The Twentysomething Treatment

By Meg Jay

Most twentysomethings don’t have disorders that need to be treated; they have problems that need to be solved.

In the face of an unknown future and a challenging present, our twentysomethings are struggling. From the threat of climate change to worries about affording a home, it is no wonder that many are suffering with severe anxiety and depression. They are also, however, at risk of being over-medicalised.

In The Twentysomething Treatment, seasoned clinical psychologist Dr. Meg Jay explores the unique challenges of this pivotal decade and foregrounds a new, revolutionary approach to young adult mental health that prioritises skills over pills and highlights why medication is sometimes, but not always, the best medicine.

Providing practical solutions for navigating the intricacies of work, love, sex, friendship, confidence, health and happiness, this book is a lifeline for a generation grappling with a mental health crisis and a roadmap that guides us through our twenties and beyond.

Author: Meg Jay
Format: Paperback
Release Date: 10 Apr 2025
Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-0-00-860766-1
Dr. Meg Jay, PhD, is a developmental clinical psychologist who specialises in twentysomethings. She earned a doctorate in clinical psychology, and in gender studies, from the University of California, Berkeley. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and on NPR and BBC. Her TED talk, ‘Why 30 Is Not the New 20’, is among the most watched of all time. Dr. Jay is on faculty at University of Virginia and maintains a private practice in Charlottesville.

”'Young adults are struggling with mental health, and clinical psychologist Meg Jay is here to help. With clarity and compassion, she explores what causes and cures quarter-life crises. It’s a powerful read on improving well-being” - Adam Grant, author of Think Again

”'This radically hopeful, practical guide will transform how we think about a decade defined by uncertainty. Meg Jay shows how to approach the twenties not as a crisis to be treated, but as an opportunity to develop skills that will help people right away and throughout their lives” - Lori Gottlieb, author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

”'An essential guide to navigating the most misunderstood decade of life. Mag Jay’s clear-eyed, judgment-free advice will help anyone in their twenties transform struggles into strengths, make smart decisions amid uncertainty and gain wisdom that lasts a lifetime” - Daniel H. Pink, author of The Power of Regret

‘We regularly hear today of how so many young people are suffering from anxiety, depression, and other ‘mental disorders’ as though such difficulties tell of something ‘wrong’ within them. The Twentysomething treatment will make readers rethink that premise. The book’s transformative message is summed up beautifully in this powerful sentence: ‘Most twentysomethings don’t have disorders that need to be treated; they have problems that need to be solved’ Robert Whitaker, author of Mad in America -

”'An invaluable guide to twentysomething mental health. With the heart of a therapist and the insights of an expert, Meg Jay brings much-needed clarity to life’s most uncertain years” - Lisa Hefferman, co-author of Grown and Flown

”'Essential reading for anyone wanting to learn about what people are experiencing, and how to help them make it through” - Mail-on-Sunday

”'Galvanising” - Vogue

Dr. Jay has emerged as the patron saint of striving youth, a prophet-like figure for a generation of young people buried under mixed messaging' New York Times -