What is Therapy for Millennial Women?
You may be asking yourself, what is therapy for millennial women? How is it different from other therapies? This area of therapy is geared towards women (estrogen-based bodies) who grew up during the age of the internet. Millennials have had to face new realities that previous generations have not had to experience. In 2008, as millennials began to enter into the workforce the economy was in crisis. It became hard to find a well-paying job. College tuition became more expensive and millennials found themselves with crippling student loan payments. Climate change became a real concern as glaciers melted and wildfires ravaged homes. The age of technology brought information and connection to others possible- with just a click. The rise of the social media era brought about new pressures around bodies and success. All of these situations combined have led to many millennials feeling burnt out and looking for ways to do things differently than past generations.
The Therapy Generation
Millennials have changed the way society thinks about mental health- for the better. Millennials have been dubbed the ‘Therapy Generation.’ Individuals in their 20’s and 30’s are seeking out therapy more often and are changing the way we talk about our own mental health. Many conversations with friends often entail statements like, ‘My therapist said…’ The conversation around mental health has become a part of mainstream culture and millennial women are seeking to find therapy that reflects their own experiences.
Therapy for Women
Therapy for Millennial women is geared towards topics that are relevant to them. Here is a list (though not exhaustive) of issues that many Millennial women are often looking for support in when considering therapy.
1) Careers- work/life balance, burnout, stress, career direction, or imposter syndrome
2) Relationships- conflict between parents, partner or friends, wanting to better communicate with a partner, improving intimacy
3) Dating- no one wants to be catfished or ghosted and many millennial women feel frustrated by dating in general, processing a breakup, and working towards boundaries that feel right for them and their bodies.
4) Body Image- Society has put a lot of pressure on female’s bodies and social media often doesn’t help. It can be really hard to be satisfied with how you feel about yourself. In a multi-country study regarding body dissatisfaction, 90% of women were unhappy with their appearance (Adams and Willer, The Non-Diet Approach Guidebook for Psychologists and Counsellors, 2014).
5) Female Embodiment- what it’s like to live and breathe in a female body. This may be exploring one’s own sexuality, how to be more grounded within oneself, finding ways to fight patriarchal systems, pressures regarding beauty standards and maybe embracing some female badassery.
Therapy for Millennials
Therapy can be a place to land if you find yourself relating to any of these topics discussed. As a millennial woman myself, I can relate to the societal pressures and feeling stuck. Working through these feelings with a licensed mental health professional can be helpful. Your therapist or counselor can help you with skills and tools to help navigate your goals, large or small.
If you are looking for a therapist in the Greater Seattle area, consider working with me. I have expertise and experience working with millennial women just like you. You can request a free phone consultation to see how we might be able to work together.
Resources:
Adams, L. and Willer, F. (2014) The non-diet approach guidebook for psychologists and counsellors. Lulu Publishing, Ltd.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/millennials-are-the-therapy-generation-11551452286
Meet the Author
Adrienne Kandhari (she/her) is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Washington. She specializes working with millennial women and helping them to grow, succeed, and thrive in the modern world. When she’s not with clients, you can find her exploring the PNW, sewing together a new fashion project, and attending to her trove of houseplants.
