Life Transitions Counseling
Could You Use Some Support During Your Midlife Transition?
The midlife years can be a time of great upheaval with many new and complex emotions. You may question everything in your life and suddenly want to reinvent yourself. You might consider changing your career because you are asking yourself questions like:
- Who am I?
- Is time running out?
- Do I want to spend my time doing this?
If your children have grown up, you might be reconsidering what is keeping you in your relationship with your partner. Maybe you are even going through a breakup or experiencing relationship turmoil. Do you wonder how counseling can help you navigate this time of transition in your life?
How Would You Feel If You Prioritized Your Needs More Often?
You might take care of everyone and everything in your life, so it feels like you have no time left for yourself. Perhaps you are going through grief from circumstances like becoming an empty nester or having a friend, close relative, or parent pass away.
You may feel overwhelmed or confused by the many changes happening in your life. Some women find that they lose their filter due to the stress and unpredictability of the ups and downs midlife has to offer, so they come across as more frank or bold.
With age, however, comes wisdom—and you can find joy and fulfillment during this time. Life transitions therapy can help you achieve that.
Midlife Women Are Ready To Embrace The Realness Of Life
The midlife transition can bring about new choices and directions to take. It’s not always simple or welcome to reconsider aspects of our lives, though, and pressures from the culture we live in can make us question our value and usefulness to society.
Our bodies go through physical and hormonal changes that can be confusing, unpredictable, and accompanied by symptoms that are difficult to treat. There isn’t a great deal of support from the outside world for these symptoms either, other than, “Let’s replace your missing hormones.”
As a life transitions therapist, it’s pretty common to hear women in midlife say that they’re tired of being nice all the time–tired of going along to get along. Additionally, if a woman has chosen not to have children or was unable to for whatever reason, she might have to come to terms with the finality of that experience during midlife. This can bring emotional swings, self-doubt, and even feelings of grief.
Growth Can Be Hard, But An Intentional Life Is Waiting For You
As women age, they may find themselves with fewer responsibilities than they used to have. While this may provide time for some renewed self-discovery and the exploration of new identities, it can be hard to say goodbye to the old version of ourselves.
Thinking about the big questions in midlife, like “What do I really want?” can help you make tangible changes and move forward with purpose and confidence. Counseling for this time of transition in your life can provide the setting and the opportunity for these fruitful conversations and redefining your goals.
Counseling Can Help You View Midlife As A Rite Of Passage
At my therapy practice, I want you to know that everything you are going through is normal, and you don’t have to experience this life transition without support. I understand first-hand the changes midlife can bring, and I can provide an empathetic ear and an open forum for you to explore what’s happening in your life.
You may be navigating grief and loss, a breakup, depression, or anxiety and looking at other sources of support besides counseling as well. I can help you consider healthy choices surrounding what you eat, how you move your body, and how you can stay grateful during this time, which can be considered a rite of passage to becoming the person you’ve always dreamed of being.
Life Transitions Therapy For Women Is Designed Around Your Needs
What you could expect in sessions will depend on what makes sense for you and your background. My goal is to help you move in a direction that feels right for you rather than simply just going along every day without feeling truly connected to your life.
I would describe my therapeutic approach as eclectic, drawing from many different modalities as needed during sessions, but with an overarching framework based on attachment theory. This theory proposes that humans are born with a need to form close emotional bonds, and the quality of those early bonds significantly impacts social and emotional development, as well as adult relationships.
My work as a therapist began with a focus on a transpersonal perspective and wilderness therapy. This approach acknowledges the interconnectedness of humans with the natural world and facilitates personal growth, self-discovery, and healing from various challenges. I draw from this approach in terms of how we can view midlife as a journey into the unknown when we can turn the light back towards ourselves instead of on everyone else.
Modalities To Nourish Your Nervous System And Heal From Old Wounds
We may also engage in somatic exercises and mindfulness skills in therapy that engage your body and support your nervous system–such as breathwork, meditation, and body scanning. Taking the time to find calm and look within to honor your true feelings while giving your body what it needs is often quite necessary in midlife.
I am trained in modalities like EMDR therapy, which can help with any trauma you may have gone through that could benefit from addressing. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing involves focusing on a traumatic memory while experiencing bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, hand tapping, or auditory tones.
While every transition can be challenging and require us to grow into the next experience, it also presents an opportunity to redefine ourselves. As your life transitions therapist, I can support you through this time, helping you reach the next stage as gracefully and powerfully as you wish, and assisting you in creating your path moving forward.
You Might Still Have Questions About Life Transitions Counseling…
How much experience do you have working with midlife women?
I’ve been navigating the ups and downs of midlife for quite a while now. Most of my friends and many of my clients are in this stage.
It’s an exciting time to explore and also to create a new narrative about what this phase of life is all about. In addition to counseling, I have undergone training in menopause coaching and am certified as a Mind-Body Eating Coach with the Institute for the Psychology of Eating.
What if I can’t consistently attend sessions due to my full schedule?
This time of life is perfect for many people to explore therapy (or restart it). It’s time to refocus on yourself after so many years of giving and selflessly taking care of others. Taking the space now to focus on yourself can free your mind to act in accordance with your goals and values if they have shifted over the years.
Therapy is a commitment, and it can require some juggling of your schedule to make it work. I provide online and in-person support that fits easily into most people’s schedules.
What if I am concerned about the long-term cost of therapy?
There is no better investment than investing in your own well-being and growth. My job is to help you gain invaluable skills that can help you for the rest of your life, but I don’t want you to be in therapy forever.
The stress and overwhelm that this life transition can cause often burden us with hidden costs, due to things like a career change, separation of households, health-related concerns, retirement, etc., that often exceed the costs of counseling. Your therapy journey can help you restore your sense of control in your life as well as clarify your goals so you can make well-informed choices including those about attending therapy.
Start Finding Joy During The Midlife Transition With Counseling
Please reach out to me at 303-519-1046 or through my Contact page to schedule a brief consultation where we can get to know one another and you can learn more about my life transitions counseling practice.