LIFE TRANSITIONS
A life transition can be a planned or unplanned change in one's life and can leave you feeling fragile and vulnerable. Even if the life transition is a positive change, you may still feel many different complex emotions and stresses in response to this change. It is important to process the thoughts and feelings associated with the transition, regardless of the nature of the change.
We have therapists who specialize in supporting people through many different kinds of life changes. A therapist can be a source of support and stability as you navigate life transitions, providing you with a space to process the changes you are going through.
Our therapists are experts in supporting clients through all kinds of life transitions, including the life transitions listed below.
Getting Married
Getting married is a life transition that can bring about many different kinds of emotions - from the excitement and joy of celebrating this next chapter in your life, to the road bumps of navigating the first few months of your new marriage. You might feel a sense of loss at the freedom of your formerly single life. You might also find it difficult to manage disagreements and communication with your new spouse. A therapist can help you work through the stress and emotions of these life changes. If needed, we also have experts in couple’s therapy who can work together with you and your spouse to navigate this life transition together.
Birth or Adoption of a Child
Welcoming a new child into your family can be a joyous and stressful occasion, with many life changes in store. If you are the birthing parent, you might experience a complex mix of joy and loss at the changes you experience physically, hormonally, and psychologically. There may also be feelings of grief or sadness, whether due to the loss of your old life or your family’s specific circumstances. Working with a therapist can help you process and navigate these complex emotions. We have specialists who are experts in managing the complexities of these life transitions.
Leaving for College
For many people, the start of college is the first time you will experience moving out of the home you grew up in and living away from your family. This can be a huge life change in and of itself - add in the stress of college classwork and making new friends, and you’ve got a recipe for some stressful life transitions. As a parent, watching your child leave for college might fill you with a mix of pride and anxiety, or even a mid-life crisis at the thought of being a parent to an 18-year-old. Regardless of how you experience this life transition, a therapist can help you develop healthy coping skills to manage these life changes.
Graduating College
Graduating college is a momentous occasion that begins the start of your professional career! It can also be the beginning of a quarter-life crisis, a time when you feel unsure about your path in life or what you want to accomplish. If you feel like you’re in the midst of a quarter-life crisis, our therapists can help you navigate this life transition.
Changing Jobs
Leaving your current job for a new one is usually a happy occasion, but sometimes changing jobs marks the end of one life phase and the beginning of a new one. You might feel excitement at your next move, mixed with sadness and loss of the familiar. You might even feel the beginnings of a quarter-life crisis or midlife crisis as you enter this next phase in your career. By working with a therapist to navigate these life changes, you can set yourself up for success.
Retirement
Retirement marks the end of formal work for many people and is a time of celebration and reflection on one’s career. Many people enter retirement and find that they’re at a loss for how to navigate this life transition without work, which served as an anchor for them for so long. It’s not uncommon for people to experience sadness and even depression after retirement. If you’re in the midst of this life change, you don’t have to handle it all on your own. Our therapists can work with you to manage the grief and stress of your recent life changes.
Illness
A serious illness can change many aspects of your life, whether you are the one to fall ill, or your loved one is the one who is sick. If you’re experiencing an illness, you may feel frustrated or ashamed that you’re not able to live as independently as you once did, or you may be reflecting on your mortality. If you’re caring for someone who is ill, you might feel a mix of anger and grief at these life changes. When coping with a serious illness, it’s just as important to care for your mind as you care for your body. By working with a therapist, you can make space to process the complex emotions associated with this life transition.
The loss of a loved one can quite literally change life as you know it. Whether losing a parent, partner, child, pet, or other loved one, your life might feel as though it’s been thrown upside down. We have therapists who specialize in helping people navigate the complex emotions that come from grief and loss. By working with a therapist to process your emotions around this loss, you can take steps towards healing in a safe and supportive environment.
How We Can Help
Life transitions challenge us to find new ways of adapting and require us to learn new coping skills. At Westmoreland Psychotherapy Associates, our therapists provide a supportive environment where our clients will work with our therapists to gain concrete skills to help plan for change, handle change that has already occurred, and manage stress that may be associated with the life transition.
Regardless of the nature of your life transition, you don’t need to navigate it alone.
Explore Our Life Transition Specialists
Jordan Valley, LSW
Licensed therapist helping adults heal relational trauma and navigate life transitions.
In Person, Telehealth/Virtual
Eliana Jorgensen, LCSW
Licensed therapist helping young adults manage anxiety and find their footing.
In Person, Telehealth/Virtual
Maureen Bourke, LPC
Licensed therapist for women, kids, and teens ready to grow at their own pace.
In Person, Telehealth/Virtual
