Life Transitions Counseling in Lakewood, CO
Are you feeling nervous or anxious about an upcoming life transition?
Are you currently adjusting to a life transition and feeling unsteady in the newness?
Has a life transition left you doubting yourself?
Have you experienced an unexpected life transition?
Life is a series of transitions. Some feel seamless and others are challenging. Life transitions create a season where the old ways of being no longer work, but the new ways haven't yet taken root. Whether you are navigating a chosen change or an unexpected turn, the transition period can be a time of unsteadiness, worry, hope, and grief.
You might be seeking support because you are navigating:
Relational Shifts: Changes in relationships can include many events. Some examples include the ending of a relationship, beginning of a relationship, moving in together, shifts in friend groups, setting a new boundary, getting married, becoming long distance, etc.
Professional Changes: A sudden or planned career shift can be jarring to what you know about yourself. Some examples include job loss, company restructuring, a promotion, a planned resignation, retirement, or going back to school.
Identity Evolutions: Some changes result in a complete identity shift. This includes becoming a parent, navigating religious deconstruction, receiving a health diagnosis that requires ongoing management, identifying sexuality and gender preferences, etc.
Counseling for life transitions, whether it is a job loss, a new relationship, or a complete shift in life as you know it, helps to bridge the space between the before and the after and integrate the old and new parts of you.
Questions about life transitions counseling? Reach out today.
Change is more than logistics, it’s a multi-faceted experience.
The problem with major shifts isn't just the logistical change, it’s how the change impacts your sense of self. When the roles we play or the structures we rely on disappear or change, our nervous system can interpret that loss of familiarity as a threat to what we know and believe about ourselves. Counseling for life transitions gives you the space to explore and process who you are amidst the change.
Life transitions can be both life giving and tiring. Some parts of change are handled well and others are more challenging. You can have most of the transition figured out and have a few things happen that you could not anticipate. Because we can experience multiple things at once, our nervous system can feel taxed. Even life transitions that you deem as positive require an immense amount of cognitive and emotional energy. It is normal to experience multiple feelings, thoughts, and physical sensations at once. There might be part of you that feels excited and another part of you is exhausted. There might be a part of you that is ready to take the leap and another part of you that clings to what is familiar and safe.
At Lakewood Holistic Counseling, I offer therapy for life transitions that honors your multi-faceted experience. We don’t just focus on getting through it; we focus on the different experiences of each part of you and how those parts come together to grow through the change.
Finding a Secure Base in the Midst of Change
The solution to the chaos of transition is to find a secure base. A place where you can pause, breathe, and reorient yourself.
My approach to life change counseling is rooted in the belief that transitions are a time to deeply be with yourself. Instead of rushing to get through a change, we use this time to listen to what your nervous system needs. We work to ensure that as you move into your next chapter, you aren't just reacting to the change, but intentionally responding to it. Now let’s say the change has already occurred and you find yourself feeling unsettled, months or years later. That’s ok. We will work together to explore the change and understand the impact that the change had on you.
I use evidence-based modalities to help you process the change without the pressure to say everything is fine. I utilize the relationship between us to serve as the steady ground while everything else in your world is moving. I provide the consistent attunement that allows you to explore your new identity safely.
EMDR
Think Sometimes a current life transition triggers an old trauma. If a job loss feels like a childhood abandonment, or a breakup feels like a core rejection, EMDR helps untangle those past wounds from your current situation. EMDR can also be used for any recent traumas that have pushed you into a life change.
Relational and Attachment Based Therapy
Change is often lonely. We work in the present moment to notice how this transition is living in your body right now. By undoing your aloneness in the face of uncertainty, we transform the fear of change into the energy for growth.
Animal Assisted Therapy with Winston the therapy dog
Change can feel unsettling and worrisome. Winston offers a grounding sensory experience that reminds you that you are here, you are safe, and you are not alone.
Common Questions About Life Transitions
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While change is universal, your reaction to it is personal. If you find that a transition has triggered deep anxiety, depression, or a feeling of being stuck, life change counseling can help prevent a temporary transition from becoming a permanent state of distress.
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They overlap significantly. Loss often requires us to change. In life transitions counseling, we will spend time focusing on grieving for the past and what was. Once that experience of loss has been integrated we can move into focusing on who you are now and what is to come.
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Regret can be a normal response to change. Especially if the change is different than what you had in mind. We will work together to see what your nervous system is communicating to you and process any stuck emotions. While we can’t go back in time to un-do a decision, we can make space to process the emotions of your experience and how it has changed you.
The Art of the Slow Pivot
I specialize in being with you during seasons of transitions and high stress. I understand how much of our identity is often tied to people, places, and things that transitions often take away.
I have helped countless individuals move through the impact of transitions into a version of life that feels more authentic and sustainable. I don't just provide a listening ear; I provide a roadmap for your nervous system to follow as it learns to navigate a new landscape.
What makes my approach to life transitions therapy unique is my commitment to the slow pivot.
Most of the world wants you to bounce back or hit the ground running. I want you to find your balance first. I specialize in helping you find the pause and deep breath in the transition. I help you notice the parts of yourself that are transforming. By combining the science of the nervous system with a heart-centered, relational approach, I ensure that your transition isn't just a change of scenery, but a genuine evolution of self.
You don't have to navigate the changes of life alone
Whether you are seeking life transitions therapy because of a career shift, a relationship change, or a new season of life, I am here to provide a secure base with attuned guidance.
The life you knew may be over, but the life that is waiting for you is worth the work.
Ready to explore a life transition? Click the button below to schedule a free 20 minute consultation.
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Life Transitions Counseling in Lakewood, CO
2255 S. Wadsworth Blvd.,
Suite 205-C,
Lakewood, CO 80227