BROOKE POMERANTZ, LCSW | CALIFORNIA THERAPY & THERAPY IN OAKLAND
Therapy for Young Adults & Life Transitions in OaklandIf you’re feeling stuck or uncertain about what’s next, you’re not alone and you don’t have to sort through it all on your own. Whether we meet in Oakland or online, therapy offers space to pause, reflect, and move forward with more clarity and care.
What Does This Transitional Time Feel Like?
You might feel stuck between wanting greater independence and needing more support and may be feeling unsure of what direction you are headed in.
Common Reasons Young Adults Seek Therapy
Emotional and Identity Struggles
Feeling overwhelmed or lost during major life transitions
Difficulty coping with stress, anxiety, or depression
Low self-esteem or frequent self-comparison
Identity questions around career, values, or personal direction
Relationship and Family Dynamics
Struggles with roommates, partners, and/or dating
Conflict with parents caregivers and/or renegotiating boundaries at home
Feelings of loneliness or difficulty building supportive friendships
Pressure to “have it all figured out” when you’re still unsure of what you want
Life Changes and Responsibilities
Moving away from or back home
Starting or leaving school, internships, or first jobs
Navigating independence while still needing support
Facing financial or new adulting challenges
How Therapy Can Help During This Stage of Life
This phase can be disorienting—but it’s also a powerful time for self-discovery. Therapy creates a space to reflect, get grounded, and feel supported as you sort through all that’s changing.
Here’s how therapy can help:
Understand what you’re navigating
We’ll explore the emotional, relational, and structural challenges showing up in your life—and how they’re impacting your wellbeing.
Clarify who you are and what matters to you
We’ll look at how your past and present experiences shape your identity, and how you want to define your next chapter.
Build tools for resilience and self-worth
Therapy can help you develop self-compassion, improve your emotional regulation, and support your nervous system through the ups and downs of life.
Strengthen boundaries and relationships
Together, we’ll explore how to set limits, communicate more effectively, and shift unhelpful dynamics at home, work, or in friendships.
My Approach to Transitional Age Therapy
I work relationally and collaboratively, meaning we move at your pace and focus on what feels most relevant and alive in your life right now. I don’t take a top-down, directive approach – instead, I see therapy as a space where we partner to do effect change together..
In therapy for young adults, we may:
Talk about where you are in your transition and what’s feeling particularly hard
Explore the pressures you’re facing, both within yourself and outside of you/in your environment
Identify patterns that might be rooted in family struggles, school challenges, or past relationships
Challenge old narratives that no longer serve you (like “I’m lazy if I rest” or “I’m failing if I move back home”)
Build greater awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and physical responses
Practice self-compassion and reduce self-comparison
Explore practical shifts or supports that can help you move forward with more confidence and clarity
What to Expect in Our First Sessions
Explore Your History
In our first four sessions, I’ll take time to really understand your story – what brought you in, how you’re doing day to day, and what you’re struggling with right now.
We’ll talk about your relationships, stressors, values, and hopes for the future.
Set Goals
By the fifth session, we’ll start identifying goals together. I’ll offer some reflections based on what I’ve heard, and we’ll decide on a direction that feels right for you.
Review & Iterate
This early work lays the foundation for young adult/life transitions therapy.
As we move forward, we’ll continue to check in and adjust the approach – work through the unique challenges you are facing around navigating young adulthood and life transitions.
About Me
I’m Brooke Pomerantz, a licensed therapist based in Oakland and serving clients across California, New York, and Indiana. My approach is warm, collaborative, active, and grounded in many years of clinical work experience, ongoing professional development and consultation and my desire to be accessible and deeply humane in doing this work. I’m here to support you through life’s challenges with thoughtful, personalized therapy.
Brooke Pomerantz
Brooke Pomerantz is a compassionate and experienced licensed clinical social worker dedicated to providing supportive therapy services in Oakland and through teletherapy across California. With a focus on creating a safe and nurturing environment, Brooke helps clients navigate life’s challenges, fostering growth and healing through personalized therapeutic approaches.