The newest addition to the Vervewell team is student intern Megan Mumday. She has jumped into the offices with both feet and a calendar that’s getting busy! She brings a curiosity and a gentleness to our therapy crew…she is working under my supervision and learning from our entire group. She is excelling in her work with children and young adults. It’s as simple as clicking on her photo on our TEAM page, and sending her an email. She will get you or your youngster scheduled promptly.
For many young adults we perceive every other adult around us as having life “figured out”, and you’re left wondering how did they figure that out so quickly? Young adulthood is often filled with transitions like graduating college, starting a career, moving away from home, navigating relationships, or questioning who you want to become. While these milestones are exciting, they can also leave many people feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or stuck.
Research by John Field and Heather Lynch suggests that feeling “stuck” during life transitions is more common than we realize. Their work explores how people navigate change and introduces the concept of agency: our ability to make choices and influence the direction of our lives despite challenges or uncertainty. They found that people often don’t feel stuck because they lack motivation, but because they struggle to imagine a different future for themselves. This experience is especially relevant during young adulthood.
This season of young adulthood is a period of identity formation. You’re no longer who you were as a teenager, but you may not yet feel settled into adulthood. It can feel like you’re caught in the middle. Between school and career, dependence and independence, or the expectations of others and discovering what you truly want. When we compare ourselves to peers on social media or measure our lives against unrealistic timelines, it’s easy to believe we’re falling behind. But life isn’t meant to follow a single path.
One of the most encouraging findings from Field and Lynch’s research is that people become “unstuck” not through one life-changing moment, but through small experiences that gradually build agency. Supportive relationships, new environments, opportunities to try something different, and even changing the story we tell ourselves can help us see new possibilities.
Agency doesn’t mean having complete control over your life. It means recognizing that, even within circumstances you didn’t choose, you still have the ability to make meaningful decisions. Sometimes agency looks like applying for a new job, setting a boundary, asking for help, exploring a new interest, or simply taking one small step instead of waiting until you feel completely confident. Young adulthood isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about learning to trust yourself enough to keep moving, even when the future isn’t entirely clear
