Life Transition Counselling
In the simplest terms, transition is change. In a broader sense, however, transitions are life’s way of asking us to reexamine our present way of being. These transitions can be predictable, such as a child leaving for college or marriage, or they can be unpredictable, such as the sudden death of a loved one or a traumatic accident. Whatever the degree or intensity of the event, every transition we experience has one thing in common. It forces us to make changes to our existing life. And with change, comes resistance. A major life transition literally closes one chapter of our life and starts a new one, putting us in a new place and direction that we have not walked before. It is often a very difficult adjustment as we endure intense feelings of fear, doubt, and uncertainty.
When Life Changes
Transitions typically mark an ending followed by a time of self-reflection, which hopefully, leads to a new beginning or outlook on life. Every life transition asks us to let go of a past way of thinking or doing. By doing so, we are given the opportunity to replace the old way of being with something new. During the transitional period, however, we usually feel uncomfortable, almost disconnected from our environment and even ourselves. While this is natural to some extent, if you can’t move through this phase, these feelings can often overwhelm you, sending you spinning out of control into emotional turmoil. Many times, people turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to numb the anxiety and stress of these transitional times. Admittedly, life isn’t always fair, but often the best comes out of what seems at the time to be a completely overwhelming experience. Whatever the transition, counselling with a professional counsellor is an excellent opportunity to help you take stock of your life and move forward into your new beginning with less pain and resistance.
Life Transition Counselling Can Help You:
- Understand the meaning of change in your life at this time - the way it has touched your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual self
- Move through the difficult feelings and losses associated with a life transition
- Access your strengths and resources to overcome the new challenges you face
- Find inner peace, tranquility and safety, even in the midst of chaos
- Be mindfully aware of all aspects of your experience - your thoughts, feelings, perceptions, hopes, memories, dreams and expectations - as you consider a new life stage you are entering
- Discover a new sense of self that may emerge as you accept the ending of one part of life and turn towards the beginning of the next
- Explore how a life transition may affect your relationships with others - and how to find the support and understanding you need during this time in your life
Signs Life Transition Counselling Is For You:
1.Life has taken an unexpected turn
2.You have been surprised by some difficult feelings that have arisen in the face of what you thought would be a happy life event
3.You feel as though you have outgrown a part of your life that used to bring satisfaction and vitality
Transitions Counselling
Throughout our life, we are faced with change and the resulting effects on life around us. Change is a regular part of our daily life, whether it is a new coworker joining the company, a family member getting married, or a new activity we incorporate into our life. There are times, however, when change is the result of a major life transition and our ability to adapt to the new environment is beyond our skill level. Counselling offers individuals or families a process to work through what this life change means. Questions such as “How will I relate to people now that I am retired and am unemployed” or “What will I do now that my children have left home” are addressed and the answers worked into how the future is experienced and lived.
You may now be faced with a lot of idle time to fill, and the voids that are left may leave you feeling helpless or unproductive. Your counsellor is here to help identify these issues and the other adjustment issues as you move forward through the many life transitions that help to create the person you are today.
