Life Transitions

You knew life would be challenging, but this is ridiculous.

Is the statement, “Life sure has a way of throwing you curveballs” the understatement of the century?

You didn’t expect to be dealing with this. Things had been going along relatively smoothly, but now you have this major new problem to deal with. And it has changed everything.

Whether it’s a health issue in yourself or family member, a divorce or separation, a job loss, a concern about a loved one, or some other major change, this wasn’t what you had planned and it’s definitely causing you increased stress. You’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed, worried about the future and how long this will last. There is not enough time or space in the day, not enough energy in your system, to deal with this issue in the way you’d like.

It’s hard to know who to go to for help.

Your friends or family want to support you, but they don’t seem to know what to say, and you’re worried about talking about this so much. You don’t want to burn them out, so maybe you stop talking to them, but that just creates loneliness and disconnection from those around you.

You think, Surely there is a way to cope differently. If I’m going to have this problem, maybe there is a way for me to also find some enjoyment in my life, while all this is going on?

You’re definitely on the right track with that thought!

You can have a problem and still find ways to get breaks from the stress, demands, and anxiety you are dealing with. You can do so with a caring and compassionate therapist who is trained to provide objectivity and guide you through the steps you need to take to feel better.

At Life Counseling Institute, our counselors are trained to provide the safe space you need in which you can vent, figure out what you need, gain the coping strategies necessary to create change, and get back on track.

We’re therapists, and we’re a little biased, but we think, Why wouldn’t we all want just one hour a week to figure out what has happened, gain some insight, and figure out where we’re headed? The world is so confusing, especially when we’re facing a major life event.

Life transitions for which counseling may be helpful include :

• Coronavirus stressors, such as job loss, health concerns, and relationship issues
• Divorce, or the contemplation of divorce
• A change in or loss of a relationship
• Illness in yourself or a family member
• Death of a loved one, or other loss
• Career transition
• Job loss or financial change
• “Positive” stress, such as a move, new job, or birth of a child

When we’re struggling with a life transition, we may have to experience some upset feelings and negative emotions, such as fear, anxiety, sadness, or despair, before we regain our equilibrium and feel accepting of the change. It’s sometimes helpful to process these feelings with the help of a professional who is “outside the problem,” that is, not someone who is connected in any way with the day-to-day aspects of the problem or your life.

We would like to help you sort through those emotions, sort through your options, and find a way to make the issue you are experiencing actually help you grow and come out better for it. Remember that despite what may seem to be overwhelming circumstances, there is always a way to:

• Regain a sense of personal power
• Discover and act on options you may not have considered
• Manage stress more effectively
• Gain a new perspective on your problems and their role in your life
• Find strength and resilience you didn’t know you had
• Find support and enhance interpersonal connections even in the face of loss
• Regain hope and self-esteem
• Find a way back to your hopes and dreams

We look forward to working with you on the path to reclaiming your life.

Counseling is currently available online. Learn more about telehealth counseling here.
Later, when we can meet in person, we have offices in Park Ridge and in Willowbrook, and are likely not too far from you.