Thriving in New Beginnings: The Role of Therapy For Women During Times of Change
In my experience, people seek therapy for women for three reasons. First, to relieve a painful symptom; second, to understand themselves better and build a life they want; and/or third, to process a past or upcoming life event that has rocked their world. That third option is an interesting one, and it’s an increasingly common reason for people to book a session with me. The women I work with are doing ALL THE THINGS. All of them! Here are just a few:
Becoming a parent
Buying a house
Changing jobs
Working towards a promotion
Ending relationships
Starting businesses
Getting married
Moving to new cities
… and on and on and on. And while many of these shifts are in service of their ambitious goals and the future selves they are pursuing, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows 24/7. Sometimes these transitions do produce negative symptoms to address in therapy (anxiety, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, panic, workaholism, burnout, etc.), and I’m happy to help them feel better as they navigate their life changes. There are also times, however, when the life change itself is sufficient “grist for the mill,” and using therapy to navigate a shift can be incredibly helpful.
Therapy For The Planning Stage
It’s easy to see why people would naturally seek therapy when deciding to embark upon a big life change. You have the upper hand here. Yes, something’s brewing on the horizon. But it’s something you have in your sights and you are actively, intentionally, moving toward. Individual counseling before marriage (a helpful addition to premarital counseling), while planning to welcome a new baby into the family, when considering divorce, or as a precursor to a big career move are all common reasons to seek therapy for women.
New beginnings often signify opportunities for growth and transformation. Yet they also come with their share of uncertainties and anxieties (yes, even if this is something you’re planning and very much looking forward to). High-achievers in particular face an interesting issue here. On one hand, they’re more likely to embark on certain kinds of planned new beginnings like starting businesses, pursuing promotions, and generally shaking things up to get the most out of their lives. For high-achieving women, however, the pressure to excel and maintain a sense of control can exacerbate those anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed feelings, leading to heightened stress levels and self-doubt. Perfectionism and anxiety often loom large during periods of transition. Amplifying feelings of inadequacy and fear of failure. When therapy works to help reframe perfectionism as a barrier to progress rather than a benchmark of success, individuals can embrace imperfection and navigate uncertainties with greater ease.
Therapy for Life’s Unexpected Transitions
Unexpected and unplanned life transitions come in many forms, from the excitement of a brand new relationship to the grief of sudden loss. What’s notable, though, is that even positive life changes can cause emotional upheaval. Particularly when those changes are not planned in advance. For high-achieving women, accustomed to juggling multiple responsibilities and striving for perfection, these transitions can feel particularly daunting. (Have you ever felt like just shouting, “This was NOT in the plan, universe!”)
During these times, therapy can help you gain insight into your emotions, identify patterns of behavior that are helping you or hurting you, and develop coping strategies to navigate new terrain. In therapy we’re not working on quieting the chaos of the world — the world just knocked you on your butt right out of nowhere! Instead, therapy is working on YOU — you’re flexibility, your adaptability, your coping, your resilience. I like to say therapy isn’t training the horse, it’s training the rider to build her core strength so she can stay on the bucking bronco. These times of transition are exactly when that’s needed.
Therapy for a New Role
Whether planned or unplanned, there’s an intensity that comes from a life transition that not only changes the world around you, it puts you in an entirely different role. This may be at home — new mom, new wife, new homeowner, etc. — or at work — new boss, new business owner, new manager, new team member. Wherever it hits, a new role can be exhilarating and daunting all at once. High-achieving women often carry a heavy weight of expectations, both internal and external, and in transitions like this, you’re often even more in need of unbiased support to help you fill those new shoes.
It may feel like you’re starting from scratch, but in truth, there have been years of experience that brought you to this particular place (or that will help you navigate this space if you didn’t intend to be here). Therapy can be enormously helpful in this area, especially long-term, client-led therapy in particular — as you build the relationship and your therapist really gets to know you, she can help you piece together bits of your past and hopes for your future in order to build the blueprint you need to negotiate the new aspect of yourself you are stepping into.
Navigating Life’s Changes and Prioritizing Mental Well-Being With Therapy for Women
I think an important factor here is that even if a life change is planned, or positive, or puts you in a position you’ve always hoped to achieve, it’s often still something that will rock you.
I know y’all are out there making big things happen! Keep in mind through all of it that you are the vehicle of all this change. You are the one making the plans and executing them. You are the one bobbing and weaving, navigating whatever gets thrown at you. You are the one who will ensure you come out on top! So, like a top athlete, you need to stay in top shape, and that includes your mental health. If this feels like it resonates with you, utilize therapy for women with Rebecca AE Smith, Ph.D. to build resilience, explore identity and values, hone coping strategies, and process the shifts happening in your life to keep you heading in the direction of your best self.
Begin Thriving With The Help of Therapy for Women in New Orleans, LA!
If you are a woman embarking on new beginnings and navigating life's changes: now is the time to prioritize your well-being and embrace support tailored for you. Seek out therapy for women, offering a nurturing space to explore challenges, embrace transitions, and unlock your full potential. With Rebecca AE Smith, Ph.D., take the empowering step towards growth, resilience, and thriving amidst change – because you deserve to flourish in every chapter of your journey. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
Begin meeting with a skilled therapist for women, Rebecca AE Smith, Ph.D.
Start thriving in change and new beginnings!
Other Services Offered With Rebecca AE Smith, Ph.D.
Are you a millennial struggling with anxiety, perfectionism, life transitions, and more? In addition to helping you thrive with change with Rebecca AE Smith, Ph.D., I can help you work through your struggles or challenges to begin managing and coping with your symptoms in healthy ways with Therapy for Women. I also provide Therapy for Perfectionism for those struggling to help you address your perfectionism symptoms. I provide online services for those in the state of Louisiana and Virginia. For more about me check out my About Me page and Blog!