A College Student’s Guide to Therapy
Why mental health is essential for your college journey (and how therapy can help)
College life is exciting but let’s be real, it’s also a lot. Between classes, relationships, extracurriculars, and figuring out your future, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Your mental health plays a big role in how you show up, stay focused, and succeed. Therapy isn’t just for “when things get really bad”, it’s a smart tool to help you manage stress, navigate challenges, and take care of yourself emotionally.
Why Mental Health Matters in College
College is a major life transition. You’re juggling academic pressure, social changes, and big questions about identity and the future. It’s completely normal to feel stressed, anxious, or uncertain. Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout are common and most definitely treatable.
Prioritizing your mental well-being can make a huge difference in your academic success, relationships, and day-to-day life. When you’re mentally well, you can think more clearly, stay organized, and bounce back from setbacks faster.
What You Might Be Dealing With
Some common challenges students face include:
Anxiety: Overthinking, panic attacks, social anxiety, or trouble sleeping
Depression: Feeling numb, unmotivated, or isolated
Relationship changes: Relationships starting, ending, or shifting
Stress & burnout: From school, jobs, family, or trying to do everything
These issues can sneak up, but the sooner you get support, the better you’ll feel.
What Therapy Can Help With
Therapy gives you a safe, non-judgmental space to talk through what you’re feeling, build coping skills, and work toward goals that matter to you. It’s not about being “fixed” but instead it’s about feeling more in control and supported.
Some common approaches include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps shift unhelpful thinking patterns
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Encourages you to accept difficult emotions, connect with your values, and take meaningful action, even in the face of discomfort
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Offers tools for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships, especially helpful if you feel emotionally overwhelmed or reactive
Mindfulness-based therapy: Teaches present-moment awareness and stress reduction
Group therapy: Connect with peers facing similar struggles
Trauma-informed or psychodynamic therapy: Explore deeper patterns from your past
Therapy for Student-Athletes: Navigating Identity and Mental Health
For student-athletes, college isn’t just about academics, it’s also about performance, pressure, and a packed schedule. While sports can build confidence and connection, they also come with unique challenges that can affect your mental health and sense of self.
Many student-athletes tie their self-worth to how they perform, whether based on history in their sport or pressures from coaches and parents . This athlete identity—the belief that your value is based on your role in sport—can be both empowering and overwhelming. When you’re injured, benched, or nearing the end of your athletic career, you might find yourself asking: “Who am I without my sport?” This question points to a deeper struggle with identity in sport, one that many athletes face but few talk openly about.
That’s where therapy comes in. Working with a therapist gives you a space to:
Explore your athlete identity beyond performance
Cope with the mental load of competition, injury, or burnout
Navigate transitions, like changes in playing time or life after sport
Reconnect with your values and build confidence outside of athletics
Therapy can help you develop tools to handle pressure, reframe setbacks, and find purpose beyond the game.
Prioritizing your mental health doesn’t make you less of an athlete, it makes you a stronger, more resilient one. Just like you train your body, therapy helps you train your mind and expand your identity beyond sport.
Finding the Right Therapist
Your therapy experience depends a lot on the person you work with. Here’s how to get started:
Check out your campus counseling center for short-term counseling options
Look for therapists through directories like Mental Health Match and Psychology Today for more long-term options
Read bios or schedule a consult to see if it feels like a good fit
Trust your gut—feeling safe and heard is key
Therapy = Academic Success
When your mental health is solid, your academics benefit too. Therapy can help you:
Stay focused and motivated
Improve time management
Handle setbacks without spiraling
Reduce test anxiety and procrastination
Think of therapy as part of your academic toolkit—right up there with office hours and study groups.
Breaking the Stigma
Needing help doesn’t mean you’re weak or failing, it means you’re human. The more we talk openly about mental health, the easier it becomes for everyone to seek support. Therapy is a strength move, not a shameful one.
How to Get the Most Out of Therapy
Set goals: Know what you want to work on
Be honest: Say what’s on your mind (even the awkward stuff)
Stay consistent: Growth takes time
Ask questions: Therapy is a collaboration
Fitting Therapy Into College Life
Yes, you’re busy. But therapy doesn’t have to derail your schedule. Treat it like any other priority. Some tips:
Book sessions around your classes
Ask about virtual or evening options
Use it as a reset during stressful weeks
Also, remember: rest, sleep, nutrition, and downtime all support your mental health, too.
TL;DR:
Therapy can help you feel more grounded, manage stress, improve performance (in class or in sport), and get through college with more confidence. Whether you're a student-athlete navigating identity or just trying to get through finals, your mental health matters. Therapy helps you show up as your best self—on campus, in the classroom, and beyond.
Ready to take care of your mental health and feel more grounded in college? Whether you're managing stress, exploring your athlete identity, or just need support, therapy can help. Reach out today to connect with a therapist who gets it, who also doesn’t want you to do this alone. I’ve got you!
I am currently accepting virtual clients in Ohio, Illinois, New York, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Florida. Learn more about working with me here.
**The content on this blog is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy, counseling, or medical advice. While I strive to provide valuable insights and resources, the information shared here should not be used as a stand-alone solution for mental health concerns or personal challenges.
If you are experiencing significant emotional distress or mental health issues, please seek the guidance of a licensed therapist or healthcare professional. If you are in crisis, please contact emergency services or a crisis hotline in your area.
Your well-being matters, and professional support can make a meaningful difference.**
Element Counseling offers specialized support for the following:
