Life can change anytime. Life transitions happen.
Life feels completely different and you’re not sure how to cope with this life transition.
Life transitions come in many different forms. For example, welcoming a new baby or getting married are major life transitions. So is graduating high school or college and entering the “real world.” Perhaps, you started or lost a job or moved to a new city. Or maybe you’ve accepted the responsibility of caring for someone you love, or you are coping with grief and loss. Whatever the life change is, you’re left with a feeling of discomfort and uncertainty.
Many people struggle with life transitions, even if they are joyful ones. For example, many new moms worry about providing the best care for their child and balancing family responsibilities with their own needs. Some newlyweds have questions about things like combining finances or how to blend family traditions. When you start a new job, you may get overwhelmed by the desire to impress your new colleagues. All these various life transitions tend to have a lot of expectations attached to them. And for lots of reasons, the emotions attached to life change can be a lot to navigate without help.
Therapy can help you adjust to these big life changes
Common Life Transitions:
“Coming out”
The process of coming out is complex and can include both intense pain and tremendous joy. Coming out can be extremely difficult. You may have been given the message that they must be heterosexual and act according to strict gender norms. As such, you may feel afraid, isolated, and ashamed when you come out. Also, you may face disapproval from people who are dear to you. But, coming out can also be a very liberating and freeing process. Although, you may feel tension when you stop trying to hide your true self, coming out can lead to a more positive sense of self and more healthy relationships. Many find relief, as they feel free to be more authentic and able to express themselves.
Therapy can help you work toward self-acceptance and learn not to look to others for approval. Coming out is a continuing, and in some ways, life long process. It can feel very lonely to feel different and not fit into the roles expected of you by family, friends, and society. Therapy can be very helpful in the early stages of coming out. Therapy will help you learn to cope with any negative feedback you may get when you tell others about this transition.
Adjusting to Life After College
There are many common stressors during the post-college transition. There can also be a lot of pressure to pay off student debt. This kind of pressure may lead one to accept a less than ideal job. Some new graduates may also find it confusing to figure out workplace norms. For example, they may wonder “What do I do if my boss is regularly calling and emailing me after-hours?” While other college grads may struggle to adjust to long work hours and limited socialization during the week. Counseling can offer support during this transition. Especially when expectations of ‘adult life’ don’t match reality.
New to Baltimore
Change in any part of your life, especially moving to Baltimore, is an opportunity to learn something about yourself. Try to see this as an opportunity to explore new things like Baltimore’s Kinetic Sculpture Race! You may develop an interest in an activity that didn’t exist in the place you used to live. Also, getting the opportunity to meet new people gives you the chance to expand your world view.
If you’re still struggling with the changes that come with moving to Baltimore, our therapy team can help. Our therapists can help you to address feelings of loneliness. Then we will give you tools to help you feel comfortable opening up to others, and brainstorm ways to meet new people.
New Moms and the Transition to Parenthood
Moms are bombarded with advice from parenting books, doctors, friends, family, even strangers. New moms can feel lost trying to navigate new social norms. It is easy for mothers to doubt themselves. Many moms get stuck comparing themselves to others and harboring unrealistic expectations. Lots of women experience guilt related to not being a full-time stay-at-home parent, or not wanting to be a stay-at-home mom. Society’s views of parenting can leave moms feeling unsure, afraid, criticized, and not good enough.
Therapy can help women create their own definition of a “good mother”. When women focus on their own definition of motherhood, they are less likely to get stuck in the what-ifs, if-onlys, and I-shoulds. Our compassionate psychologists work with women to ease their anxiety.
Life after Divorce
Counseling can be a safe place to release these feelings so they don’t stay bottled up inside. You can grieve the loss of the relationship (or what you had hoped the relationship would be). And process any residual feeling you may have towards your ex. Some people use therapy to develop coping skills to deal with the emotional pain of divorce. Others focus on understanding how the relationship failed and gain a new perspective. Once you accept the reality of the situation, the focus can shift to re-discovering who you are. Many find they learn a lot about themselves during a divorce. Sometimes counseling is a place to reflect on what you need in future relationships. Most importantly, therapy can help you embrace your new life.
Newly Sober
Anxiety, fear, and sadness are not uncommon emotional experiences in early recovery. This is especially true for people who were using substances as a way to cope with negative emotions. You may feel isolated and lonely if you choose to no longer spend time with the same friends. Sobriety is not about the absence of substances. Sobriety often includes finding a new purpose and meaning in life.
Counseling can help you learn to feel your feelings again. It can provide support during the inevitable ups and downs. Counseling helps you hold onto your ‘why,’ which is the reason you are bothering to do this hard work. It can help you identify new sources of meaning and purpose. Therapy provides a space for you to discover who you are in the absence of substances. We have thrapists who have training to help people recover from substance abuse and cope with the challenges they face in recovery.
The New Connections Approach to Counseling for Life Transitions in Baltimore, MD
Although we provide a very individualized approach to helping our clients, we generally use some combination of the following types of therapy:
Supportive therapy for life transitions
Psychodynamic / Interpersonal Therapy for life transitions
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for life transitions
- We help clients cope with the reality that their expectations for this change don’t match the reality of what their life is actually like.
- Together we will identify unrealistic expectations you have for yourself and/or others.
- We will help you stop comparing yourself with others (or what others post online about themselves)
- We’ll help you create your own definition for any of these life roles. For example, a “good mother,” or a “good employee.”
Therapy Can Help You Cope With Life Transitions
Change is part of life. You have probably gone through many life transitions already. It’s important to recognize your past is the foundation of who you are today, and parts of your past will always remain dear to you. Embrace that reality and look ahead to the future with a focus on the positive. It’s true that you will experience stress, and that’s ok. Not fun, but ok. Therapy can help you adjust to the changes in your life so you can enjoy your life to the fullest.
Begin Counseling for Life Transitions in Baltimore, MD
If you struggling with the challenges of life changes, we can help! Follow these simple steps to begin counseling for life transitions at our counseling clinic in Baltimore, MD:
- Contact us through our appointment request form.
- Learn more about our therapists who specialize in counseling for life transitions.
- Learn how to embrace life transitions and live your life to the fullest.
Other Mental Health Services Offered at New Connections Counseling Center
In addition to counseling for life transitions, our therapy team offers a variety of counseling services at our therapy office in Baltimore, MD. Ultimately, our goal is not only to help you feel better but help you live better. Therefore, our mental health services include therapy for depression, anxiety treatment, counseling for grief and loss, alcohol abuse treatment, individual counseling for relationship issues, therapy for survivors of sexual assault, therapy for women, and therapy for men. Call today to learn more about our comprehensive mental health services.
You only get one life. Grab it.
Blog posts for Life Transitions
10 Benefits of Music on Our Brains and Mental Health
Is music an integral part of your daily routine? Whether you’re driving through traffic, doing chores, working out, or just unwinding at the end of the day, music has a way of making everything better. Want to know why? Discover 10 benefits of music on our brains and...
5 Work-Life Balance Tips to Get Back Your Time and Energy
Do you feel your job sucks all the energy out of you? Are you tired of constantly juggling your work and personal responsibilities and still feel you're failing at both? Discover 5 practical tips to help you achieve a fulfilling work-life balance. We can’t argue with...
7 Fun Date Ideas in Baltimore for Couples to Enjoy This Spring
Looking for exciting and fun date ideas in Baltimore to try with your partner this spring? Are you craving that sweet spring breeze to give your relationship a boost? Let’s explore together how you can make this spring in Baltimore one to remember! As spring blossoms...