Managing Life’s Transitions:

1. Managing Life’s Transitions: Figure 1: Man trying to decide which of two directions to take Personal –Relationships– Societal Education –Work – Military By: Kathleen E. High, M.Ed. Adjunct Counselor, Cypress College

2. Transitions Model1 • Understanding Transitions: • Anticipated: Graduation, marriage, parenthood, start a job • Unanticipated: Accident, layoff, untimely death of loved one • Nonevent: Not married, remaining childless, don’t retire • 4 Ss System for Coping with Transitions: • Situation: Situation at time of transition will affect response • Self: Your inner strength for coping with the transitions • Supports: The support available is critical to your well-being • Strategies: Strategies used to change the situation 1Schlossberg, N. K. (2011). The challenge of change: The transition model and its applications

3. Transitions Defined2: • Endings Triggering event, then the loss of the old life: • Disengagement • Disidentification • Disenchantment • Disorientation • Neutral Zones The old life has ended, and the new life has not yet begun • New Beginnings It is a Process - not a “To Do List”. “Signs” are generally not available • Listening to the “inner voice” for patterns and new opportunities • Launching a new set of priorities, ideas, and goals 2Bridges, W. (1980). Transitions. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books.

4. New Beginnings Reflection: • To help you understand how this process works: • Think back on a significant • new beginning you had in your past: What were the “steps” you took to begin?

5. Many Types of Transitions: Societal • A Changing World • Native to immigrant • Groups – majority to minority, etc. • Spiritual – place of worship • Move to a new community Education • High school to college • Community college to university • College student to graduate • Student to employee • Employee to student Career • New assignments, bosses, etc. • Employee to manager • Employed to unemployed • Unemployed to employed • Employee to retired Military • Civilian to soldier • Soldier to veteran • Personal • Child to adult • Dependent to independent • Caregiver to “empty nest” • Able-bodied to disabled • Incarcerated to parolee/free • Addicted to Sober • Spirituality (change beliefs or religion) • Home: (apartment to homeowner, etc.) • Personal technology (phones, TV, computers, etc.) • Physical (puberty, menopause, aging, etc.) • Family & Other Relationships • Single to married (or otherwise committed) • Married to single • Childless to parent • Independent to caregiver (or the reverse) • Death (or separation from) a loved one

6. More Than One Transition? • Q: Is it possible to experience more than one transition at a time? • A1: Yes. You can experience several simultaneous or serial transitions at any time. • A2: Some transitions may trigger others - • Example: • Loss of job can also trigger: • New student, family status changes, and Veteran (if job was military), etc.

7. Identify Your Personal Transitions • TYPE of transitions are you dealing with right now? • Personal, Relationships, Societal, Education, Career, Military • ASSESS your transition(s)? • Is your transition: Anticipated, Unanticipated, or Nonevent? • PHASE of the process • Where are you in the process? • Endings, Neutral Zone, New Beginnings

8. How Transitions Affect You –Emotionally: Spiritual Political Perception of Reality Values Sense of Identity Personality • Mental • Emotional • Grief3: • Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance • Resistance • Reminiscing • Regret 3Kubler-Ross, E. (1997). On death and dying. New York: Touchstone.

9. How Transitions Affect You – In Other Ways As Well - • Physical • Level of “Productivity” • Relationships • Authority • Roles • The “Rules” • Expectations • Priorities • Financial • Legal 3Kubler-Ross, E. (1997). On death and dying. New York: Touchstone.

10. How to Manage Transitions4 • Embrace “Neutral Zones” as a productive “reorientation” process: • Surrender to the process instead of trying to avoid or fight it • Find time and place to be alone • Log “neutral zone” experiences • Write your autobiography • Discover what you really want • Imagine what would be unlived if you died today • Take a short “right of passage” retreat 4Bridges, W. (1980). Transitions. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books.

11. How are Your Transitions Affecting You? • Reflect on your transitions: • What challenges are you dealing with? • Emotional: Mental, Emotional Grief, Resistance, Reminiscing, Regret, Spiritual Perspective, Political Perspective, Personality, Sense of Identity, Sense of Reality, and Values • Other Ways: Physical, Level of Productivity, Authority, Roles, Rules, Expectations, Priorities, Financial and Legal • Should you prioritize them?

12. Managing the Effects of Transitions • “Neutral Zone” is not the end of the world • Learn the “New Rules” • Envision “New Beginnings” • Embrace this as an opportunity for pursuing your dreams and goals • Develop a support system: • Family, friends, support groups, place of worship, resource centers, etc. • Seek professional help if necessary: • Mental health counselors • Career Counselors • Other “professional skilled helpers” (clergy, lawyer, parole officer, VA officer, drug/alcohol counselor, etc.) • Utilize available resources: • Your personal support system, printed/on-line materials, books, support groups, resource centers, professional help, place of worship, etc. • Find a mentor (Someone who has gone through your transition before)

13. Utilize Resources On-Campus Resource Centers • Career Planning Center • Transfer Center • Veterans Center • Disabled Students Programs & Services • Financial Aid • Student Health Center • EOPS/CARE/CAL-WORKS • Special Interest Student Clubs Handouts • Discerning Seasons • Paradigm Shifts • Hidden Rules • Setting Effective Goals • Off Campus Resource Centers • Local One-Stop Centers (Employment) • VA Office • VFW – Veterans of Foreign Wars • 12-Step programs (AA, Alanon, etc.) • Employer’s Human Resources Dept. • Check these institutions for potential resource centers: • City, County, and State Governments • Non-profitsorganizations (legal, etc.) • Local houses of worship • Books • Transitions • On Death and Dying

14. Wrap Up • RESOURCES: What resources can help you? • Books, handouts, counselors, support groups, etc. • Do you have mentors / professionals / skilled helpers who can help you manage the process? • If not, where can you find one? • What is your next step?

15. References • Bridges, W. (1980). Transitions. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books. • Kubler-Ross, E. (1997). On death and dying. New York: Touchstone. • Schlossberg, N. K. (2011). The challenge of change: The transition model and its applications. Journal of Employment Counseling, 159-166.