Top-Rated Life Transitions Therapy Austin

About Willow Tree Collective

At Willow Tree Collective, we specialize in life transitions therapy, providing support for those navigating the complex terrain of major life changes. Our mission is to offer compassionate guidance to help you navigate significant life events, whether it's a new job, a cross-country move, exploring a new identity, or the loss of a loved one. Our philosophy centers on the belief that life’s transitions can be both an experience of grief and an opportunity for personal reflection and introspection. We strive to meet each client’s individual needs, using a strengths based approach to help you develop effective coping mechanisms and invite in self compassion during your big life changes.

Our ideal client is someone experiencing a major life change—perhaps an empty nester, someone facing job loss, or an individual seeking to redefine their life goals. We’re here to support you through these pivotal moments, helping you build a resilient support system and navigate the process of change with confidence.

Who we help

  • Navigating a new job or coping with the loss of a job can be overwhelming. These major changes often lead to anxiety and uncertainty about the future. Our life transitions counseling services are designed to help you develop realistic expectations, explore coping strategies, and find direction during this adjustment period.

  • Whether you’re making a cross-country move or settling into a new environment, relocating can disrupt daily life and challenge your sense of belonging. Life transition counseling can support you in establishing new routines, connect with community, and create a fulfilling new chapter in your life.

  • Significant changes in identity, such as exploring gender or sexual orientation, can be some of the most significant life changes a person undergoes. Depending on your family support system and community, this work can drastically impact ones mental health. We provide a safe space for you to explore and be curious, helping you claim your identity and align your life goals with your true self.

  • Therapy can be particularly beneficial during life transitions involving changes in family dynamics, such as becoming an empty nester, welcoming a child, leaving for college, navigating adult child & parent relationships or adjusting to life after a breakup. Our therapists hold a systems lens and will work with you navigating these changes and other major life transitions around relationships.

How life transitions therapy can support you

Developing Coping Skills

Therapy can help you develop coping skills to manage the stress and uncertainty that come with major life changes. Through our time together, you’ll learn coping strategies to navigate new circumstances and maintain your overall well-being. Learning coping skills can be an experience of deepening your connection to self and the world around you.

Clarifying Life Goals and Meaning Making

During times of transition, it’s easy to feel lost or directionless. Therapy offers a space to reflect on your life goals, clarify your values, and make decisions that align with your long-term vision, leading to greater fulfillment and personal growth. Our time together can be a place to get curious and connect to what brings meaning and purpose to your life. It's not a one size fits all model and we're here to help you connect to your own story.

Building Resilience

Life transitions often test our resilience, pushing us to adapt to new circumstances and face unexpected challenges. The one constant in life is change, which can feel so overwhelming at times. Therapy can help you build the mental and emotional strength needed to navigate these changes, and shift the stories you're holding onto that aren't serving you anymore.

Meet our team

2 top-rated Austin life transitions therapists

life transitions therapy austin

1. Meg Mattingly, LPC

  • At Willow Tree Collective, our team of therapists is committed to helping you navigate major life changes with confidence. We have experience in supporting folks navigating transitions and provide individual support to help you manage stress, deepen your connection to yourself, and find clarity during seasons of change

    • Licensed Professional Counselor

    • MA in Mental Health Counseling from Seminary of the Southwest

    • Positive Psychology, Strengths Based, nonviolent communication, ecotherapy

    • Climate-Aware Therapist & Ecotherapist

    • Learn more about Meg here!

therapy for life transitions austin

2. Bird Caviel, LPC Associate

    • Credentials: Associate Licensed Professional Counselor

    • Education: Masters Degree from Seminary of the Southwest

    • Specialties: Chronic Illness & Pain, Grief & Loss, Religious Trauma & Spirituality, Highly Sensitive People, Post-Traumatic Growth, Racialized Trauma, Dissociative & Antisocial Disorders

    • Availability: In-person, online, and outdoor therapy

    • Learn more about Bird

FAQs about therapy for life transitions

  • Life transitions often involve significant changes to your routine, identity, and support system, which can lead to increased stress and anxiety. Whether it’s an anticipated change like a child moving out or an unanticipated transition like the loss of a job, the disruption to your life can be profound. Seeking counseling during these times can help you process your feelings, manage stress, and develop effective strategies to move forward.

  • If you find yourself struggling to navigate your changing circumstances, you might benefit from life transitions therapy. Signs that you could use support include difficulty coping with new circumstances, feeling overwhelmed by stress or anxiety, and experiencing disruptions to your daily routine or relationships. Even if you don’t identify with all of these signs, seeking professional help can be a valuable step in managing your transition.

  • There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy for life transitions. However, certain modalities are particularly effective in supporting individuals through change. At Willow Tree Collective, we tailor our approach to your unique needs, drawing on a variety of evidence-based practices like CBT, nonviolent communication, strengths based psychology , self compassion work, and nature based interventions.

Find clarity and connection with therapy.

At Willow Tree Collective, we understand that although life transitions can be challenging and stressful, they are a normal part of being human. Our approach to life transitions therapy is designed to help you find clarity, build resilience, and connect to your own strengths as you navigate significant life changes. Whether you’re facing a major life transition or simply seeking support, we’re here to help.

If you’re ready to take the next step, we encourage you to reach out for a free consultation. We can't wait to start this work with you!