Therapy for Older Adults
in Seattle
Are Aspects Of Aging Making You Feel Sad Or Worried?
As we enter the proverbial “golden years” of life, there’s a lot to look forward to: retirement, grandchildren, and the chance to finally slow down and enjoy our time. Yet, with this often comes common and understandable fears about growing older. New, big questions begin to enter the picture, such as How will I cope with the physical and cognitive changes to come? What if I don’t want to become a burden on others? What do I want my legacy to be?
While we may have navigated previous transitions and changes with ease, this period of life can bring about increasingly complicated physical, emotional, and existential challenges.
Are You An Older Adult Struggling With Your Mental Health?
If you regularly experience exhaustion, lethargy, a low mood, or a sense of irritability that’s impacting your relationships and outlook, you may be struggling to cope with aspects of the aging process. Maybe your life has become “smaller” or more restricted in some way, particularly if you experience physical limitations that prevent you from being present or mobile. Or perhaps you have ongoing issues that, at this stage in your life, you would like to address.
Whatever your experience as an older adult may be, therapy can offer you a manageable, self-compassionate way to overcome the challenges you face now while also planning for the future. I am here with you throughout this process, supporting your goals and aspirations every step of the way.
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Grief Is A Natural, Understandable Part Of Growing Older
No matter who we are or where we come from, there are a lot of complex and often difficult aspects of growing older. On top of the physical and cognitive changes that slow us down, there is also a lot of grief—grief about losing our health, our independence, and the loved ones we outlive. While it’s important to live these years with a sense of dignity and peace, mental health changes can occur.
On top of that, there are culturally specific challenges that come with growing older. Unlike many societies, American elders tend to feel forgotten, left behind, and as though our opinions on our own lives and wellbeing aren’t valued by others. As these feelings get compounded over time, the belief can develop that this is just the way it is when we age.
Yet, the truth is that you still have agency, purpose, and time to heal. As we explore your goals and wishes in therapy, we can figure out what fulfilment looks like for you and how to achieve it.
Resilient Journeys Therapy Specializes In Therapy For Older Adults And The Common Life Transitions They Face
It’s important to have a safe space where you can navigate the big questions with someone who understands. As a therapist who has worked with older adults and in the field of geriatric mental health for the majority of my career, I know many of the fears, anxieties, and stressors about what’s next that you face.
With a therapy practice specializing in life transitions that are unique to older adults, I am a good fit for those seeking counseling for:
Anxiety and worries about the future
Grief and loss
Chronic and/or terminal illness, memory loss, and other aging-related conditions
Difficulties coping with new or unexpected psychological, spiritual, or existential concerns
I also work with the caregivers and loved ones of people struggling with these issues.
What To Expect
Depending on what you bring to therapy, this process will center around your goals. In exploring these goals, we will discuss what you’re doing right now to cope with changes and what you’d like to see change. Through this exploration, we are likely to uncover helpful information about your values, the legacy you want to create, and what a successful, fulfilling life looks like for you.
The right combination of effective, evidence-based approaches like mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Narrative Therapy can help you achieve a sense of peace and progress. Because therapy is highly individualized, I vary in the approach I take depending on whether your concerns are more related to your everyday experience of life—i.e., your mood and routine, etc.—or the bigger, more existential aspects of aging into older adulthood.
Just because you’ve settled into life, it doesn’t mean you’re done with growth and change. Therapy gives you the tools to assist you in coping with life—all that you’ve faced so far and all that you will continue to face. Resilience is something you can use at any time of life and in any situation, so let’s work together to foster your skills and make meaning of your experiences.
Common Questions About Therapy for Older Adults…
As an older adult who has never been to therapy, is it too late for me to start?
Never. We are always growing and developing, no matter our age. Many older adults have never considered therapy before—often due to the mental health stigma older generations have experienced—but something about this time of life brings up concerns that can be especially difficult to cope with.
Therapy offers you a safe environment to explore life’s really difficult questions and challenges. Peace is something we all deserve, especially as we approach our golden years, and counseling can lay the foundation for that peace.
What if I have an illness, injury, or disability that prevents me from attending therapy in person?
Like everyone else, therapists had to figure out how to make their jobs work during the pandemic—which means I now have years of experience providing my services via telehealth! Not only is this option just as effective as therapy when it’s done in person; it also ensures that you can receive care from the comfort of home.
If you ever feel up for a session at my office, that option is regularly available.
How will I know that you can understand my mental health concerns as an older adult?
In addition to being a Baby Boomer myself, I have devoted my career to geriatric mental health and psychology. I understand both personally and professionally the mental health struggles that older adults develop.
I am here to offer you perspective throughout this process—appreciating how very accomplished your life has been and nurturing the legacy you want to create. Having someone who is truly beside you on this journey can make all the difference.
It Is Never Too Late To Start Healing
Resilient Journeys Therapy specializes in therapy for older adults who may be struggling with grief, anxiety, or other mental health challenges. Please reach out via my contact page to learn more.