Therapy for when you feel stuck
Located in Boston, MA. Serving adults throughout Massachusetts & Florida.
Breaking free from others’ expectations.
There’s been a very strict and narrow pathway that you’re supposed to walk, and you’ve done a great job of it. You’ve followed your parents’ expectations, abided by your community’s norms, and strived to be the person you’re supposed to be. Now, you feel like a shell. Nothing seems interesting anymore. Your job is enervating. Your social life has no spark. No one in your life seems to get you. You’re even bored with your clothes.
You keep remembering how excited you used to get about things. You wonder if you could ever get that back. Or, does adulting mean giving up on happiness?
You’re scared: Will things always feel this dull? What happens if you spend the rest of your life trying to be the person other people want you to be? What happens if you don’t?
You wish that you could talk about these things with your friends and family, but you feel like no one will understand. Or, worse: they’ll get upset with you or think you’re crazy.
You’re not crazy; you’ve been really good at following rules created by other people. It can take years to realize those rules don’t work for you. Now that you’ve realized it, let’s help you figure out what does work for you.
When we receive powerful messages about who we’re supposed to be, we end up building a life that doesn’t fit.
Do you
every
Feel Like:
You have trouble identifying your own likes/dislikes… but you’re really good at knowing what others want from you.
Your friends and family don’t seem to really know who you are.
You’re anxious all the time.
You’ve been imagining quitting life and going to some far off place where you can start over..
There’s this dream that you’ve kept in your back pocket for years, but you’re terrified of actually pursuing it because you know that people in your life will not approve.
Feel excited about Today and Look forward to tomorrow.
IN THERAPY, WE WILL...
Identify the challenges: Let’s be real– we don’t all live in the world of Eat, Pray, Love. Dropping everything to pursue a dream and find yourself is a beautiful idea, but you need to eat. And, you can’t just disregard everything your family has asked of you– they’re important to you and you want them in your life. We will explore the real challenges you face, as well as notice the areas where you have space for movement.
Find your voice: Often, we become so entrenched in meeting expectations that we can’t differentiate between what someone else wants for us and what we want for ourselves. As we explore the messages you’ve received about who you should be, we’ll also identify and strengthen the things that feel right to you.
Build Courage: Trailblazing is SCARY. In therapy, we can make space to think about the next steps you’d like to take. Therapy can help you build a plan as well as identify obstacles and supports, so that you don’t feel like you’re jumping into an abyss. And, therapy can help you explore factors that contribute to feeling stuck.
Therapy can help you trust yourself.
Escaping the Path that others have set for you can feel difficult, if not impossible. As we work together, you may notice:
You feel better able to identify the things that you enjoy and that are important to you.
You are more comfortable talking about yourself and actually showing aspects of yourself to the people who matter to you.
You feel more fulfilled.
You have more courage to pursue the things that are important to you.
You are more comfortable with who you are.
You are taking action, feel empowered, and are proud of yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions
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This is not career counseling. We will do in-depth work that explores thought patterns and beliefs that are making you feel stuck. We will also take a forward-looking lens that helps you set goals and build a plan for moving forward. And, while your career may be one focus of our work together, it will not be the only focus. Our work can help you identify and get reacquainted with your interests.
Career counseling can help you identify your strengths, challenges, and the careers that align with them. Career counselors are familiar with assessments that can help you hone in on career choices that work for you. They will also be familiar with the vast array of job and career paths that are out there.
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Each family has their own norms and expectations. While our work together will not change others’ expectations of you, it can help you:
Gain a better understanding of others’ expectations and how they affect your life.
Identify how you would like to abide by those expectations and how you would like to break free of those expectations.
Know where it feels safe to share yourself and your life choices with others.
Identify the parts of your life where it doesn’t feel safe and build a plan to help navigate these areas.
Develop ways to talk with loved ones about what’s important to you.
Build boundaries that help you support yourself while also sustaining relationships with people you care about.