In-person & online across CA
LIFE TRANSITIONS Therapy in pasadena, cA
For people navigatinG career change, divorce, empty nest, (peri)menopause, Family boundaries & major life shifts.
"Everything is changing, and I don't know who I am anymore."
"The life I built doesn't fit anymore, but I don't know what comes next."
“I'm moving forward, but part of me is still grieving what I left behind.”
Sound familiar?
THE IN-BETWEEN IS THE HARDEST PART.
Life transitions — even the ones you choose, even the ones you've been planning for — are harder than people realize. It's not just about adjusting to new circumstances; it's about navigating the loss of who you were, the uncertainty of who you're becoming, and the disorienting space in between.
Most people going through major transitions aren't falling apart — they're managing, often quite well. They're showing up to work, taking care of responsibilities, putting on a brave face. But underneath is someone grieving what's been lost, questioning whether they made the right choice, and feeling untethered from the identity and structure that used to make sense — whether that's a career, a relationship, a role, or the family dynamics you've finally decided to change.
Transitions can look like starting over, saying goodbye, learning to set boundaries, or stepping into the unknown. They can feel like relief and grief at the same time, excitement mixed with terror, freedom that somehow feels like freefall. It's the cognitive dissonance of wanting something and mourning it simultaneously. It's asking "who am I now?" when all your old answers no longer fit.
You don't need to have it all figured out. You need support for the messy, uncertain middle — the space between who you were and who you're becoming.
Explore
past experiences
How you navigate transitions now is often shaped by how transitions were handled in your past. If change meant instability, loss, or abandonment in your early life, your nervous system may experience even positive transitions as threatening.
We'll explore your history with change, loss, and identity — the messages you received about who you're supposed to be, what happens when things fall apart, and whether it's safe to let go. Understanding these patterns helps you see why this transition feels so destabilizing, and what old wounds might be getting activated.
identify
The root cause
Transitions are hard for everyone, but they're especially difficult when they trigger deeper fears: fear of the unknown, fear of making the wrong choice, fear of losing yourself, or fear of being alone.
We'll identify what's underneath your struggle — whether it's attachment wounds that make change feel like abandonment, perfectionism that makes uncertainty unbearable, or identity patterns where your sense of self has always been tied to external roles. Once you understand what's driving the difficulty, you can work with it consciously rather than being controlled by it.
uncover
What matters to you
Transitions force you to ask fundamental questions: Who am I without this relationship, this role, this structure? What do I actually want, now that the path I was on has ended? What kind of life do I want to build from here?
We'll help you reconnect with your values, clarify what brings you meaning, and discover who you're becoming on the other side of this change. This isn't about having all the answers; it's about creating space for the questions and trusting the process of becoming.
I’m here to help with:
+ Life transitions like divorce, career changes, becoming a parent, empty nest, coming out, perimenopause/ menopause, new relationships, health diagnoses, relocation, or retirement
+Setting boundaries with difficult family members or navigating estrangement
+Healing from growing up in an emotionally immature, narcissistic, or abusive family
+The overwhelm of too many decisions all at once
+Fear of the unknown & anxiety about making the "right" choice
+ Feeling lost between who you were and who you're becoming
+ Discovering what you value and who you want to be now
+ The identity crisis that can come with major change
+ Grief for what was, even when you chose it
If you’re ready to…
01
Stop feeling lost, confused, and untethered from yourself
02
Regain a sense of clarity, direction, and groundedness
03
Explore who you're becoming without rushing the process
04
Create a life that honors both who you were and who you're becoming
…then let’s TALK
Who you were will always be part of you. But it doesn't have to define who you're becoming.
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A life transition is any significant change that shifts your identity, roles, relationships, or sense of self. This includes divorce or relationship endings, career changes or retirement, becoming an empty nester, coming out, major relocations, loss of a loved one, health diagnoses, or any moment when the life you've been living no longer fits.
Transitions can be chosen (leaving a job, ending a relationship) or unchosen (layoffs, deaths, unexpected diagnoses). What they all have in common is that they ask you to let go of who you were and figure out who you're becoming.
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This is one of the most common — and confusing — aspects of life transitions. Even wanted changes involve loss. You can want the divorce and still grieve the marriage. You can choose to leave your job and still mourn the identity it gave you. You can be excited about your kids leaving home and still feel untethered without the structure of parenting.
Grief and relief can coexist. Growth and loss can happen simultaneously. Just because you chose the change doesn't mean it won't be difficult or that you won't need support navigating it.
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Absolutely. Unchosen transitions often come with additional layers of grief, anger, and powerlessness. When change is forced on you, it's even harder to make sense of who you are now and what comes next.
Therapy can help you process the grief and anger, find agency in a situation you didn't choose, and rebuild a sense of self even when the ground beneath you has shifted without your permission. You may not have chosen the transition, but you can choose how you move through it.
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I don't just focus on coping strategies or "moving on" quickly. I help you understand why this transition is so difficult — the attachment patterns, identity structures, and beliefs about yourself that are being challenged. I integrate depth psychology, EMDR, and somatic approaches to work with the grief, fear, and identity confusion at multiple levels.
We'll explore not just what you're transitioning from, but who you're becoming — and we'll do it at a pace that honors both the loss and the possibility. This isn't about rushing through; it's about moving through with intention.
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Schedule a Free Consultation and choose a time that works for you. We'll spend 20 minutes on the phone talking about what you're looking for and whether my approach feels like a good match. If it does, we'll schedule your first session and get started. If not, that's okay too — I'm happy to provide referrals to other therapists who might be a better fit.