Becoming a parent, blending families, and major life transitions

Embarking on parenthood, ending a relationship, and forming a blended family are some of the seismic life transitions that have ripple effects for years. These changes impact our view of ourselves and what is possible for us, not to mention our day to day quality of life. They can be a great source of loss, confusion, disappointment, and resentment. I help people put their experience into words and validate the range of their feelings—from disappointment and anger to excitement and possibility.

I help clients navigate the emotionally turbulent process of family-building with all its challenges and in all its forms, including pregnancy, difficulty getting pregnant, assisted reproduction, parenthood, and blending families. Even positive change involves loss. Acknowledging and making space for disappointment helps free us up to embrace our experience as it is. In turn, that paves the way for us to grow into our new realities in a spirit of clarity and acceptance.

There is always something you can do to improve your experience, whether that change is internal, like considering alternative perspectives and achieving acceptance, or external, such as open, honest conversations with loved ones.

How I help

My work with life transitions focuses on identity and beliefs about how our lives should look. We explore the stories you tell yourself about your circumstances, what it means to inhabit certain desired or feared roles, and what it would mean to live with certain outcomes. Together, we make sense of the intense emotional reactions—which can ultimately include disengagement or numbing—and discover better, healthier ways of being.

Drawing on the principles of acceptance and change, we work to recognize and determine what is necessary to accept and what part of your circumstances are amenable to change.

There is hope and growth to be found.

At times, we confront and resolve some of the practical challenges you face. You are the expert on your life. Throughout the process, I work to understand and help you manage and move through your life transitions in ways that are aligned with your values. You deserve a life that fits you and your changing world. I help you shape your new role according to who you are and who you want to be.

Benefits of therapy

  • Understand that your entire emotional experience is valid.

  • Learn why unwanted feelings often come up when you expect to feel most positive and confident

  • Develop new, flexible ways of thinking about your situation

  • Find positive ways to cope with negative feelings

  • Increase your tolerance for uncertainty and learn to accept unavoidable discomfort

  • Take action to shift course and assert your needs and boundaries

Let’s get started!

Call me at 646-397-8889 or click on the button below. We’ll schedule a 15-minute phone consultation to talk about what you want to work on and how I might help you. If we agree that we’re a fit, we can meet in person or virtually and begin figuring out how to help you make the changes you need.