Life Transitions
Major life changes can unsettle even the most resilient people. Becoming a parent, a relationship ending or beginning, a career change, bereavement, or simply a period where your routine and sense of identity have shifted — all of these can bring anxiety, low mood, or a feeling of being unmoored, even when the change itself was wanted.
I support clients navigating parenthood, relationship changes, and breaking generational patterns, among other transitions, using a practical, structured approach.
What this might look like for you
The huge adjustment of pregnancy and early parenthood, and everything it changes about your life and identity.
Separation, divorce, or the beginning of a new relationship, and everything that comes with renegotiating your life around it.
A shift in work identity, whether chosen or unexpected, and the uncertainty that can bring.
Grief and the process of adjusting to life after losing someone or something significant.
The disruption of leaving familiar surroundings, routines, and support networks behind.
Any period where the structure or sense of self you'd relied on has changed, even without a single defining event.
Becoming a parent is one of the transitions I see most often, and one I have particular specialist experience in. If that's what's bringing you here, my perinatal mental health page goes into more depth. Transitions can also bring up generational patterns you want to do differently.
Is this normal?
Feeling unsettled during a period of change is a normal response, and it usually eases as you adjust. It's worth seeking support when the anxiety, low mood, or sense of being overwhelmed persists, is affecting your relationships or ability to function, or when you feel stuck rather than gradually adjusting.
This applies just as much to positive changes as difficult ones. Wanting the change doesn't mean the adjustment will be easy.
How CBT helps
CBT helps by looking at the specific thoughts and worries a transition has brought up, and building practical coping strategies suited to your actual circumstances, not generic advice. Where the transition involves processing loss or difficult change, we work through this at a pace that feels manageable.
This is collaborative work focused on helping you feel steadier and more able to move forward, at your own pace.
We start with a free 15-minute consultation, followed by an assessment session to understand what you're experiencing and agree a plan, then regular 50-minute CBT sessions. See the full process →
Frequently asked questions
People vary widely in how they respond to change, often based on past experiences, personality, and how much support and stability they have around them at the time. Finding a particular transition hard doesn't mean you're coping badly.
Yes. You don't need a crisis or a negative event to justify seeking support. Even positive changes, like a new job or becoming a parent, can bring real difficulty adjusting, and that's a valid reason to reach out.
Not at all. It's common for transitions to overlap, and working through them together, rather than separately, often reflects how they're actually affecting you.
CBT is a structured, evidence-based clinical approach delivered by a BABCP-accredited therapist, focused on understanding and addressing the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours affecting you, rather than general goal-setting or advice.
Yes. It's common to feel low, anxious, or unsettled during positive transitions, even when you wanted the change. Adjustment takes real effort, regardless of whether the change itself was welcome.
No referral is needed. You can get in touch directly, and we'll start with a free 15-minute consultation to talk through what you're experiencing.
Ready to talk?
You're welcome to get in touch for a free, no-obligation 15-minute consultation. There's no pressure and no expectation that you have everything figured out before we speak.
Book your free consultation