Life transitions
Divorce, a new job, a loss, an empty house. Counseling for the seasons when the ground shifts.
Some of the hardest stretches of life are not disorders. They are transitions: a marriage ending, a career change or layoff, a move, a death, retirement, kids leaving, a diagnosis. Even wanted changes can knock you flat, and there is often no one whose job it is to help you think it through.
Counseling during a transition is focused and practical. It gives you a steady place to sort out what you feel, decide what you want, and build the next chapter deliberately instead of by default.
What it can look like
- A major change, chosen or not, that has left you unsteady
- Grief that is not moving, or that arrives at unexpected moments
- Decision fatigue and second-guessing
- Feeling like you have lost your footing or your sense of who you are
- Anxiety about what comes next, or dread of the routine you are leaving
- Relationships strained by the change
How counseling helps
Brett starts by understanding the transition itself and what it has disrupted: routines, roles, identity, finances, faith, or all of the above. Naming the losses inside a change, even a good one, is often the first relief.
From there the work is cognitive behavioral and forward-looking. You clarify what you can and cannot control, challenge the stories that say you should be handling this better, and build concrete routines and decisions that move you into the next season. Grief gets its own room when it needs it.
This is short-term work for many people, and it does not require anything to be wrong with you. It requires only that something has changed.
Three steps, and the first one is free
- 01
Free 10-minute call
Describe what has changed. Brett will tell you how counseling can help and how many sessions might make sense.
- 02
Initial assessment
A full picture of the transition, your supports, and your goals for the next chapter.
- 03
Focused sessions
Weekly or every other week, by secure video or in person, with practical steps between sessions.
How long it takes
Transition work is often brief, from a handful of sessions to a few months, depending on how much has changed and how much grief is involved. You set the pace.
Counseling is a good fit if
- A major life change is under way or just happened
- You are grieving and want support that is practical, not clinical
- You have a decision to make and want a clear head
- You want to enter the next chapter on purpose
Before the first call
Anything not answered here is a good question for the free call. All FAQs →
I am not depressed or anxious. Is counseling still for me?
Yes. Transition counseling is for people navigating change well and wanting to do it better, as much as for people who are struggling.
Can this be short-term?
Often it is. Brett will tell you on the free call what a reasonable arc looks like, and you can stop whenever you have what you need.
Is grief counseling included?
Yes. Loss of any kind, whether a person, a marriage, a role, or a home, is common in transition work and gets the time it needs.
What does it cost?
A $175 initial assessment, then $150 per session. In network with UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Anthem, and CareSource.
Related
All specialties →
Depression
Low mood, loss of interest, and the heaviness that makes ordinary days hard.
Learn more →
Anxiety and stress
Racing thoughts, worry that will not switch off, panic, and the toll it takes on sleep and work.
Learn more →
Relationship issues
Family conflict, friendships, and patterns that repeat across relationships.
Learn more →
