Counseling for Life Transitions
As the saying goes, one of the most constant things in life is change. Throughout our lives, we experience a variety of life transitions. Some changes are positive, like getting married or having a child and some are not, like job loss or divorce. Furthermore, some life transitions are easier to navigate than others. But, occasionally times of significant life transition can feel very overwhelming. In fact, they can even lead to a variety of mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, relationship distress, and more.
Change is hard. Even when it’s expected. As humans, we naturally prefer routines and predictability. We like to know what to expect, so uncertainty makes most of us uncomfortable. We understand and respect how hard this can be to navigate. That’s why our San Francisco counseling center is committed to providing you with support during this time.
Personal Life Transitions:
Times of transition in your personal life can be hard to cope with on your own. Examples of personal life transitions that bring people to counseling include:
Graduating from college or master’s program
Navigating LGBTQIA+ identities and coming out
Dating a new partner and/or moving in together
Marriage/remarriage
Birth of a child or adding to your family
Death or loss of a friend or loved one
Divorce and co-parenting
Breakups
Moving to a new area
Professional Life Transitions:
Many clients we help in counseling experience professional life transitions. It is common that you may be experiencing both personal and professional life transitions at the same time. Common examples of professional life transitions are:
Getting a job, changing careers, or getting a promotion
Starting a new company
Losing a job or getting fired
Stepping down from an executive position or selling your company
Some major life changes you undergo are actually positive ones. And perhaps you’re beating yourself up because you know you’re lucky to have this new opportunity. Regardless, these major life changes disrupt your routine and sense of normalcy. So, it makes sense that when this happens, you may find yourself struggling to cope. This is normal, and we can assure you that you’re not alone. This doesn’t mean you’re flawed or inadequate. It just means you need a little extra support and an unbiased person to help you process these changes.
Our Approach to Counseling for Life Transitions
Counseling for life transitions can offer you the support you’re needing as you deal with major life changes. And, it can give you the tools to cope with any distress you may be experiencing. When you first come to counseling, you will meet with a caring therapist who wants to get to know you and understand what you’re going through. We will use the first few counseling sessions to paint a picture of your life, including where you come from and where you are now. This will help us understand if there are things in your past that need to be addressed in order for progress to be made.
Then, we will determine what your personal skills and resources are. We want to know what coping techniques have worked for you in the past, and what haven't. The purpose of this part of the process is twofold. Discussing the previous hardships you've overcome serves as a reminder that you have dealt with hard things in the past. And, it helps you and your therapist work together to develop a treatment plan that highlights your strengths.
Coping with Major Life Changes
Next, you will work with your therapist to learn useful coping techniques. These practical tools will help you cope with any distress that you may be experiencing both now in the present moment, and in the future when you go through similar challenges. We want you to feel empowered and know that you can go through tough times and come out on the other side. And, we want to give you tools to lessen the pain and you may experience when these challenges arise in the future.
We will also discuss the importance of practicing mindfulness and meditation to help you be present in the moment. And, we will talk about lifestyle choices that you can make to improve your overall quality of life. For example, we may discuss the need for good sleep hygiene to help reduce your stress.
Finally, we will work together to reframe your negative or anxious thoughts into more positive and affirming ones. Working with a therapist for life transitions can’t make tough times disappear. But, it can help you think about challenges in a way that encourages positive growth. We want you to be okay with being vulnerable during times of change and challenges. Our hope is that after working with a therapist, you will find that pain can be productive and help you move towards living life as your authentic self.
Being Counseling for Life Transitions in San Francisco, CA
The skilled therapists at our Bay Area counseling center have helped many individuals overcome the challenges life throws their way. We understand that these major life changes can open old wounds and create new problems. So, we want to help. In addition, we offer online therapy for you to access counseling throughout the state of California. Use the button below to book a free 20-minute consultation call and explore the wellness opportunities at California Integrative Counseling Center.
Other Services at California Integrative Counseling Center
Your mental health needs are the priority at our Bay Area located counseling practice. Our professional therapists specialize in working teens and other talented individuals just like you in our community. We are experts in helping ADHDer’s understand themselves so they can embrace the true creatives they are. Further, we have seen how powerful marriage counseling and couples therapy can be for improving support systems in our clients’ lives. You can receive any of our therapeutic services in-person or virtually using online therapy. If you have questions about our practice and the services we offer including career counseling, please contact us.