Mastering Adulthood ― Go Beyond Adulting to Become an Emotional Grown-up

Discover smart and entertaining strategies for dealing with difficult emotions like anxiety, sadness, anger, and uncertainty. More than just “adulting”—this book will give you the real emotional skills you need to thrive!

Whether you’re graduating from college, starting a career, trying to gain financial independence, or creating meaningful relationships—entering into the world of grownups can be more than a little overwhelming. And while there are plenty of fun books out there for young adults offering advice on how to fix a leaky faucet or find the right apartment, none really delve into the deeply emotional aspects of growing up.

In Mastering Adulthood, psychologist Lara Fielding offers evidence-based skills to help you cope with the feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, and stress that may be getting in the way of living an independent, fulfilling adult life. Drawing on case examples from young adults she’s worked with in her private practice, Fielding provides empowering strategies and skills for managing difficult emotions using mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).

When you experience big life changes that cause you stress, you need emotional flexibility to reach your goals and be your best self. Using the skills in this book, you’ll learn to take charge of your emotional habits, stop feeling stuck, and discover what really matters to you.

Lara E. Fielding, PsyD, EdM, is a psychologist specializing in mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapies, including dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), MBCT, and their application for problems with emotion dysregulation. She has a doctorate in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and a masters of education from Harvard University.

Fielding serves as a supervisor psychologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, department of psychology clinic to PhD candidates who provide DBT and ACT treatments to their clients, and teaches as an adjunct professor at Pepperdine graduate school of education and psychology. She also has a private practice in Beverly Hills, California, where she specializes in treating young adults who struggle with emotion dysregulation. She frequently offers trainings to clinicians in the community and also maintains an active social media presence, where she shares the skills she teaches in private practice through blogs on The Huffington Post, PsychCentral.com, and Youtube.com.