Life Transitions

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself.” — C. JoyBell C.

Adjusting and adapting to change doesn’t have to be scary! With the help of a skilled therapist, it is possible to navigate all of life’s changes in a healthy way. By providing a safe and supportive environment to explore your thoughts and feelings, we can help you identify what your goal is and what is holding you back from confidently achieving it. We will help you develop coping skills and strategies that you can generalize to better navigate additional life transitions that will inevitably come up in the future.

Life transitions can be challenging and may cause a range of emotional, psychological, and physical symptoms. Some common symptoms of life transition issues include:

  1. Anxiety: Feeling worried or nervous about the future, uncertain of what lies ahead, or overwhelmed by change.

  2. Depression: Feeling sad, hopeless, or helpless about the changes taking place and losing interest in activities that were once enjoyable.

  3. Irritability: Feeling easily agitated or frustrated, with a short fuse and little patience.

  4. Anger: Feeling angry or resentful towards others, or towards the situation itself.

  5. Fear: Feeling afraid of the unknown or uncertain about how things will turn out.

  6. Confusion: Feeling unsure about how to navigate the changes, or struggling to make decisions.

  7. Loss of identity: Feeling like you have lost a part of yourself, or struggling to redefine your identity in light of the changes taking place.

  8. Physical symptoms: Experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, digestive issues, or sleep disturbances.

Common Types of Life Transitions

  • Developmental

    These are changes that occur as we move through the different stages of life, such as childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age.

  • Educational

    These include changes in educational settings, graduating high school, going to college or returning to school to advance your degree.

  • Career

    These involve changes in one's work life, such as starting a new job, getting promoted, transitioning to a new field or retiring.

  • Relationship

    These can include getting married, getting divorced, starting a new romantic relationship, or ending a long-term relationship.

  • Health

    These are changes in one's health status, such as being diagnosed with a chronic illness, recovering from an injury, or facing the end of life.

  • Geographic

    These involve moving from one place to another, such as moving to a new city, state, or country.

  • Financial

    These include changes in one's financial situation, such as getting a new job, inheriting money, or experiencing financial hardship.

  • Identity

    These involve changes in how one sees themselves, such as coming out as LGBTQ+, transitioning gender, or experiencing a significant life event that shifts one's self-concept.