Mark Farrell O'Brien, MS, LCPC, CADC

Being a young man today can feel overwhelming. There’s constant pressure to make the right choices about school, work, relationships, and your future—often while feeling unsure, stuck, or behind. You may be dealing with anxiety, stress, low motivation, anger, or a sense of numbness, even if things look “fine” on the outside. Many young men feel like they’re supposed to handle it on their own, but that pressure can make everything feel harder. School, work, and career decisions can feel especially heavy. Choosing a major, keeping up with classes, starting a new job, or figuring out a career path can lead to overthinking, procrastination, and fear of making the wrong move. Stress and performance pressure can affect focus, confidence, and follow-through. Therapy can help you step back, understand what’s getting in your way, and take practical steps toward clarity, confidence, and forward momentum. Emotional struggles like anxiety, anger, sadness, or feeling emotionally shut down are common, but they don’t have to control your life. Without support, it’s easy to push feelings aside or rely on habits that temporarily numb the stress. Therapy helps you understand what’s driving your emotions, manage stress more effectively, and respond in ways that improve your day-to-day life rather than keeping you stuck. Substance use is often part of the picture for young men who feel overwhelmed or disconnected. Alcohol, vaping, or other substances can start as a way to cope, relax, or fit in, but over time they can interfere with focus, motivation, mental health, and relationships. As a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, I work directly with young men who want to regain control over substance use without judgment, pressure, or scare tactics. Therapy helps you understand why you’re using, develop healthier coping strategies, and build real, sustainable change. Relationships and connection can also feel confusing or frustrating. Friendships shift, romantic relationships can feel uncertain, and moves or life transitions can leave you feeling isolated. Feeling lonely or disconnected is more common than most people admit. Therapy provides a safe space to talk honestly, build healthier relationship skills, and strengthen your sense of confidence and connection with others. Self-doubt, imposter syndrome, or feeling behind are common struggles, but they don’t define who you are or where you’re headed. Therapy gives you space to explore your values, clarify what matters to you, and build confidence in your ability to make decisions that align with your goals in school, work, and personal life. Therapy isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong” with you. It’s about gaining clarity, building practical skills, and creating momentum. My approach is supportive, direct, and results-focused. Together, we work to understand your patterns, develop healthier ways to cope, and build the tools you need to manage emotions, relationships, and responsibilities more effectively. I’m a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor with over 20 years of experience helping young men navigate mental health challenges, substance use, and major life transitions. I’ve worked in schools, treatment centers, and community settings, as well as with individuals in high-pressure professional environments, including Fortune 500 companies. While the environments differ, the struggles are often the same—stress, uncertainty, substance use, and feeling stuck without a clear path forward. If you’re feeling stuck with your mental health, substance use, or next steps in life, I invite you to reach out to schedule a consultation. This is an opportunity to talk things through, gain clarity, and decide on a path forward that actually works for you. You don’t have to handle this alone.