Are You Forging A New Path And In Need Of A Compass?
• Are you having difficulty managing college courses and navigating who you want to be?
• Have you come to a crossroads in your life and are now looking for guidance on which path to take?
• Are you struggling with making decisions or finding meaning and purpose as you prepare to take the next step?
• Or is there an aspect of your career, relationships, or identity that needs sorting out?
A therapist may not be able to put your life on pause as you prepare for the next big step during a transition, but counseling can help you sort through the questions and find some answers you’ve been looking for. Transition work in therapy can help you feel normal again and begin to look to the future with hope.
As we are growing up, it seems like everyone is on the same path. We all go through elementary, middle and high school. Every day we are guided along a narrow path of academics, extracurriculars, and maybe a part-time job. Then the world opens up. That can be exciting, but it can also be incredibly overwhelming.
It may be that big changes in your life have caused you to struggle with symptoms of depression and anxiety, such as constant fear and worry, a desire to withdraw from others, or an inability to focus on what’s ahead of you. Or perhaps you’re feeling overwhelmed or longing for the past when things felt simpler and more straightforward.
Change is the only constant in life, and a list of common life transitions could go on forever. Nevertheless, no matter which crossroads you find yourself at, you are likely in need of encouragement and reassurance.
Life Is Full Of Transitional And Transformational Moments
We all face periods of transition in life and change is inevitable. As we grow older, we have to grapple with new and sometimes unwelcomed developments. Regardless of what form such transitions take—a career change, an unexpected health diagnosis, the death of a loved one, the disintegration of a relationship, aging parents, the introduction of a new baby into the family, or a shift in political or spiritual values—new realities and emotional landscapes eventually manifest.
Yet, there remains pressure in our society to “suck it up” or simply accept that life is sometimes unfair. This mentality causes us to potentially ignore the impact of a big life transition on our mental and emotional well-being, and we can often minimize challenges by telling ourselves that such transitions are a natural part of life that we must endure alone.
When we’re surrounded by the implications of a big shift, it can be hard to see the proverbial forest through the trees—or the places where we may have become stuck or are struggling to adapt to change. And though we know that time will pass and that we’re likely to regain a sense of normalcy at some point, we nevertheless run the risk of stifling emotional pain that may fester and create problems down the line if left unresolved.
At bareWell, however, we understand that many transitions are life-changing and often require the guidance and support that can be made available through counseling.
Life Transitions Counseling Opens The Pathway To Hope And Possibility
As you prepare to take your life’s next big step, you may need a space to weigh your options or gain clarity about what’s ahead. In therapy, you will be given a chance to safely explore, understand, and gain awareness about your “stuck points,” or the areas where you feel reluctant to change. By working with a clinician at bareWell who will commit to building a trusted and supportive connection, you can learn to manage, process, and tolerate even the toughest emotions.
After an initial consultation and intake that gives our team a sense of what your needs are for therapy, you will spend the first few sessions with your therapist exploring where you are in your life transition and what you need to feel successful in navigating it. Using a blend of client-centered approaches, we will help you to develop a better sense of what you are moving towards and what you are leaving behind.
We will then spend time tapping into your vulnerabilities and strengths so that you’ll be able to identify the risks and rewards of the decisions you’re making. And as you gain a deeper awareness of your emotions, you’ll be better prepared to organize your thoughts and adapt to new realities. Most importantly, therapy will give you an opportunity to develop radical acceptance and coping strategies so that you can face all of your life transitions with confidence and poise.
You already maintain the instincts and wisdom that will allow you to heal and grow—we are merely here to help you cultivate those strengths so that you can navigate new circumstances with self-assurance and self-compassion.
You don’t have to face life’s big changes alone. The therapists at bareWell are here to walk alongside you on your journey of healing and transformation.
Are you curious to know more about counseling? Answers to common questions below:
The life change or transition I’m experiencing is incredibly common; what makes my circumstances special enough to require therapy?
While you may believe that your life transition is just something you have to get through, it’s important to honor all the emotions—both welcomed and painful—that you’re experiencing at this time.
When you’re going through a big change, it’s possible to bury some of the unwanted feelings that come up in an effort to stay focused on what’s ahead. However, if those feelings are left unexamined and unresolved, they may create mental, physical, and emotional setbacks down the line. A therapist knows which questions to ask and what factors to consider so that you can approach the future confident that you have fully weighed your decisions.
I just don’t see how counseling would make life any easier.
Therapy allows you to explore your emotions and normalize the experience you are having as you begin to transition from one stage to another. Though you may think big, inevitable changes are something you simply must endure and tolerate, it’s important that you feel supported, understood, and capable of emotional resilience throughout this process. Therapy at bareWell is designed to meet your individual needs while providing you with a toolbox that will enable you to feel confident, and not passive, about taking that next big step.
My life transition is incredibly unique; do you still think you can help?
Our therapists are highly trained and have worked with a diverse array of clients—no transition will intimidate us. No matter where you are in the midst of your transition or what challenges you’ve been facing as a result, we will meet you where you are on your journey and provide a nonjudgmental point-of-view.
Find The Confidence To Face And Navigate The Unknown
If a big change in your life has caused you to feel dysregulated or out of balance, life transitions counseling at bareWell can help you regain your footing and move forward. To schedule a free, 15-minute consultation or find out more about how we can help, please fill out our contact form.
