Feeling Anxious About Starting University? How Therapy Can Help with the Transition
- Kristin Kurian
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
Starting university or college is one of the biggest transitions you’ll go through. For many students, it’s exciting - but also overwhelming. You might be moving away from home for the first time, adjusting to academic pressure, navigating friendships and identity, or learning how to take care of yourself in a whole new environment. Even if you’re looking forward to it, this transition can stir up anxiety, self-doubt, and stress.
As a therapist who specializes in transitions, I see this all the time. The start of university is more than just a new chapter, it’s a significant identity shift. And the emotional upheaval that can come with it is not a sign that something’s wrong with you. It’s a sign that you’re growing.
Therapy can be a powerful way to prepare yourself emotionally and mentally for what’s ahead. In my practice, I use a blend of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) , as part of therapy for university transitions, because they’re two of the fastest and most effective tools I’ve seen for helping students build resilience, reduce overwhelm, and approach change with confidence.
Let’s talk about how these two approaches can support you, and why therapy intensives might be the right option if you’re looking for relief, fast.
Why Transitions Are So Hard (Even Good Ones)
You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. Big life changes, like starting university, activate your nervous system, stir up protective parts of you, and sometimes amplify past wounds.
You might notice thoughts like:
“What if I can’t keep up?”
“I don’t know who I am anymore.”
“I feel like I should be excited, but I’m mostly scared.”
Even if you’re high achieving or outwardly thriving, this kind of internal chatter is incredibly common. Therapy gives you a safe space to work through it all so you don’t have to carry it alone.
How DBT Therapy Supports a Smoother Transition into University Life
DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) was originally designed to help people manage big emotions and develop healthy coping skills. It’s perfect for students who:
Struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, or low self-worth
Want practical tools for handling stress, procrastination, and overwhelm
Have difficulty with boundaries, relationships, or self-discipline
In DBT, we focus on four main skill areas: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These tools can help you:
Stay grounded in the present moment
Calm your nervous system when things feel out of control
Build confidence in your ability to handle hard things
Imagine starting university with a toolkit of strategies you can use on the spot, whether you’re facing a tough exam, a conflict with a roommate, or a wave of imposter syndrome.
How IFS Helps You Understand Your Inner World
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a deeply compassionate model that helps you understand and heal your inner world. It’s especially helpful during transitions because it helps you:
Get to know the different “parts” of you, like the anxious part, the driven part, the self-critical part
Understand where those parts came from and what they’re trying to protect you from
Build a relationship with your calm, wise, grounded Self, the part of you that knows how to lead
Many students carry parts that are still reacting to old wounds, like feeling not good enough, fearing failure, or trying to please everyone. In therapy, we help these parts feel heard and supported, so they don’t have to run the show.
Why Therapy Intensives Are So Effective - Especially Before a Big Transition
If you’re hoping to feel better before September, you might not want to wait months or years to see results. That’s where therapy intensives come in.
An intensive is a longer session, often a half-day or full day, that lets us go deeper, faster. Instead of spending 45 minutes each week slowly building up momentum, we get to immerse ourselves in focused work right away. For example:
In an IFS-informed intensive, we might explore the parts of you that are feeling anxious, lost, or overwhelmed about starting school, and help those parts feel less alone.
In a DBT-focused intensive, we can map out your emotional triggers and create a personalized coping plan that you can take with you into the semester.
Intensives are ideal for students who are:
Feeling stuck or panicked about the upcoming transition
Wanting a head start before school begins
Hoping to reduce symptoms quickly and sustainably
Neurodivergent (including ADHD or Autism) and looking for support with managing academic demands, routines, and self-advocacy in a way that works for you
Many of my clients leave an intensive session feeling like a weight has been lifted. They report more clarity, confidence, and calm in just a few days, not months.
You Deserve to Start This Chapter Feeling Grounded
Whether you’re feeling excited, terrified, or somewhere in between—this transition matters. And how you support yourself through it matters, too.
Therapy isn’t just about fixing what’s wrong. It’s about learning how to meet yourself with curiosity and care, especially when life is shifting. With the right support, you can move into this next chapter with more ease, more clarity, and a stronger connection to your own inner resources.
If you're ready to feel more grounded before school starts, I offer both weekly therapy and therapy intensives designed for students just like you. You don’t have to do this alone.
Looking for a trauma therapist in Toronto who specializes in supporting Young Adults and Teens as they prepare to start university or college?
About the Author
Kristin Kurian is a registered psychotherapist based in Toronto, offering in-person and virtual therapy for teens, young adults, and parents. She specializes in transitions, trauma, and identity work, using IFS and DBT to help clients feel better - faster. Kristin also offers therapy intensives for those looking for deep, focused support in a shorter time frame.
