Now accepting new clients in West Hartford, CT — in-person & virtual.
Now accepting new clients in West Hartford, CT — in-person & virtual.
Reaching out for support during these times is not a sign of weakness. It is one of the most honest things a person can do.
Some might argue that we are always in transition. But certain life changes feel different — like stepping out of our comfort zone entirely, into something unpredictable, exciting, frightening, or all of the above. Whether it’s a new job, a divorce, a retirement, an empty nest, the death of a parent, or simply a growing sense that something needs to change, the common experience is more stress, more confusion, and often a quiet voice asking: is this really it?
Reaching out for support during these times is not a sign of weakness. It is one of the most honest things a person can do.
Many people find themselves at midlife suddenly responsible for aging parents — a strange kind of role reversal that can bring up grief, obligation, exhaustion, and complicated feelings about mortality, including their own. At the same time, they may be grappling with their own aging — physical changes, slowing down, a different relationship to their bodies than they once had. Perhaps they’re losing friends. Perhaps they’re thinking, more seriously than ever before, about death and how much time remains.
These are not easy things to think about alone. They are worth bringing into a room.
At midlife, many people take stock of their relationships in new and sometimes uncomfortable ways. Should I stay in this partnership — or is it time to be honest about what isn’t working? Am I estranged from my children, my siblings, my parents? Have I been so focused on everyone else that I’ve lost track of what I want and who I am?
This is also the time when many people begin to rethink their relationship to substances — alcohol in particular. The thing that used to help them unwind or connect is no longer working the way it once did, or they’re worried about where it’s heading. These questions deserve honest attention, not avoidance.
I have worked with many people who have achieved a great deal — financial security, professional success, loving relationships — and are still quietly, persistently unhappy. They have lost a sense of wonder, or enthusiasm, or direction. They feel stuck in a routine that no longer fits them, or they have spent so long taking care of everyone else that they’ve forgotten what they actually want.
Sometimes, unaddressed wounds from the past need to be faced before a person can truly move forward. Sometimes, the work is about giving yourself permission to want something different — to revive an old passion, try something new, or simply acknowledge that the story you’ve been living isn’t the only one available to you.
It is not too late. And it is not selfish to pay attention to yourself.
The first step is simply a conversation. A free 20- minute phone call — no pressure, no commitment. Most people find that one conversation makes the decision considerably easier.
