Has A Major Life Transition Caught You Off-Guard And Unprepared?

Does your world feel like it’s been thrown upside down? Are you going through a time of major transition? Do you feel anxious and uncertain about the future, as if there is no path forward?

Perhaps you’re dealing with a job loss, a medical diagnosis, a midlife crisis, or even the loss of a loved one. You may struggle to reconcile the old world you knew with the new one before you now—you find yourself in denial, bargaining with the present to give you back the past. You may ask: Why me? What did I do to deserve this life? Is the universe just conspiring against me?

On the other hand, maybe the change hasn’t been entirely negative. You may find yourself in the midst of a career change, a new relationship, or the beginning stages of parenthood. As exciting as this new life is, perhaps it caught you off guard. You find that you’re not as prepared as you thought you’d be, as you’re dealing with pressures and stressors you never foresaw.

When you’re going through a major life transition, there are ultimately two choices: resist it or adjust to it. The choice is not as simple as it sounds. It is natural and human to resist the unfamiliar, even when the unfamiliar is positive and exciting. But in the end, resistance to change means fewer opportunities for growth and often leads to depression and anxiety.

I’ve been helping people weather the changes in their lives for over four decades now. If a major transition has thrown your world off-balance and you’ve been feeling lost at sea, I want to be an anchor in your life and help you stay grounded during this difficult time.

Our World Is Going Through A Time Of Transition—And So Are Many Of Us

From the cradle to the grave, life is full of developmental stages that we manage without thought and new roles that we slip into with ease. Some transitions, however, catch us off guard. Occasionally these transitions are traumatic—suffering sexual abuse, witnessing a violent event, or grieving the loss of a child. But more often than not, they are subtler in their effects on our mental health. Losing a job, becoming new parents, ending a relationship, or adapting to a new culture are all transitions that can cause undue stress in our lives.

What’s more, sometimes these transitions are cultural in nature. At the moment, our country is in a state of upheaval not seen since the 1960s. Our government is divided and dysfunctional and this trickles down to the people they govern. Systemic racism is being challenged and white supremacy is getting called out, but many old institutions are resistant to change. Police brutality is rampant. Many African Americans face an ever-present fear of attack and loss of life. And mental health is at the crossroads—one in three Americans suffers from depression or anxiety.

As individuals, we embody what’s going on in the world. We internalize all the unrest and turmoil. No matter which side of the political aisle we’re on, more and more of us are being challenged to take a stand for the values and beliefs we hold.

Whether the transitions we face are personal or cultural, our reaction is often one of hopelessness. We think we can’t endure this unexpected new reality, because we don’t have a roadmap for navigating it. But time and again, we underestimate our own resilience and ability to adapt. With the right guidance and support, it is possible to convert pain and uncertainty into deeper understanding and discover new potential for growth.

Life Transitions Therapy Can Help You Transform This Time Of Upheaval Into A New Beginning

When your world has been turned upside down, your natural reaction is to want it right-side up again. You probably wish things would just go back to normal so you could nestle into your old familiar life. As a therapist, I cannot turn your world right-side up—no one can. But what I can do is show you how to adapt to your new surroundings, stay grounded, and transform this time of personal upheaval into a new beginning.

During the intake process, my goal is to validate your pain and give you a safe, judgment-free space to think out loud about what you’re feeling. I want to know: What made you call me on the phone? What was the inciting stressor? What are the parts of yourself that you want to change, and what are the strengths you want to reinforce? You know yourself best. My role is to help you decipher what’s working in your life and what isn’t.

Together, you and I will conduct a three-generational study of your background, personal history, and social support network. We will explore and address any unresolved trauma that may be affecting your ability to handle transitions. We will evaluate whether that trauma is “Big T” trauma (sexual abuse, a serious accident, natural disaster, etc.) or “little t” trauma ( neglect, repeated rejection, dealing with a chronic illness, etc.). Uncovering past hurt will help us foreground the current hurt in your life and why it is so painful.

From there, my aim is to help you convert that pain into new potential for growth. I want you to see your world in a new light and view this time of transition as a fresh start. Whether you want counseling for a job loss, a career change, a breakup, or any other transitions, you will learn to incorporate a wider, healthier and more balanced perspective into your life. After all, the hardest part of coping with life transitions is staying grounded. You are encouraged to use meditation, art, exercise, or anything else you are passionate about to help you navigate this time of change.

At the moment, you may feel like you’re at a dead end and there’s no hope for the future. In that case, I would encourage you to think of times in the past when you felt hopeless—just as you weathered those struggles, this one, too, shall pass. You have already overcome so much, and with the right help and support, I believe you are capable of doing so again. My goal is to be a temporary anchor in your life and help you gather the strength needed to stay balanced, confident, and serene.

You may have some questions and concerns about life transitions counseling…

How can you help me? How can you possibly understand what I’m going through?

No one shares your exact experience. But at the same time, I have had to weather major transitions myself, and I believe I’ve wrestled with many of the same feelings you’re dealing with now. My aim is not to show you that I know what you’ve gone through, but to remind you that you are not alone and that I can identify and empathize with your struggles.

Will I need medication?

First things first, you and I will work together on bringing peace back into your life and using your coping skills to stay grounded and regulated. However, if you feel that you would like additional support, you and I can explore the possibility of pharmaceutical intervention. While I cannot prescribe medication myself, I would be happy to connect you to a psychiatrist or doctor who does.

How long will life transitions therapy take?

When contemplating how long it will take to resolve your symptoms, the first thing you have to ask is: how long did it take to get to where you are? Generally speaking, the time it took to develop your symptoms determines how long it will take to recover. You may find that you feel better after a few sessions, or you may need more long-term intervention. Regardless, it is important to be kind to yourself. Therapy happens at your own pace, and oftentimes, real, lasting healing takes place gradually.

Let Me Help You Transform Your Pain Into Deeper Understanding

If you’re at a crossroads in life and you’re not sure what the next step is, I would be honored to help you find the path forward. To begin the healing process, you can email me or call 732-314-7170 for a free, 15-minute phone consultation.

I am based in New Jersey, USA and work virtually around the world. All my life transitions therapy sessions are online. I look forward to hearing from you!

Life Transitions Therapy