The only constant in life is change.

If you find yourself at a moment in your life where things are changing, the transitions that await you can lead to some struggles, stress, and sometimes even emotional pain. The change process can bring grief and loss, fear, uncertainty, and doubts. You often have to step into a new way of life without really knowing what lies ahead for you. Life transitions represent a true leap of faith.

How will you navigate this?

What is next?

What will your life look like?

These are all questions that go through your mind — maybe even torment you at times as you navigate this time of change. Life transitions and change can certainly have many positive aspects to them. For example, an exciting move or starting a new career might be events in your life that you’ve been looking forward to for a long time. However, even the most exciting changes come with stress. The sameness of your everyday life is replaced by getting used to new surroundings, a new schedule, new faces, or a new environment. The predictability you once enjoyed may be almost entirely replaced by not knowing what the future holds. Positive change also requires you to have to say goodbye to people you care about and places you’ve grown accustomed to.

Life transitions and change can be challenging

Change can sometimes start off under rather negative circumstances. Some transitions in your life could be due to the loss of a job, a divorce, a death, financial struggles, or moving to a new city or state for reasons that might be out of your control — and for a purpose that was not your choice or desire. Even the best-laid plans and our highest hopes can go awry.

Whether the change is good or bad, chosen or seemingly forced on you, it can be stressful. Feelings of sadness or anxiety may arise when you think about the fact that you may never be able to recover the good parts of the past. You think about the future that you had envisioned for yourself and how this vision may not be possible now. You worry about how you’re going to deal with the many new challenges ahead.

Wouldn’t it be nice to feel confident in the face of change and life transitions?

I can help you handle and cope with this period in your life. I can provide guidance and support that will help you navigate these difficult times. Having a source of support is necessary right now. It is important to find stability and maintain some structure when everything else around you is changing. Therapeutic support can provide you that stable sense of structure as you manage your emotions, thoughts, and stressors throughout the change process.

What does this support and structure look like?

First and foremost, I provide a safe, comfortable, non-judgmental space for you to talk about how you’re really feeling. I will never be like a friend or family member who says:

“You should be happy!”

“You can feel better if you want to.”

“What do you have to complain about?”

“You brought this on yourself.”

“Just think happy thoughts!”

Although advice from loved ones is often given with the best intentions, people often do not understand how emotions work and how stress can escalate to the point where things begin to spiral out of control.

I will listen. I will validate your feelings regardless of what they are. You are entitled to feel however you are feeling! You don’t recover from emotional pain by ignoring, minimizing, or denying how you feel. In fact, true healing and recovery happens when emotions, thoughts, and feelings are brought to the surface, verbalized, and fully acknowledged. Your emotions are yours, and they are valid. They have merit and they are okay! All human beings have moments of deep despair and hopelessness, when they think they are out of options, when they feel like they can’t handle a stressor or problem in their life. Sadly, however, some people only validate their own experiences of emotional distress but cannot validate when someone else is going through a similar experience.

I will also help you develop healthier ways to process emotions, manage emotions, and learn to cut yourself some slack and give yourself some compassion. Along with acknowledging, exploring, and accepting emotions, we will work on challenging the negative thoughts and beliefs that accompany your emotions. If you’re angry, perhaps you can use that feeling as fuel for a new, healthy habit. If you’re sad, perhaps we can work together to make plans that make you feel more joyful. We can work together to identify the thoughts that are tied to your feelings. Often, these thoughts tend to be pessimistic, extreme, and can even be untrue. These thoughts can make a life transition even more challenging than it already is.

You can get through this life transition.

Through processing what you are experiencing, we will work together to help you work through this change in your life.

You will uncover a great source of strength and courage that you already have within you. Sometimes, change and life transitions can feel bigger than you — bigger than what you think you can handle. But, with the support and guidance of therapy, you can rediscover your ability to face the unknown and to face uncertainty with confidence.  

Working through the challenges of creating a more fulfilling and happier life can be both difficult and rewarding. I appreciate the courage you are showing in taking those first steps toward change. If you are ready to start, I am ready to support and help you rise to this challenge.

Contact me for an appointment or request more information to get started.