Life Transitions Counseling
- Anxiety counseling for every age, and EMDR with our EMDR-trained therapist
- In-person in New Lenox and telehealth across Illinois
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- No waiting list, and we reply within 24 hours
Reviewed by Danielle Moon, LSW, Anxiety & Behavior Therapist · Updated October 2026
When Change Feels Overwhelming, You Don’t Have to Face It Alone
Understanding Life Transitions
Life transitions counseling at Davis-Smith Mental Health in New Lenox, IL is here for you when life’s changes feel overwhelming. Life is full of changes. Some you plan for and some that catch you completely off guard. Starting high school or college, navigating a new job, moving away from home, dealing with a breakup, losing someone you love, or simply feeling like the life you knew no longer fits. Change can feel exciting and terrifying at the same time. According to the American Counseling Association, life transitions are among the most common reasons people seek therapy, and professional support can make a significant difference in how we process and adapt to change. When it starts to affect how you sleep, how you feel, and how you show up every day, that’s when it’s time to reach out. We help teens, young adults, and adults navigate life’s transitions with clarity, confidence, and support. Serving clients from Frankfort, Mokena, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Lockport, Homer Glen, Manhattan, Joliet, and the surrounding communities. Telehealth available throughout Illinois. Common transitions include starting high school or college, a new job or career change, a move, a breakup or divorce, and the loss of someone you love. Counseling gives you a place to explore these personal issues with a professional, including the questions about identity that big changes often bring up.
“The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.”
– Kakuzo Okakura
In-network with
- Aetna PPO
- Cigna / Evernorth
- BCBS PPO
- UnitedHealthcare
- UMR
- Initial assessment $200
- Ongoing sessions $150
Insurance and rates
Insurance Accepted
Davis-Smith Mental Health is in network with Aetna PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Cigna and Evernorth, UnitedHealthcare, and UMR. Not every therapist is in every network, so we check your plan with you before your first session. If you’d rather pay privately, we can give you a Superbill to use with your out-of-network benefits.
When to Reach Out
Signs You May Be Struggling With a Life Transition
Recognizing when a life change is affecting your mental health is the first step toward getting help. The American Psychological Association recognizes that even positive life changes can trigger significant stress responses that benefit from professional support. If you or your teen are experiencing any of the following, it may be time to reach out:
Anxiety and Worry
Experiencing persistent feelings of unease, nervousness, or apprehension about various aspects of life, often without a clear or specific reason.
Crying Spells
Frequent episodes of uncontrollable crying that may occur without an obvious trigger, reflecting an emotional response to stress or sadness.
Feeling Stuck or Lost
Struggling to find your footing after a significant change, feeling unsure of who you are or where you’re going.
Irritability or Feeling Out of Control
Increased frustration, anger, or making impulsive decisions as a way of coping with overwhelming change.”
Insomnia
Having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restful sleep, leading to fatigue and difficulty functioning during the day.
Fatigue
Feeling persistent tiredness or exhaustion that is not relieved by rest, often accompanied by a lack of energy and motivation.
Isolation
Withdrawing from social interactions, avoiding friends, family, and activities that were once enjoyable, often due to feelings of distress or discomfort.
Sadness or Hopelessness
Experiencing prolonged feelings of sorrow, despair, or a sense of hopelessness about the future, which can interfere with daily activities and overall well-being.
Avoidance
Deliberately steering clear of situations, places, or people that trigger distressing emotions or memories, leading to disruptions in normal activities and routines.
WHAT TO EXPECT
How Life Transitions Counseling Can Help
Our first goal is always to get to know you as a person, not just what brought you in. From there we build a plan that actually fits your life.
Life transitions counseling provides a supportive environment where you can explore your feelings and develop strategies to manage your symptoms. Here are some of the ways counseling can assist in overcoming adjustment disorders:
Decreasing Symptoms
Alleviating the intensity of emotional and behavioral responses associated with adjustment disorders.
Learning New Coping Skills
Developing effective strategies to handle stress and navigate life’s challenges.
Improving Communication
Enhancing your ability to express thoughts and feelings clearly and constructively.
Reducing Avoidance
Reducing tendencies to avoid situations or people that trigger distress.
Increasing Relaxation Techniques
Learning methods to relax and manage stress more effectively.
Returning to a Functioning Level
Regaining the ability to engage in daily activities and responsibilities effectively.
Note for Parents: If you’re watching your teen struggle through a big change and you’re not sure how to help, you’re not alone. We work with teens and families together to create a path forward that feels manageable for everyone. Learn more about how we support teens on our Teen Counseling page or explore What to Expect in your first session.
New Client
How getting started works
It can be overwhelming coming to counseling. Here’s every step, from your first call to the sessions that follow.
Step 1
Reach out
Request a session online or call (815) 409-5940 to schedule your first appointment.
Step 2
Fill out your intake forms
Your welcome email has everything. Finish the forms at least 48 hours before your appointment, on a phone, tablet or computer, and share your preferred times and therapist.
Step 3
We check your benefits
If you’re using insurance, we check your benefits before confirming your appointment, so you have a good idea of your cost before your first visit.
Step 4
Your first session
Check in on the iPad in our waiting room. Your therapist walks you through confidentiality, answers your questions, and gets to know you and your goals.
Step 5
Plan next steps together
Most people start with weekly sessions, at least three to build a connection, then adjust together as things improve.
Warm, Real, and Tailored to You
Our Approach to Life Transitions Counseling
At Davis-Smith Mental Health, we know that no two people experience change the same way. Our life transitions counseling is tailored to fit you specifically, not a version of you that fits neatly into a treatment plan. Our therapists use approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing to help you build real coping skills that actually stick. The goal is always to leave you feeling more equipped than when you walked in.
Building trust takes time and we never rush that process. Our life transitions counseling therapists are committed to creating a space where you can say the hard things, ask the uncomfortable questions, and show up exactly as you are. We go at your pace. Always.
We work with you, not at you. Finding meaningful solutions is a collaborative process and you are always part of that conversation. We help you identify what is actually getting in the way and build strategies around your real life, not a textbook version of it. We also help clients navigate anxiety and depression that often show up alongside major life transitions.
Healing is not linear and we know that. Some days will feel like progress and some won’t. Processing your experiences takes time and we give you that space without judgment. What matters most is that you keep moving forward and we will be right there with you.
This is sometimes clinically referred to as Adjustment Disorder, which is a stress-related response to a significant life change. Whatever you call it, we meet you where you are. We proudly serve clients in New Lenox, Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, and Lockport with telehealth available throughout Illinois.
Personalized care
Licensed, caring therapists
Every therapist on our team works with anxiety. We will match you with the right therapist for you.
Anxiety at the center
Anxiety is the foundation of everything we do.
EMDR-trained care
EMDR helps clients process what talk therapy alone can’t reach.
Every age and stage
From children and teens to young adults and adults.
In-person and telehealth
Our New Lenox office or secure online therapy for clients in Illinois.
Frequently Asked Questions About Life Transitions Counseling
Get the Support You Need Today
Change is hard. With the right support you can come out of this transition feeling stronger, more grounded, and more confident in who you are and where you’re going. Reach out today.
Trouble seeing the form? Open it in a new window or call us at (815) 409-5940.
What People Are Saying About Us
5.0 Based on 6 Google reviews
“Davis-Smith Mental Health truly cares about their clients. The therapists are compassionate, skilled, and genuinely committed to helping you grow and heal. It’s clear that Jessica has built a team that shares her values and dedication. Highly recommend to anyone looking for meaningful support and real results.”
Kasia Budyn · Posted on Google
“Jessica provides a safe and welcoming environment for all the teens she sees. She tailors treatment to each teen and is incredibly patient and open to their needs. I have seen first hand the work she does and the connection she has with kids. I cannot recommend her enough as someone who will care for your teen and your family!”
Google User · Posted on Google
“Davis-Smith Mental Health is a trusted resource for providing compassionate, high-quality therapy for teens and emerging adults. I know confidently that clients are supported with empathy, professionalism, and respect. Jessica leads her team with integrity and intention. She clearly prioritizes the well-being of her staff, which allows them to show up fully for the clients they serve. Their commitment to the healing journey is evident in every interaction. I’m grateful to have them as a referral partner and deeply value their work in the mental health community.”
Sherri Wick · Posted on Google
“Jessica is a dedicated therapist and absolutely loves working with teens. You are able to feel the love from the moment you walk through the door. She and her staff will provide a safe and private environment for that one on one attention you deserve.”
Melanie K. Hall · Posted on Google
“Jessica and her team are so passionate and helpful! I would recommend this practice to anyone looking!”
Biljana Krzywinski · Posted on Google
More ways we can help
Other Ways We Help
Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety is the most common reason families come to us, and it’s the foundation of everything we do. Whether your teen is avoiding school, your young adult can’t stop overthinking, or worry has taken over your daily life, we can help. Our therapists use CBT and EMDR to help clients understand what’s driving their anxiety and build real tools to manage it.
Teen Anxiety Counseling
The teen years are when anxiety tends to hit the hardest. School pressure, social stress, comparison, and the weight of figuring out who they are can leave teens feeling overwhelmed and stuck. We work with teens to understand what’s behind the anxiety and give them real skills they can actually use, at school, at home, and in the moments that feel like too much.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched approach for trauma, and it’s also used for anxiety. It works by helping the brain reprocess difficult memories and experiences that are keeping you stuck. Our EMDR-trained therapist works with teens, young adults, and adults.
Depression Therapy
Depression and anxiety often show up together. If your teen has lost interest in things they used to enjoy, is sleeping too much or too little, or seems hopeless about the future, therapy can help. We work with clients to find what’s underneath the depression and build a path forward that actually feels possible.
Trauma Counseling
Trauma is one of the most common drivers of anxiety in teenagers and young adults. It doesn’t always look like what you’d expect. It can show up as constant worry, anger, trouble concentrating, or emotional shutdown. Our therapists help clients work through trauma at their own pace, in a space where they feel safe.
Emotional Regulation
When anxiety runs high, emotions feel unmanageable. Some children, teens, and adults feel everything. Small frustrations become explosions. Sadness becomes despair. We help clients understand their patterns and develop strategies for handling intense feelings without shutting down or lashing out.
Relationship Counseling
Anxiety doesn’t just affect the person experiencing it. It changes how they show up in every relationship. We help teens, young adults, and adults work through the ways anxiety and other challenges are impacting their connections with family, friends, and partners.
Young Adult Counseling
The years between 18 and 30 come with a unique kind of pressure. A lot of young adults are dealing with anxiety they’ve carried since their teenage years but never had the chance to address. We help them get unstuck and start building a life that feels like theirs.
Learn More About Life Transitions
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You don’t have to figure this out alone
If something told you to keep reading this far, trust that feeling. Whether it’s for yourself, your teen, or your young adult, the hardest part is deciding to start. We are here when you are ready.
there is courage in change ♥
- Anxiety counseling for children, teens and adults
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- Telehealth for clients in Illinois
- In-person in New Lenox
- EMDR therapy for anxiety and trauma
- We truly care about every client
- There is courage in change