Therapy for Young Adults in Syracuse, Fayetteville, and Central New York
You can name the pattern.
You still cannot stop doing it.
You already know you're a people-pleaser. You know it probably started at home. You could explain the whole thing in one paragraph if someone asked.
None of that has made it stop.
Insight is not the same as change. Knowing why you apologize for existing does not stop you from apologizing for existing.
That gap, between understanding yourself perfectly and still living the same way, is what this work is actually for.
I work with young adults who are exhausted from being the reliable one.
In-person therapy in Fayetteville, serving Syracuse and Central New York. Secure video sessions for clients in New York, Vermont, and Florida.
What Therapy Can Help You Experience
If you're self-aware enough to know something is off but can't quite name it, you're in the right place. Therapy isn't about fixing yourself or performing your way through it, it's about understanding what's underneath all of it, and finally building a life that actually feels like yours.
Feel Calmer Internally
You might notice your mind feels quieter and less chaotic. The constant loop of overthinking starts to ease.
Trust Yourself More
Many clients begin to trust their feelings and instincts without needing constant reassurance or validation from others.
Communicate More Clearly
You may find it easier to express what you need and set boundaries without guilt, especially with family.
Maybe This Feels Familiar
You're anxious most of the time, even when nothing specific is wrong. Your mind won't shut off. You overthink every decision, replay conversations, and question yourself constantly. On paper, your life might look fine, but internally you feel exhausted, stuck, and overwhelmed.
Does this feel familiar?
- You say yes when you mean no, and rehearse a simple conversation with your mother for three days
- You moved back home and can feel yourself turning back into who you were in high school
- You feel guilty for wanting your own life
- You don't know what you actually want, only what everyone expects
- You can be in a room full of people who love you and still feel completely alone
If any of this sounds like you, start with a free 15 minute call. It is not therapy. It is a chance to hear how I work and decide whether I am the right fit.
Call:
Schedule Today
Therapy That Feels Warm, Real, and Supportive
I'm Joy Strickland, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York and Vermont. I primarily work with self-aware young adults, roughly 18 to 28, navigating anxiety, people-pleasing, and self-doubt that often traces back to family dynamics or early relational experiences, though I welcome older adults carrying these same patterns. I understand how anxiety, family stress, and self-doubt affect young adults in ways others may not see.
After 30 years as a teacher, I saw how personal and family dynamics shape confidence, decision-making, and emotional well-being. That experience led me to this work.
Therapy with me is collaborative, grounded, and trauma-informed.
Ways to work together
You do not have to know which one you need. That is what the consultation is for.
Young Adult
Anxiety Therapy
You were the one who could tell from the sound of the door what kind of night it was going to be, and you got so good at it that nobody noticed you were doing it, including you.
Ongoing therapy for people-pleasing, family patterns, self-doubt, and the slow work of finding out what you want when no one is asking you to hold anything together.
53-minute and 90-minute sessions, in Fayetteville and by telehealth in New York, Vermont, and Florida.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) Intensive
Some things do not move in fifty minutes a week.
Accelerated Resolution Therapy uses guided eye movements to change how a memory is stored, and you do not have to tell the story out loud to do the work.
One focused session, with a preparation appointment before and a follow-up after.
EMDR Intensive
You understand where the reaction comes from. You can name the memory, the year, the room. Then a certain tone of voice arrives and your body responds like none of that understanding ever happened.
Focused EMDR in a concentrated block, for the memory that talking has not touched.
Single half-day or a series across a few days.
How Therapy Works
Getting started is simple and straightforward. Here's what the process looks like.
Reach Out
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation, or give me a call. We'll talk about what's bringing you in and whether we're a good fit.
First Session
The first few sessions are conversational and focused on helping you feel comfortable. We talk through what's weighing on you right now and start building trust.
Ongoing Support
We meet regularly and work at a pace that feels manageable. Therapy becomes a steady, supportive space where you can be yourself and grow without feeling judged or rushed.
What Clients Experience
"As a parent, when our son's mental health crisis happened weeks before graduation, we were heartbroken, thrown off guard and unsure who to turn to. I can't remember exactly what search I did to find Joy (it helped that she was verified on Psychology Today), nevertheless, we were so very fortunate and grateful to find her amidst the thousands of mental health professionals across NY State. My son was insistent that he wanted in-person therapy and as soon as we met Joy, we felt comforted and after our sessions, relieved. She combines heartfelt empathy with a wonderfully grounded, no-nonsense presence. She helped my son and us through a tremendously difficult time and got us through to the finish line with school. We can't thank her enough. Wished we lived closer so we could continue to see her in person, but know she is a phone call away should we ever need her again.
Thank you so much, Joy, for getting us through this difficult time. We really couldn't have done this without you!"
-Grateful Parent, NY
The Difference Support Can Make
I became a therapist because I saw the emotional weight many young people carry alone. Anxiety, self-doubt, and family stress often sit beneath the surface. Many capable young adults struggle with unprocessed emotions, perfectionism, and patterns they do not yet know how to change.
With support, life can begin to feel different. You may notice less second-guessing and more trust in your own feelings. Conversations with parents feel easier. Decisions begin to reflect what feels right for you.
Therapy does not erase difficulty. It helps you move through it with more clarity, confidence, and steadiness.
Recent Blog Posts
Ready to Start?
If any of this feels familiar, I'd be glad to talk. You can start with a free 15-minute consultation to see if we're a good fit. There's no pressure, no judgment, and no expectation that you need to have it all figured out.
