Helping teens and adults navigate stress and uncertainty with more confidence | Training practitioners to join the mission
Teens and Career Panic: Moving Forward Matters More than Picking the "Right" Path
At least half of the teens and young adults I work with feel completely paralyzed when it comes to figuring out their future — and their parents feel that stress right alongside them.
With so many insecurities swirling at once, clarity feels out of reach, and forward motion grinds to a halt.
Here’s a sampling of the questions they wrestle with in an average week:
- What if I have no real interests or direction?
- What if I’m not good at anything?
- What if I choose a path and regret it?
- If I don’t start now, I won’t make anything of myself. I feel like the clock is ticking, but I have no idea where I’m going.
- Should I choose the path that makes more money, or the one I feel drawn to?
- What if my parents want something different for me — and what if ignoring them turns out to be a mistake
- What if I can’t support myself? How much do I even need to earn to do that?
With so many loaded and unanswered questions, it’s no wonder teens struggle to think clearly or take action.
In today’s video, I explain why the pressure to choose the “right” career path so often leads to fear, disengagement, and inaction. I share why clarity comes from participation — not overthinking — and why taking any step forward is usually far more helpful than staying on the sidelines.
“…closing a door can be just as clarifying and helpful as opening one.”
You’ll also hear why most careers are anything but linear, and why closing a door can be just as clarifying and helpful as opening one.
Most importantly, we’ll talk about how simple engagement in everyday life helps young people regain confidence and direction. Teens don’t need to have their future figured out in order to move forward — or to feel a sense of freedom and possibility.
My goal is to support parents and practitioners who want to help teens without adding more pressure or anxiety. In my experience, showing up and participating in life naturally leads to more creative, strategic, and big-picture thinking — and that’s what ultimately builds independence and ownership in young minds.
Do you have teens or young adults? Click here to join my 4-part live webinar series during February 2026 called ‘Is your Relationship with your Teen or Young Adult Tense and Stressful? How to Hit the Reset Button’.
Or subscribe to my email list or YouTube channel for free monthly videos like this.
erika bugbee
I’m a global coach who works with teens, individuals, couples, and practitioners that are open and motivated to change.
