Our specialties

Life Transitions Counseling

New, challenging experiences are a normal part of life, but counseling through We Rise Therapy & Wellness will help you transition with clarity and confidence.

Is A New Period Of Your Life Presenting Painful Challenges?

Are you entering a new phase of your life, reeling from a difficult experience, or trying to make a big decision? Do you feel confused about how to move forward in a way that honors your unique identity, strengths, and values? And do you identify as South Asian or otherwise BIPOC?

Whether you’re adjusting to a new living situation, job, or relationship, you may be feeling anxious about what’s next. And if your life transition involves some element of loss—including a breakup or the death of a loved one—you are likely experiencing intense emotional pain and loneliness.

Feelings of grief are intensified by the lack of a supportive, understanding community. Maybe you have just moved to a new place, and you’re struggling to maintain old relationships while making new connections. In particular, as a person of color, you may have come up against cultural barriers in your situation. And it’s possible that your feelings aren’t validated or normalized, causing you to bottle up and suppress tough emotions.

Welcomed Transitions Still Present Obstacles

Even if this next chapter is an exciting one—maybe you’re starting a career, getting married, or becoming a parent—the adjustment is still hard at times. You may be afraid of the responsibilities and expectations that come with the serious commitment you’re making, and you don’t want to mess up. Perhaps you frequently feel nostalgic for the past, having trouble letting go of the familiar and embracing this new phase of life.

Whatever it may be, your response to life’s highs and lows is normal. Feelings of confusion, grief, and loneliness often accompany significant milestones. But counseling for life transitions offers a supportive, understanding atmosphere where you can gain clarity on your past, present, and future.

The Mental Health Stigma Is Prevalent Everywhere — Especially Among Communities Of Color

Significant life transitions are something we all experience. These shifts can feel painful and directionless in the moment, but fortunately, they’re temporary. The customized support of therapy meets you where you are in your journey, allowing you to heal and move forward. 

Yet, mental health remains stigmatized in many communities. Due to certain gender and cultural norms, showing emotions is often seen as a sign of weakness. And many of us in communities of color are conditioned towards perfectionism and appearing as “strong enough” to face adversity without struggle. Furthermore, we encounter specific systemic and generational traumas that have historically kept us from receiving the care and support we need. 

Without the trained, empathetic support of a counselor, we may not be able to see all the ways that stigma, fear, and denial impact our lives. Therapy can offer a new way of understanding ourselves and our experiences. Through We Rise Therapy & Wellness, you can be given the tools and guidance needed to navigate life’s transitions.

Counseling For Life Transitions At We Rise Therapy & Wellness

As life circumstances shift, it can be easy to lose sight of authentic wants, needs, and values. Therapy offers you the time and space to reflect deeply, paving the way for immense emotional growth. 

Our clinicians are empathetic, nonjudgmental therapists of color who work to honor the diverse experiences of each of our clients. We aim to cultivate an open, individualized, and multicultural atmosphere where you can feel safe and supported in counseling. If you identify as South Asian or BIPOC and are navigating any significant life transition, we welcome you to therapy. 

What To Expect

The counseling process begins with a general intake that will help us match you with the therapist who is best suited to meet your needs. During your first session together, you will be able to ask questions and assess therapeutic fit to decide if you want to move forward with counseling for life transitions.

We are a strengths-based, client-centered practice, which means that therapy is tailored to your unique life transition and experience. Depending on your main treatment goals, we are likely to incorporate some combination of behavioral methods, attachment theory, mindfulness, and cultural relational therapy into your sessions. We recognize the unique systemic hurdles you face as a person of color and believe that culturally aware perspectives are essential to the healing process.

Because transitional periods of life often come with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, we will spend time together in therapy building your toolkit for coping and improving your thinking behaviors and self-talk. As we trace uncomfortable symptoms and negative self-beliefs back to their root, we’ll likely explore the cultural and familial barriers that have shaped your perception. Eventually, you will be able to see how automatic negative thinking contributes to patterns of emotional pain and discomfort.

Not only will you gain a deeper understanding of how you think and why in therapy—you will feel actively validated, supported, and led through your life’s most significant events. Counseling for life transitions is an investment in yourself, resulting in a happier, healthier, and more aware future.

Still Unsure If Therapy Is Right For You?

I can deal with this life transition on my own—I don’t need a therapist.

You may have been raised in an environment where therapy wasn’t acceptable, or you were taught that you need to deal with challenges on your own. These are negative core beliefs that are driving symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. A trained, unbiased clinician—especially a therapist of color who understands your unique experience—can help you develop new ways of thinking.

You won’t be able to help or relate to my perspective.

As POC ourselves, we understand that there are cultural stigmas about therapy and that certain systemic barriers have probably invalidated or minimized your experience. While our therapists don’t share your exact struggle or life transition, they can still relate to you, offering meaningful support and affirmation.

Therapy simply costs too much.

Counseling is an investment in yourself, and the insights you gain through therapy are perspectives you can take with you through any transition in your life. Furthermore, working with a specialist who understands your unique cultural background and experiences is likely a better, more efficient investment than untailored treatment. If cost is still a concern, note that we are a United Healthcare insurance provider and that reduced fees are available on a limited basis.

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Get The Tailored Support You Need

Obstacles, milestones, and transitions are a normal part of life, but counseling can help you gain clarity on your feelings and decisions moving forward. Fill out a consultation form to be matched with a therapist or give us a call at (973) 370 – 2290 Monday through Friday (8a – 8p EST) to get started with our client coordinator.