We all face transitions in life. We will face many of them throughout our lives and at times we are worn down and taxed to our limit, especially if we’ve never been taught healthy coping skills. Counseling for Life Transitions can be an important part of moving forward and accepting the changes that feel uncertain. Through counseling the goal is to help clients get through emotional challenging times and build skills in them that they can use to feel better here and now and in the future. Transitions often occur when one chapter in life closes and a new one begins. When adjusting to these changes becomes difficult, we can have intense emotions of fear and uncertainty. Even when transitions are expected, they can be hard. Life transitions can lead to an Adjustment Disorder or other more serious disorders if there becomes an inability to adapt.
The Greek philosopher Heraclitus stated, “Change is the only constant in life.” How true he was.
Regardless of the event, every transition we experience forces us to make changes to our existing life and that can be hard. When we are resistant to change or get stuck or when unexpected and unwelcomed transitions occur we can become overwhelmed, disillusioned and angry. Our daily life and relationships can be effected.
EXAMPLES OF CHALLENGING LIFE TRANSITIONS
- Marriage or a new relationship
- Arrival of a new baby
- Parenting an infant, child, or adolescent
- Growing up and moving away from home
- Adjustment to college or the workplace
- Empty nesting
- Divorce, separation, or recovery from infidelity
- Retirement, job loss, or career changes
- Financial gain or loss
- Serious illness or disability of self or a loved one
- Issues of aging
- Death of a loved one
- Questioning faith or spirituality
- Questioning sexual or gender identity
- Caring for elderly parents
If you are noticing high stress due to a life transition and are experiencing down mood, feelings of anxiousness, fatigue and trouble sleeping or if you are abusing drugs and alcohol and food to cope with the stress, please consider calling to make an appointment. With every life transition there can be a sense of grief. Don’t go it alone. Here at All Heart, you will find a compassionate place for healing.