Therapy for Life Transitions
Life transitions come in many shapes. Some are chosen and welcome, others are sudden and unwanted. Some are obvious to those around you, such as a new job, a relationship ending, or a move to another city, while others are quieter shifts inside you, changes that are harder to name.
Whether expected or not, transitions often bring disruption. Even positive change can leave you feeling unsettled, questioning your direction, or wondering who you are now. You may find that familiar ways of thinking and behaving no longer fit, but you don’t yet know what will take their place.
These in-between times can be uncomfortable, even disorientating. They can also be a powerful invitation to reassess your life, your values, and your priorities.
When Life Transitions Stir Up More Than You Expected
Many people seek therapy during a time of transition. You might recognise yourself in some of these experiences:
- A relationship has ended, and you’re unsure who you are without it.
- You’ve changed career or retired, and the sense of purpose you expected hasn’t arrived.
- You’ve moved home or country, and feel unmoored or out of place.
- You’ve experienced a health change that forces you to see yourself differently.
- A milestone birthday has passed, and you feel a quiet panic about time.
- Life looks “fine” on the outside, but inside you feel adrift, restless, or flat.
Sometimes life transitions stir up unresolved experiences from the past. A current ending can awaken the grief of an earlier loss. A new beginning might also bring unexpected fear. These layers can be confusing. It’s easy to think you “should” be feeling something else, or that you’re failing to cope.
The Existential Questions That Change Can Awaken
Life transitions aren’t just about external circumstances. They can also bring existential questions to the surface:
- What matters to me now?
- Who am I without the roles I’ve lived by?
- How do I live with uncertainty?
- What gives my life meaning?
- How do I face my own ageing, limits, or mortality?
These aren’t questions with quick answers. In our fast-moving culture, we tend to value decisiveness and forward momentum. Yet the inner work of transition can be slow, unpredictable, and sometimes uncomfortable.
In therapy, there’s room to stay with these questions without rushing to close them down. Together, we can explore both the practical challenges and the deeper shifts in identity and perspective that change can bring.
This Middle Space Matters
It’s common to want to skip from the old life to the new one as quickly as possible. But life transitions often have a middle space (what writer and consultant William Bridges called the “neutral zone” – please see my article for more information) where the old structures have gone and the new ones haven’t yet formed.
This phase can feel empty, aimless, or even frightening. But it’s also where the deeper integration can happen: letting go of what no longer fits, sitting with uncertainty, and allowing space for new possibilities to emerge.
In therapy, I don’t see this middle space as a problem to be fixed, but as part of the process. It’s not always comfortable, but it can be profoundly important.
How Therapy Can Help During Life Transitions
Therapy offers:
- A steady place to reflect on what’s changing and how it’s affecting you.
- Support in navigating loss and uncertainty without rushing yourself.
- Space to explore identity shifts and who you are becoming.
- Understanding of the emotional echoes that current changes can awaken from the past.
- Perspective on meaning and values so you can live more intentionally.
My approach is person-centred and integrative, which means I adapt to you rather than expecting you to fit a method. I work with empathy, curiosity, and respect for your pace.
I also hold in mind the bigger picture: how our culture shapes our expectations of change, and how this might leave you feeling “out of step” if your experience doesn’t match the script.
If You’re in the Midst of Change
You don’t have to go through this alone. Whether you’re in the first shock of change, in the long middle stretch, or on the threshold of something new, therapy can be a place to find steadiness and clarity.
If you’d like to talk, you can contact me to arrange an initial session. We’ll explore what’s happening for you, what you hope for, and whether working together feels like a good fit.