Adjustment Disorder

Adjustment disorders can happen for a number of reasons. It is important to recognize the negative impact these bring upon yourself as a result of a situation, expected or unexpected. By recognizing the situation and accepting what we cannot change, people often find new peace, or new strengths they never knew existed within themselves as a result of attending therapy.

Especially with COVID and all of the changes that are happening as a result, adjustment disorders are on the rise.

Difficulties adjusting to life transitions are common, especially for young adults, due to the sheer number of transitions that occur during this period of life. I help people build skills for coping with whatever life throws them.

I am delighted to have been able to assist many people who are struggling with challenges that are quite upsetting, often with both mood and anxiety components. Treatment includes practice with cognitive behavioral strategies designed to improve response to stressors and also use Eye Movement Desensitization (EMDR) therapy to desensitize upsetting stimuli. I would love to have opportunity to help you work through your adjustment issues.

It's often in transitions that we find the parts of us who need more attention or support. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy helps us address the parts of us experiencing concerns, which may arise in the form of panic, depression, anxiety, confusion, dissociation, anger, numbness, or resistance. These reactions are "trailheads" that will lead us to find lost, vulnerable parts of ourselves. Reclaiming these parts and their energy moves us successfully through to the other side.

An adjustment disorder can be any traumatic experience that causes significant distress, and can occur at any point throughout the course of life. We often think of death, illness, and aging as the existential foundations of personal trauma, but of course, our connection (or lack of connection) to others is absolutely central to our understanding of ourselves, impacting how we move through the world, how we feel inside, and even our ability to locate the source of our distress.

Transition, change, and other reasons we may be experiencing an adjustment disorder can feel discouraging and tough but can also create rewarding experiences in our life. Let me support you through this difficult time and create a safe space to process what is going on for you.

Humans are creatures of habit, and change (even happy instances like a new baby, or new job) can sometimes be challenging. I provide professional support as you work through your thoughts and emotions towards a more positive outlook.

Adjustment disorder is common as we go through life we often encounter sudden and drastic changes that we aren't quite prepared for mentally. While learning to adapt to these changes people struggling with adjustment disorder can go through periods of depression and anxiety that interrupt daily functioning. I help individuals navigate uncomfortable changes, learn coping skills to reduce anxiety, and help them feel more resilient.

I assist my client's in adjusting to life changes and challenges associated with those changes.

Changes are inevitable. The structure of our careers, families, and lives are in continual flux. For the most part, we roll with it and adapt over time. But sometimes, we get stuck. Dealing with adjustment, and what that means for our lives, even when the changes are celebratory ones, sometimes can be tougher than you expect. Professional support through these challenging times can be invaluable when you're feeling overwhelmed through the transitions of life.

I often support people who are navigating transitions or changes that bring a sense of overwhelm. Having a holding space in which to sort through your experience can feel organizing as you navigate stress and disorientation.

I provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to assist clients in learning better ways to cope and accept change.

Change can be challenging for anyone. Using narrative, cognitive, and mindful approaches can help clients to manage even the most distressing changes in their life and increase their overall well-being.

An adjustment disorder is an emotional or behavioral reaction to a stressful event or change in a person's life. We all experience transitions and many of us have experienced unplanned or unwanted ones in the last few years. I can help you move back to your baseline from burnout or work through how to adjust and create your 'new normal."

What's an adjustment disorder? It's a way to capture those times when an identifiable stressor is causing symptoms that aren't truly diagnosable as a long-term"disorder". If your family is going through a time of transition (i.e. separation/divorce, moving) and your child/teen is suddenly clingy, anxious and having nightmares - they probably haven't suddenly developed "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" but an Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety. This is a short-term (and treatable!) diagnosis.