Change can feel unsettling, even when chosen. Whether it’s a new career path, retirement, the end of a relationship, or an unexpected life shift, transitions often stir up a range of emotions, such as excitement, fear, grief, and uncertainty.
As a therapist, I often sit with clients who are navigating these sensitive turning points. This in-between space, where one chapter is closing and the next has yet to fully begin, can feel disorienting. But it is also a place of deep potential. I’d like to explore how we can meet life transitions with more compassion, clarity, and grace.
Even when a transition brings hope (a long-awaited retirement, a move to a new city, a chance to follow your passion), it can also bring grief. That’s because change, by its very nature, involves loss of roles, identity, community, routine, or the familiar version of ourselves.
In therapy, we often talk about the liminal space. This is the threshold between the old and the new. This space isn’t about rushing forward or clinging to the past, but allowing yourself to feel what needs to be felt, to process rather than avoid, and to slowly reorient toward what’s emerging.
From a nervous system perspective, change can trigger a state of dysregulation. You might feel scattered, on edge, emotionally raw, or disconnected. These aren’t signs that something is wrong with you. They’re signs that your system is adjusting.
Some gentle tools to support regulation during transitions include:
The goal isn’t to feel “in control” all the time. It’s to remain present, even when things feel uncertain.
“What if I made the wrong decision?”
It’s normal to second-guess when you’re in unfamiliar territory. Therapy can help you reconnect with why you made the change and what deeper values guided your decision. Clarity comes with time, reflection, and support.
“Why am I struggling so much when this is something I wanted?”
Even desired changes involve loss and adjustment. Emotional responses don’t always match our expectations, and that’s okay. You can hold space for your grief without letting it cancel out your hope.
“Is it too late to start over?”
No! Whether you’re 35, 55, or 75, it’s never too late to choose a life that feels more aligned. Your growth is ongoing, and your needs and desires are allowed to evolve.
“I’m not sure who I am without this role.”
That’s a tender and important place to be. There are many layers of who you are beyond productivity, titles, or responsibilities. Therapy helps rebuild a sense of self that feels grounded and whole.
Transitions are layered. You might feel excited one day and overwhelmed the next. You might grieve what you’re leaving while also feeling hopeful about what’s ahead. All of it belongs.
One of the most healing things we can do is make space for the full emotional landscape without rushing to resolve or bypass it. This is the foundation of self-compassion.
Whether you’re moving through retirement, shifting careers, relocating, or simply sensing a deep inner change, you deserve support. Therapy can offer a safe, reflective space to explore what’s coming up and to strengthen the emotional tools that help you feel grounded through it all.
Together, we can work at your pace to make sense of the past, stay present to what is, and slowly envision what’s next.
You are not behind or lost. You are in a process. And there is grace in the becoming.
— Nancy Belknap, Clinical Counselor
Walking with you through addiction, trauma, healing, and hope.
License Number: CAS01-052996
License Number: CCAPP-C13641214