Career Transitions Counseling & Therapy
Turn Uncertainty into Understanding and Write the Next Chapter of Your Life with Clarity, Confidence, and Optimism
You had a plan. You thought you knew what you wanted professionally. So how did everything end up so uncertain?
Whether you've spent years climbing the career ladder, only to realize the view from the top isn't what you hoped for, or you've been laid off, burned out, or feel left behind, or something inside you is calling for a change ... but you're paralyzed by the fear of starting over, career counseling and therapy can help.
Most of us spend 30%, 40%, even 50% of our waking hours "at work." When people ask us, "What do you do?" we automatically assume they mean professionally. To a large extent, our careers define who we are.
So it's no surprise that career transitions – whether chosen or unexpected – can stir up all kinds of emotions: anxiety, grief, confusion, fear, relief, even shame ... sometimes all at once.
At Big Life Change Therapy, we understand that your career is about much more than just a means to a paycheck. It's identity, purpose, routine, community, security – and when it shifts, so does everything else. This is why we provide compassionate, expert support to help you not only evaluate your current career path, but also navigate uncertain times with compassion, clarity, and confidence.
Whether you're changing careers, reentering the workforce, retiring, or recovering from burnout, we're here to walk with you through it all each and every step of the way.
How Career Transitions Counseling & Therapy Can Help
Career transitions involve more than just rewriting your CV or resume. They can impact our self-esteem, sense of purpose, relationships, finances, and lead to us rewriting the story of our lives – both who we are and who we want to be.
Career transitions counseling and therapy give you a space to pause and ask the deeper questions that are so important during pivotal moments:
-
Who am I if I'm not doing what I've always done?
-
What do I actually want from my work and my life?
-
How do I move forward when I feel so uncertain, stuck, or scared?
Fortunately, you don’t have to figure out all of the answers on your own.
Career transitions counseling can help you:
-
Understand and process complex feelings like grief, shame, resentment, or imposter syndrome
-
Develop practical strategies for managing uncertainty and stress
-
Identify patterns or internal narratives that may be holding you back
-
Rebuild your confidence and sense of worth
-
Cultivate adaptability and resilience as you explore new possibilities
-
Clarify your priorities, values, and goals before you begin writing the next chapter of your professional life
And we provide support for clients going through every type of career transition ...
Career Change or Pivot
Whether you're choosing to change industries or responding to unexpected life circumstances, we can help you:
-
Evaluate what's no longer working ... and why
-
Explore new possibilities and identify transferable skills
-
Work through imposter syndrome, fears of failure, or self-doubt about "starting over"
-
Rebuild your confidence and sense of direction
-
Make aligned, values-based career choices
Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
If you're feeling emotionally depleted, unmotivated, or numb from your work, you're likely experiencing burnout. We're here to support you as you:
-
Identify the symptoms and causes of burnout
-
Learn how to set boundaries and practice sustainable self-care
-
Heal from emotional exhaustion and rebuild your internal resources
-
Reconnect with whatever it is that feeds your passion, purpose, and energy
-
Exploring whether to recommit to your work or take a new path
Layoff or Job Loss
Being laid off can leave you reeling – not only from the loss of income, but from the loss of structure, community, and identity. Counseling can help you:
-
Process the shock, grief, or anger that can come with sudden job loss
-
Address fears about financial insecurity or your future
-
Re-establish your sense of direction, purpose, and self-worth
-
Emotionally prepare for the job search process
-
Make meaning from your experience and move forward with confidence
Returning to Work After a Break
Whether due to caregiving, illness, education, having a baby, or any other reason, reentering the workforce after an extended period can be an intimidating, if not daunting process. We here to help you:
-
Recreate and re-establish your professional identity
-
Address anxieties about relevance, ageism, or perceived gaps in experience
-
Navigate work-life balance concerns, especially if you're a family caregiver
-
Strategize your return with self-compassion, clarity, and confidence
-
Advocate for your needs in an ever-changing professional world
Late-Life Transitions or Retirement
Late-life career transitions can be some of the most difficult. And even if you're looking forward to retiring, it can still stir up feelings around identity, uncertainty, and loss. We offer the support you need to:
-
Process the grief that comes with leaving a long-held role
-
Navigate relationship shifts that may arise in retirement
-
Adjust to new rhythms and expectations in daily life
-
Continue to cultivate a sense of community outside of the office
-
Create a "third act" that feels deeply aligned, meaningful, and fulfilling
Our Therapeutic Approach
At Big Life Change Therapy, our clinicians are highly trained in life transitions, career psychology, and identity development. We use an integrative, compassionate, client-centered approach that supports your unique needs, emotional healing, and growth, including:
-
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you stay grounded in your values while navigating uncertainty
-
Narrative Therapy to explore and re-author the stories you tell yourself about success, identity, and purpose
-
Mindfulness and Somatic Practices to manage anxiety, stress, and feelings of overwhelm
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts or beliefs that are limiting your confidence and sense of possibility
-
Self-Compassion Work to counter perfectionism, self-blame, guilt, or imposter syndrome
-
Career-Focused Exploration, including values assessments, goal-setting, and meaning-based visioning
We also offer both virtual and in-person career counseling and therapy sessions with flexible scheduling to support your evolving needs.
When to Seek Help
There's no need to wait until you're completely burnt out, lost, or laid off to benefit from career counseling. Consider reaching out if you find yourself:
-
Routinely struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, or feelings of overwhelm
-
Feeling unmotivated, stuck, or disillusioned in your current role
-
Recovering from a professional setback
-
Facing a major career decision or the possibility of being laid off
-
Experiencing a loss of identity, confidence, or purpose
-
Grappling with fears about "starting over"
-
Unsure of what comes next – or who you want to become
Do We Have the Best Career Transitions Counselor for You?
At Big Life Change Therapy, we specialize in helping people navigate life's most challenging transitions – because we know that change isn't just about logistics, it's about identity, purpose, and meaning.
And few transitions are as emotionally complex and overwhelming as a major professional or career change ...
Career transitions can be exciting, terrifying, destabilizing, and empowering. And they don't just affect your resume. They ripple through every area of your life.
This is why we offer:
-
Compassionate, nonjudgmental support from clinicians who "get it"
-
Specialized training in identity development and life transitions
-
Appointments within 48 hours whenever possible
-
Sliding scale options to help make support more accessible
-
In-person and telehealth sessions to fit your needs
That being said, while many of us face similar issues, we're all unique individuals. We all have different ways of dealing with change. And we all have different ways of healing and moving forward.
This is why no one therapist can be the best career counselor for every client.
Fortunately, Big Life Change Therapy is more than just one therapist.
Our team includes clinicians who are highly trained and experienced in relationship dynamics, identity issues, anxiety and stress management, life transitions, and many other aspects of career development. There's a strong chance one of us will be a great fit for your unique personality and needs.
Of course, the only way to know for sure is to contact us, let us know how we can help, and see if we feel like a good fit.
Career transitions are major turning points in our lives ... but they don't have to be a crisis. Yes, your work matters. But so do you!
Contact us today, schedule a free 15-minute consultation, ask any questions you have, share your story, and discover how career transitions counseling and therapy at Big Life Change Therapy can help you turn uncertainty into understanding as you learn to intentionally write the next chapter of your life with clarity, confidence, and optimism.