Mark Farrell O'Brien, MS, LCPC, CADC

The transition into adulthood can be harder than anyone expected. What looked straightforward on paper can feel overwhelming in real life. You may be feeling stuck, unmotivated, anxious, or unsure of what comes next. You might be using alcohol or other substances more than you intended. Classes may be slipping, work may feel uncertain, or living at home may feel frustrating and confusing. Or you may be a parent watching your son struggle and wondering how to help without pushing him away. You know he is capable, but something is getting in the way. That is where I come in. I specialize in working with young men ages 18 to 35 whose mental health or substance use is interfering with their ability to move forward into adult life. This work is not just about talking through problems. It is about building stability, structure, confidence, and forward momentum. Our work focuses on reducing anxiety and depression, addressing substance use patterns, strengthening motivation, building consistent routines, clarifying identity and direction, and developing emotional resilience. The goal is not only symptom relief. The goal is movement. If you are a young man considering therapy, you do not need to be broken to benefit from this work. Many capable men go through periods where confidence drops, comparison increases, substances become a coping tool, and the future feels unclear. Therapy with me is structured, practical, and goal-oriented. We create a plan, track progress, and build skills you can apply to your life. You leave sessions knowing what you are working on. If you are a parent, you may be noticing withdrawal, irritability, academic or career stalls, increased substance use, or a loss of direction. You want to respect your son’s independence while also ensuring he does not drift further off course. I provide adult-focused therapy that supports autonomy while helping young men build real momentum. Young adulthood requires emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, self-discipline, identity clarity, and purpose. Many young men were never explicitly taught how to build these skills. My approach blends cognitive behavioral strategies, behavioral activation, substance use support, accountability structures, and future planning into a forward-moving process. This is not open-ended therapy without direction. It is launch-focused therapy. We define what adult life looks like for you, identify what is blocking it, determine what needs to change, and build the habits and systems that support growth. The outcome is clarity, stability, confidence, and momentum. Not perfection, but measurable progress. If you are ready to move forward, or if you are a parent seeking professional support, the next step is a brief consultation call. We will discuss what is happening now, what has been tried, what progress would look like, and whether we are a strong fit. You do not have to figure this out alone. Let’s build the next stage of life intentionally.