Empty Nest Syndrome or Launching Experience Portland

Empty Nest Syndrome or Launching Experience

Do any of these ring true for you?

Have your children recently left home and you are struggling with feelings related to having an “empty nest”?

Are you wondering what to do with the second half of your life now that your children are on their own?

Are you having difficulty adjusting to the seeming emptiness or void in your life that your children use to fill?

Are you ready to have your adult child leave home but are having difficulty “launching” your adult child?

If any of these are true for you perhaps Empty Nest Syndrome or Launching Experience Counseling in Portland with Portland Lifestyle Counseling could be helpful. Midlife is traditionally the time when children become adults and venture out on their own. Many parents anticipate this time of life and have spent all of their younger years parenting in preparation for this event. Often this is an exciting and rewarding time for many midlife parents. However for some this can also bring up strong mixed emotions that may include sadness, loneliness, difficulty letting go, and depression.

Some parents may also experience difficulty launching an adult child who returns home many times before leaving home for good. This too can bring up challenging emotions and emotional distress.

Parenting is difficult and takes a large portion of one’s life. Some parents become deeply involved in their child’s life over the course of parenting. After their child gains independence and leaves home for good, some parents realize they have developed few interests of their own and no longer have a full time role and identity as parent. Both empty nest syndrome and “launching” difficulties can result in challenges to emotional adjustment and well-being.

Counseling for Empty Nest Syndrome and Launching

Counseling can be very helpful for those struggling with empty nest syndrome and difficulty launching. Working with a compassionate and trusting counselor may help you reconnect to interests and hobbies you dropped while parenting, rekindle your connections to loved ones, improve the quality of your marriage/relationship, and explore new interests. Additionally, meeting with a empathic counselor on a regular basis is a great way to explore the second half of your life with greater awareness, self acceptance, and compassion for the fully mature person you are becoming. Common issues explored include:

  • Depression associated with empty nest syndrome
  • Anxiety issues
  • Grief/loss/bereavement issues associated with empty nest syndrome
  • Life review and evaluation
  • Exploring new interests
  • Changes in self esteem and self worth
  • Career choice and thoughts of change
  • Concerns and frustrations around launching an adult child
  • Loss of youth
  • And more

Perhaps you have thought about counseling in the past but were too busy raising children, taking care of a family, or working hard to establish a career. Perhaps you put your own emotional needs on the back burner while caring for others. Midlife’s “empty nest” experience is a great time to put your own personal growth and emotional health first and counseling can support you in doing this.

Empty Nest Syndrome Portland Oregon

I provide specialized, distinctive, and practical counseling that works with your unique issues and goals. I help you explore and understand complex feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that may be keeping you from having the life experiences you want. I also work to help you gain greater access to your own inner wisdom and innate resources that can move you to healthier actions and behaviors. Lastly I support and encourage you in practicing new coping skills that overtime can help you establish healthier behaviors, greater self understanding, and self acceptance.

My counseling style is empathic, supportive and encouraging. I bring twenty plus years of professional helping experience and relevant life experiences that gives me perspective, depth, and healthy caring. All of my life experiences – personal and professional – are present when I sit down to meet with you as your therapist.

I seek clients who are committed to their counseling process, deeply moved to action by their emotional challenges, and exhibit a desire for change and better self understanding. Quick solutions, easy answers, and “get better quick” schemes are not utilized here. Please check out my prescreening questions to see if I am a fit for you. Instead you will find empathic counseling methods that encourage you to:

  • Process emotional responses to your unique issues
  • Create counseling goals that you believe are doable and sustainable
  • Explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe and supportive way
  • Test new behaviors that increase healthier living
  • Compassionately confront frustrations, fears, and challenges that may be keeping you trapped or stuck
  • Create solutions and engage in healthy action that create change
  • Plus more!

Empty Nest Syndrome Portland Launching Experience

The decision to seek counseling can be a big one and there are many counselors eager to help.I put myself forward because I know counseling works, I believe in what I do, and I know people can feel better. I have over 20 years professional experience working with people who have suffered from years of self blame, depression, anxiety, and emotional challenges.

It is my intention to provide you with high quality, confidential, and supportive counseling that can help you make the changes you want, feel better and be more self accepting.

If you are ready to face your feelings around “empty nest” syndrome and launching,check out my prescreening questions first then if I am a fit for you contact Joy at (503) 309-1163 .. If you know someone who you feel could benefit, share my information with them.

Flexible payment options include: PayPal, insurance, cash, check, and credit cards.