapy can help you notice your stress patterns, learn grounding strategies, and build resilience. More importantly, it can help you feel less alone with everything you’re carrying.

How Therapy Helps Young Adults

So what does therapy actually look like for young adults navigating life transitions?

Space to unpack your story: Therapy is your time. You set the pace. You don’t have to filter or edit yourself.
Tools for coping: From managing anxiety to setting boundaries, therapy offers strategies you can actually use day to day.
Clarity during change: Talking it through helps make sense of transitions—whether that’s moving out, starting a new relationship, or figuring out what’s next after graduation.
Support for identity exploration: Therapy can validate your experiences as a BIPOC student and give you room to explore who you are without pressure.
Building resilience: It’s not about never struggling again, but about developing confidence in your ability to handle challenges when they come.

The goal isn’t to “fix” you—you’re not broken. Therapy is about supporting you as you grow, shift, and move through the realities of being a young adult in today’s world.

Finding the Right Therapist

One of the hardest parts of starting therapy is finding someone who feels like they actually get you. For young BIPOC adults, it can be especially important to have a therapist who understands cultural context, family dynamics, and the impact of racism and systemic barriers.

When looking for a therapist, here are some things to consider:

Cultural understanding: Does this therapist acknowledge and respect your cultural background?
Trauma-informed approach: Are they aware of how past experiences, including intergenerational trauma, shape the present?
Flexibility: Do they work with short-term or long-term therapy, depending on what you need?
Connection: Do you feel comfortable with them? Therapy works best when the relationship feels safe and supportive.

It’s okay to ask questions during an initial consultation. You deserve a therapist who respects your whole self—your culture, your story, your goals.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Being a young adult in the GTA, especially as a BIPOC student, comes with unique challenges. Balancing school, identity, family, and future plans can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to navigate all of this on your own.

Therapy can be a place to breathe, reflect, and grow. A place where your story matters, where your struggles are valid, and where your goals are supported.

If you’re curious about what therapy might look like for you, reaching out is a powerful first step. It’s not about having everything figured out—it’s about giving yourself the support you deserve while you’re in the middle of figuring things out.

Final Thoughts

Life transitions in your twenties are messy, complex, and sometimes heavy. For young BIPOC adults in the GTA, those transitions can feel even more layered because of cultural expectations, racism, and systemic barriers. Therapy isn’t a quick fix, but it is a space where you don’t have to carry it all alone.

Working with students in postsecondary institutions has shown me just how much strength and resilience young adults already have. Therapy is about tapping into that strength, making space for your feelings, and helping you move through transitions with more clarity and compassion for yourself.

If you’re in the middle of a transition right now, whether it’s starting university, figuring out your career path, navigating family expectations, or just trying to stay afloat, you’re not alone! Support is out there, and you deserve it.

Therapy for Young Adults: Navigating Life Transitions