Life Transitions

IS A BIG LIFE CHANGE CAUSING MIXED EMOTIONS FOR YOU?

  • Does the future seem more uncertain than it once did?

  • Has a recent life transition stirred up a variety of emotions that have left you feeling unsettled?

  • Would you benefit from a safe and supportive place to share your fears and concerns without judgment?

Going through big life changes can often bring about a sense of unease. No matter what the transition—a career change, retirement, bad breakup, divorce, or relocation—you might be feeling uneasy by all of the upheaval. Even a life event that you were looking forward to, such as getting married, having a child, or becoming an empty nester, may bring with it a sense of disorientation.

Change Often Causes Deep-Seated Fears And Insecurities To Emerge

If your life is in flux, the stability you may have grown accustomed to is no longer comforting. Predictability may have been replaced with worry, anxiety, or sadness. You might experience physical symptoms of stress, including muscle tension, stomach disturbances, rapid heartbeat, or high blood pressure. Because it may feel like no one understands what you’re going through, you might have withdrawn from friends and family and lack the support you need.

Even when the change you’re going through is seemingly positive, you could still experience mixed emotions or feel conflicted about it. However, it might be difficult to share how you’re feeling with others because you think you’re supposed to be “happy”. Or maybe you’re secretly questioning your decision and wish you could confide in someone about your reservations.

Counseling can help support you through whatever life transition you are facing. Whether you’re dealing with an empty nest, chronic illness, taking care of aging parents, or adjusting to multicultural issues after relocating from another country, seeking therapy during transitions can help you live life fully again and reconnect with your essence.

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CHANGE CAN BE BITTERSWEET

Human beings crave stability because it gives us a sense of safety. That’s why we usually experience a sense of imbalance when going through major life changes. In these moments, it’s normal for us to question our decisions, wonder whether we made the right choice, and miss the way things used to be.

Although we expect unwelcome change to be difficult, such as contracting an illness or experiencing the breakup of a relationship, even seemingly happy occasions can be fraught with sadness and reflection. After all, allowing something new into our lives often requires letting go of something else. 

However, the bittersweet emotions we may experience when we become empty nesters or decide to retire might take us by surprise. We often feel guilty admitting we feel sad or have misgivings, believing perhaps that we aren’t allowed to have these emotions.

Life Transitions Can Trigger Anxiety Or Depression

Because we live in a transient society, it’s not always easy to find the support we need when going through trying times. Big metropolitan areas like Miami may feel overwhelming to newcomers, and many of us do not have close family members living near us.

What’s more, we typically respond to life transitions with a stress reaction that can negatively affect our physical health. When we are already prone to anxiety and depression—or have experienced past trauma—life upheavals can trigger symptoms like sadness, worry, or fear. We all have different coping skills and sometimes are not equipped to handle big changes. We have to develop new strategies as we face unfamiliar situations.

Life transitions therapy can help teach you new coping skills you can apply in moments when things become overwhelming. Regardless of what life transition may be underway or on the horizon—job loss, a breakup, or a chronic or terminal illness—counseling will provide you with clarity and compassion

 

THERAPY CAN MAKE WHATEVER LIFE TRANSITION YOU’RE EXPERIENCING MORE MANAGEABLE

Change can be scary and often brings up fears of the unknown. And whether you are experiencing a relatively positive or a negative life transition, the disruption it causes requires you to process what’s happening emotionally. However, oftentimes, a lack of time or energy makes it more challenging to deal with the stress you’re experiencing.  

Allowing yourself scheduled time to sort out mixed emotions can help you arrive at greater self-understanding and acceptance. Therapy offers you a safe and supportive space where you can explore how you feel and think about whatever life transition you are experiencing. Coming up with helpful strategies, like mindfulness-based techniques, can help you better cope with the stressors you’re dealing with and feel more confident about the changes you’re facing.

What To Expect In Sessions

Sometimes, life transitions counseling can be shorter-term than traditional therapy. Throughout sessions, we will examine the impact this life transition currently has on your life. After examining how this change is affecting you, we will help you devise an action plan with specific goals that will be broken down into weekly action items. This will provide you with a guidebook to help you navigate through this period of adjustment. We may also explore previous times in your life when you experienced instability and examine how fears of reliving that experience may influence how you’re feeling currently.

Our solutions-focused approach to life transitions therapy will equip you with all the tools and coping mechanisms you need to successfully weather this transitional period. Depending on your circumstances, your therapist might have you evaluate your support network, develop a self-care regimen, or improve communication with friends and family who can provide you with whatever ongoing support you may require.

The Modalities We Use For Life Transitions Therapy

When facing change and uncertainty, it’s common to fear the worst. Perhaps you engage in cognitive distortions—such as catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, or “all or nothing” thinking—a tendency to filter out the positive and focus on the negative. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) brings awareness to these types of cognitive distortions, allowing you to restructure and reframe your thoughts more positively. 

Throughout therapy, you will also be encouraged to keep a journal so you can become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Learning progressive muscle relaxation and other techniques, such as deep breathing and mindfulness, can help decrease stress and induce the relaxation response.

Change can be hard, but it can also be an opportunity for growth. When we experience upheavals, we get to learn new coping strategies. Having survived a difficult situation, we often feel stronger than before. The good news is you don’t have to go through life transitions alone—therapy can instill a sense of hope and help normalize a situation that may at first feel abnormal. Not only will therapy provide you with the tools you need to cope with your current life transition, but you can also apply the same tools to future situations.

 

BUT MAYBE YOU’RE NOT SURE IF LIFE TRANSITIONS IS RIGHT FOR YOU…

  • Understandably, with so many big changes happening in your life, the idea of adding another new thing to your schedule might not sound appealing. However, therapy can help whatever life transition you may be experiencing feel a lot less overwhelming. No matter what you may be going through—a career change or job loss, becoming a new parent, retirement, or chronic illness—counseling can help ease the process. Additionally, carving out a special time in the week to deal with your stressors can lead to positive changes.

  • Baypoint Counseling Center has several therapists who offer special rates that will make life transitions therapy more affordable. We can also help you submit your counseling sessions for reimbursement to your insurance provider. In addition, group therapy is available which will make sessions more affordable as well as offer support from other people going through similar experiences.

  • Humans have lived in connection since the beginning of time. We need each other, especially during difficult times. Having a sense of connection and knowing that you are not alone as you face challenges and cope with life transitions can improve how you handle changes. We are honored to help you with your journey.

Meet Our Therapists

 

YOU CAN GROW STRONGER FROM CHANGE

Don’t face a big life change alone or unsupported. If you would like to find out more about life transitions therapy with us, you may call (305) 518-0202 or visit our contact page.

 
 

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