How long does grief therapy take?

The length of therapy varies depending on individual needs. Some clients find relief in a few months, while others benefit from longer-term support.

Is grief therapy only for recent losses?

No, therapy can help with both recent and past losses, including unresolved grief that continues to impact your well-being.

What if I don’t feel ready to talk about my grief?

That’s okay. Therapy moves at your pace, providing a safe space to process your emotions when you feel comfortable.

Can grief therapy help with physical symptoms of grief?

Yes, therapy can address the physical manifestations of grief, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and tension, by helping you develop effective coping strategies.

How do I know if I need grief therapy?

If your grief feels overwhelming, interferes with daily life, or persists for an extended period, therapy may provide the support and guidance you need to heal.

Life Transitions Therapy in Philadelphia

Most of us expect to adapt to new circumstances quickly. But big changes—especially those that affect identity or relationships—tend to unsettle even the most grounded people. They can blur the boundaries between past and future, creating a sense of “in-between” that’s hard to tolerate.

You might notice yourself:

Feeling anxious, irritable, or emotionally drained
Doubting your choices or replaying “what-if” scenarios
Struggling to connect with loved ones
Feeling like your old coping skills aren’t working
Longing for stability but unsure where to find it

These reactions don’t mean you’re failing to cope—they mean something important is shifting. Therapy offers space to slow down, untangle what’s happening, and reconnect with the parts of yourself that know how to adapt.

When life changes, you don’t have to go through it alone

Big transitions — marriage or divorce, becoming a parent, moving into a new phase of life, or redefining your relationships — can stir up uncertainty and self-doubt. Even positive changes can bring stress. At Philadelphia Talk Therapy, we help adults navigate these shifts with clarity, compassion, and practical tools for adjustment.

Common Life Changes Clients Bring to Therapy

While no two stories are alike, many of my clients come to therapy during turning points such as:

Marriage or partnership changes — adjusting to commitment, blending lives, or navigating differences
Divorce or separation — rebuilding identity, confidence, and routine after a relationship ends
Parenthood — managing exhaustion, shifting priorities, or changes in intimacy and connection
Infertility or pregnancy-related stress — coping with uncertainty and the emotional toll of trying to conceive
Family conflict — redefining boundaries with parents, siblings, or adult children
Caregiving roles — balancing compassion with burnout when supporting a partner or parent
Midlife or identity shifts — reassessing purpose, values, and the life you want moving forward

Each of these experiences brings both loss and possibility. Therapy helps you hold space for both truths—grieving what’s changing while discovering new meaning in the life you’re building.

Women experiencing relief after receiving counseling in Philadelphia.

How Therapy Helps You Adjust to Change

In my work with clients navigating major life changes, I draw on approaches that help you both manage symptoms and deepen self-understanding:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): to identify and shift thinking patterns that heighten stress or guilt
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT): to explore how emotions like anger, sadness, and fear can guide rather than control you
Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based tools: to help you tolerate uncertainty and stay grounded in the present
Relational and meaning-centered work: to understand how your relationships, values, and story intersect with the change you’re experiencing

Together, we’ll move beyond coping to a place of curiosity—learning what this new phase is asking of you and how to respond from a steadier, more authentic self.

What to Expect in Therapy

Our work begins by clarifying what feels most unsettled. Some clients need help managing the day-to-day stress that comes with change; others want to understand deeper patterns that are being stirred up.
You can expect to:

Name and understand your emotional reactions to change
Develop language for what you’re experiencing
Strengthen your ability to regulate stress and anxiety
Reconnect with your sense of identity and purpose
Build skills to communicate and set boundaries effectively

Therapy doesn’t rush you toward acceptance—it gives you room to feel, reflect, and grow into the next version of yourself at your own pace.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

It’s a space to work through major changes that affect your identity, relationships, or sense of direction. Common examples include:
- Marriage, commitment, or blending families
- Divorce or separation
- Parenthood and changes in family dynamics
- Infertility or pregnancy challenges
- Shifting relationships with parents or adult children
- Becoming a caregiver for a loved one
- Midlife or identity changes — rethinking priorities, values, or self-concept
In short, Life Transitions Therapy covers any period of adjustment, uncertainty, or redefinition that asks you to reorient and find your footing again.
It depends on what you’re hoping to accomplish. Some people come for short-term support—4 to 8 sessions—to navigate a specific event. Others continue longer to explore deeper identity themes or relationship patterns. We’ll determine together what feels right.
I draw from CBT (to shift unhelpful thinking), Emotion-Focused work (to process and use emotions wisely), mindfulness/acceptance tools (to tolerate uncertainty), and meaning-centered, relational therapy (to reconnect with purpose and the people who matter).
This page focuses on relationship and family-role changes (e.g., marriage, divorce, parenthood, infertility, family conflict, midlife/identity shifts). I maintain separate sections for Grief & Loss and Career, so you can easily find targeted support there when needed.
No. I primarily work with individuals, but often help clients address relationship issues—communication, trust, or boundary-setting—within individual therapy. When couples work is more appropriate, I’m glad to provide referrals.

Begin Life Transitions Therapy in Philadelphia

If you’re navigating a major change and feeling uncertain, therapy can help you find steadiness and meaning in this new chapter.
Reach out today to schedule a free consultation. Together, we’ll explore what’s shifting and help you move forward with confidence, clarity, and self-compassion.

If you’re ready to start your journey, reach out to your therapist in Philadelphia to schedule an appointment.