Women's Life Transitions in Seattle

Are you struggling in a life transition?

Painful changes - illness, divorce, betrayal, loss, trauma - break your heart and wrench you out of your familiar comfort zone. With the old normal gone forever, you can feel anxious, vulnerable, and confused.


If you're over 45 and need comfort, guidance, and hope, you've come to the right place.  


Pic for PSCAHi. I'm Melissa Gayle West, a Seattle psychotherapist, life coach, and spiritual mentor. For over 25 years I've helped women in difficult life transitions birth meaningful, radiant new lives. 

 

Big transitions are different in midlife and beyond. You're closer to your own mortality. You don't have the illusion you did at 20 or 30 of unlimited time to re-create a new life from the ashes of your old one. There's a big-ass, scary urgency:

  • How can I find the courage, faith, and confidence to create a new life?
  • If my life isn't about (old marriage, previous health, former job, you name it), what is it about?
  • With long-held beliefs shattered about The Way Life Works — you know, "eat your grapenuts, be a good girl, follow the rules, and you'll be OK" — what do I believe? 
  • Whom, or what, do I trust as the foundation of my soul, when my trust in life has been so shaken?

In a painful transition, truly transformative emotional and spiritual healing can happen in ways that just aren't possible during "normal" times. Big changes allow you to birth a renewed life, unbelievably rich with meaning and love.


Will you be broken down, or broken open into luscious new life?

These big lNew-growthife transitions are what I call Destiny Points, powerful times when you are invited (OK, butt-kicked) to release what is outworn in your life — identities, beliefs, relationships — and allow space for new life to flow in.

It's hard to imagine a new chapter of your life starting in the midst of such pain and confusion. But every ending is a beginning, an opportunity to emerge more creative, happy, and loving. And flourish in ways you may never have dreamed possible.


Can't do this by ourselves, on our own.

Trust me: If it could have been done, I would have done it ;-)

We all need inspiration and support to get through the heartbreak of loss, and the upheaval following the death of the "old normal."

We need a wise and compassionate guide to help us navigate the grief, the confusion, the mystery of so much unknown, and celebrate the sweet inrushing of new life, creativity, and love.

And there's nothing like having a "soul friend" who's actually been there herself. I've had my share of rough challenges and new flourishings, too (see About). My latest book, Silver Linings, is a map for this journey.

For more on how I work, I invite you to look at my Psychotherapy Page and Your Soul Purpose Page.

If I can help you, or if you'd like a conversation to see if I can, please call me at 206-427-1325, or email me at [email protected]. I'd love to talk with you.

And blessings on your journey. My heart's with you.

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Endorsements

  • "Trust Melissa as a powerfully skilled and compassionate guide for opening to new life.” ~ Dr. Jeanne Achterberg, past President, Association for Transpersonal Psychology

  • “Melissa is a wise and trustworthy guide to the gifts that change and trauma bring if we are fortunate enough to seize the transformational potential of initiation.” ~ Dr. Kaethe Weingarten, Harvard Clinical Professor of Psychology

  • "Melissa compassionately guides us on a ground-breaking path to claim wisdom and grace in our most difficult moments." ~ Katherine Martin, author of Women of Courage

  • "Melissa is a deeply compassionate midwife for women going through big change. I'd trust her with my soul." ~ Barbara Fischer, MSW

  • "For anyone facing big change, Melissa is a powerful and loving companion to the process that can lift us from despair to the birth of a new life and new joy." ~ David Spangler, author of Everyday Miracles