Life Transitions

Are you struggling to cope with recent changes in your life?

Has the loss of a loved one left you feeling sad, lonely or confused? Are you having difficulty moving forward after a recent break-up or the loss of a job? Perhaps you have recently gotten married, started a family or began a new career. You may have begun to experience the physical and emotional changes that come with menopause.  All of these experiences can create feelings of loss, anxiety, and overwhelm. 

As we’ve all experienced, changes happen everyday.  Sometimes those changes are welcome or anticipated. Other times they are not.  They can come about suddenly. They can be unexpected or well anticipated.  No matter how they happen, life changes can be difficult. And, for many people, it can be hard to move through life’s transitions with ease.

Why is change so difficult?

It is normal to find change challenging. When you experience changes or transitions in life, you are letting go of what is familiar and moving toward something new.  Such moves can be stressful, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, unexpected or anticipated.  As such, any change—good or bad—can trigger a stress response in your body and nervous system.

Stress responses can manifest both emotionally and physically within you.  The stress of change can leave you feeling vulnerable, anxious and unsure. Physically, you can experience symptoms such as muscle tension, an increase in blood pressure, back pain and disturbances in your sleep. And, when the change is unwanted, feelings of grief, fear and even anger may emerge.

How can I begin to cope with or accept the changes in my life?

Therapy can help you move through life’s transitions. While we cannot always control what happens, we can begin to have more control over our reactions to what happens. I believe that an important part of moving through change is increasing your inner resiliency. When you are resilient, you are better able to cope with the stress and uncertainty that change often brings. You can better regulate your body’s responses to change and create a sense of balance and control.  As part of my therapeutic process, I provide practical tools to help you achieve this increased resiliency and balance.

When the transitions you face are unwanted, I encourage you to make space for your grief or disappointment.  I provide a safe and nurturing environment to help you move through the process of mourning.  I believe it is important to honor your losses and reflect upon the ways in which they have impacted your life. It is through this process that you can find ways to heal and move forward.

I’m not sure . . . I have more questions.

Can therapy really help me? Maybe I’m just weak. Shouldn’t I be able to deal with change?

It can be easy to judge your struggles with change or transition. Commonly, people believe that coping with change should be easy, especially if those changes are positive. However, in reality, most people have difficulty moving through change. Life transitions mark an end to something, and adjusting to endings can be challenging. Therapy can provide the tools to help you accept and move through these endings to new beginnings.

I’m worried that going to therapy will make me feel like I’m “crazy”.

Unfortunately, there are some negative judgments out there about therapy.  Some people believe that you must be “crazy” if you seek counseling. Such beliefs can lead to shameful feelings about asking for help.  In truth, taking care of your emotional health is far from crazy or shameful.  Your emotional well-being is as important as your physical health.  If you broke your leg, would it be crazy to visit your doctor for help?

Can’t I just take medication to help me get through this period of change?

There are a number of excellent prescription medications to help with feelings of anxiety and depression. However, they do not necessarily offer long-lasting solutions. Taking medication alone will not help you develop the tools to deal with change and transition on an ongoing basis. Changes in life are inevitable. With therapy, you can develop effective ways of coping with them that will help you for the rest of your life.

How can I connect with you to learn more?

If you want to learn more about dealing with change and transitions or if you are ready to seek help for coping with change, I am here to help. You can reach out to me at 424.384.3772 or click here to send me an email.

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I have worked with many clients struggling to cope with transitions in their lives.  I have a gentle, non-judgmental approach, which helps my clients feel safe and heard. I believe that although change can be challenging, it also can provide us with opportunities for self-reflection and growth.  I work collaboratively with my clients to help them move through difficult transitions, build their inner resiliency, and find meaning in their experiences.

Working from a somatic and trauma-informed perspective, I also integrate a mind-body approach into the healing process. I believe it is important to consider how our bodies respond to the stress triggered by change. I help my clients understand how emotional and physical symptoms can emerge when their nervous systems have difficulty restoring balance during stress. I also provide them with tools to help restore that needed balance, and achieve emotional relief and healing.