Young Adults in Frankfort: Finding Direction When You Feel Stuck or “Behind”

Author: Full Circle Counseling & Wellness Featured Therapist: 

Asia Rios, M.S., LPC-Intern

Location: Frankfort, Illinois

“I Should Be Farther Along by Now…”

If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through social media thinking everyone else has life figured out — the dream job, the apartment, the engagement photos, the travel — you’re not alone.

Many young adults in their 20s and 30s quietly carry a mix of pressure and self-doubt. You might be doing all the things — working, studying, maintaining friendships — yet feel lost, unfulfilled, or “stuck.”

At Full Circle Counseling & Wellness in Frankfort, we see this often. It’s not failure — it’s the growing pain of becoming an adult in an uncertain world. Between economic stress, social comparison, and shifting expectations, finding direction can feel overwhelming.

But here’s the truth: there is no single timeline for success. You are not behind. You’re just in process — and with the right tools and support, you can build momentum in your own direction.

Why So Many Young Adults Feel Lost

Our culture tells young adults they should have it all figured out by their mid-20s — career, relationship, home, purpose. But reality looks very different.

You may be:

• Graduating into a competitive or unstable job market

• Balancing work and student loans

• Navigating dating, relationships, or loneliness

• Questioning your identity, goals, or sense of belonging

• Feeling pressure from family expectations or social media “highlight reels”

Add in a few global crises and nonstop digital noise, and it’s no wonder so many feel anxious and disconnected. The uncertainty of adulthood today is real — but it’s also an invitation to learn resilience, flexibility, and self-trust.

When Comparison Turns Into Anxiety

Scrolling through social media can trigger more than just envy — it can feed a deep sense of inadequacy. Seeing others “get ahead” can make you question your own worth or timeline.

You might think:

• “Everyone else seems more confident than me.”

• “Why can’t I stay motivated?”

• “I’m wasting my potential.”

This constant measuring creates a feedback loop: comparison → anxiety → paralysis. The more you stress about being behind, the harder it becomes to take action.

Therapy helps interrupt that cycle — not by pushing you to hustle harder, but by helping you understand why you feel stuck and how to move forward with clarity and compassion.

The Pressure to Be Perfect

Many young adults internalize messages like:

• “You should know your passion by now.”

• “You need to be financially stable to be successful.”

• “If you’re not happy, you’re doing something wrong.”

These beliefs often lead to anxiety, burnout, and avoidance — especially for those balancing work, school, or caregiving responsibilities.

In therapy, we often uncover the deeper layers underneath perfectionism: fear of failure, fear of disappointing others, or uncertainty about what’s actually fulfilling.

Letting go of those unrealistic standards doesn’t mean giving up — it means creating space to grow authentically, at your own pace.

Therapy as a Roadmap — Not a Quick Fix

Therapy for young adults isn’t about handing you a checklist for life. It’s about learning how to navigate uncertainty without losing yourself in the process.

At Full Circle Counseling & Wellness, Asia Rios, M.S., LPC-Intern, helps clients build emotional skills that serve them long after therapy ends. Her sessions are collaborative, warm, and empowering — designed to help you feel capable, not judged.

Asia often focuses on three core areas of growth:

1. Building Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy means believing in your ability to influence outcomes. It’s the antidote to “learned helplessness” — the feeling that no matter what you do, nothing changes.

Asia helps clients rebuild that confidence by:

• Identifying small, achievable goals

• Tracking progress and celebrating wins

• Challenging the “I can’t” inner voice

• Reframing setbacks as learning, not failure

When you start to see proof that your actions make a difference, motivation naturally grows.

2. Developing Coping Skills for Modern Stress

Many young adults weren’t taught how to manage big emotions, so stress and self-doubt can feel paralyzing. Asia uses mindfulness-based and evidence-informed techniques to help clients:

• Recognize emotional triggers

• Use grounding exercises to calm anxiety

• Challenge negative thinking patterns

• Create daily rituals that support mental wellness

Simple, consistent tools — like mindful breathing before work, or journaling to name emotions — can help re-regulate your nervous system and reduce overwhelm.

3. Setting Realistic Goals (and Letting Them Evolve)

The world changes fast. Goals that once felt right can shift as you grow. Asia guides clients through intentional goal-setting that’s flexible, not rigid. She helps you:

• Differentiate between internal desires and external pressure

• Break down large goals into smaller, actionable steps

• Reflect regularly on what feels aligned versus draining

Progress isn’t linear. Therapy helps you move forward without turning every detour into a dead end.

When You Feel “Behind,” You’re Probably Just Growing

Being “stuck” often signals transition — a shift between who you were and who you’re becoming. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also the space where change happens.

In therapy, Asia reminds clients that uncertainty is not failure — it’s feedback. Feeling lost can mean you’re finally noticing what doesn’t fit anymore. With time, that awareness becomes a powerful compass toward what does.

Local Support for Young Adults in Frankfort and Beyond

Located in Frankfort, Illinois, Full Circle Counseling & Wellness serves young adults throughout the south suburban Chicago area, both in-person and through secure telehealth sessions across Illinois.

Whether you’re a college student balancing classes and part-time work, a recent graduate searching for meaning, or a professional rethinking your path, therapy offers a space to pause, reflect, and realign.

Virtual sessions make it easier to get started — no commute, no waiting room anxiety, just support where you are.

What It’s Like to Work with Asia Rios, M.S., LPC-Intern

Asia approaches therapy with empathy, authenticity, and collaboration. Her style is both grounding and encouraging — the kind of space where you can be honest about confusion, fear, or frustration without judgment.

Clients describe feeling “understood but challenged” — supported as they learn to replace comparison with curiosity and stagnation with small, steady steps forward.

Asia’s work is guided by trauma-informed principles and cultural inclusivity. She understands that identity, background, and life context all shape how we experience success and stress. Her goal is to help clients strengthen emotional awareness, communication, and self-trust.

Small Steps Create Big Shifts

If you feel behind, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed — it means you’re paying attention. Growth rarely happens all at once; it happens through tiny, consistent choices that build over time.

Therapy is one of those choices — a space to explore your story, rediscover your strengths, and redefine what “moving forward” means for you.

At Full Circle Counseling & Wellness, we’re here to remind you that you don’t have to have it all figured out — you just have to start where you are.

In Closing

🌿 You don’t need to have your life mapped out to start moving forward. Reach out to Full Circle Counseling & Wellness today to schedule a session with a therapist who helps young adults in Frankfort and across Illinois find clarity, confidence, and calm.

👉 Schedule a Consultation