Life Transitions Therapy You Can Trust
- Navigate Change With Professional Guidance
- Affordable Therapy in Provo, Utah
- In-Person & Telehealth Sessions Available
Supporting You Through Major Life Changes
Life transitions are a natural part of the human experience, but that doesn’t make them easy. Whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, navigating a divorce, adjusting to an empty nest, retiring, recovering from an illness, or stepping into a new season of life, change can bring both emotional strain and mental health challenges. You might feel overwhelmed, sad, anxious, or simply stuck.
At Lighthouse Counseling, we provide life transitions therapy to support individuals and families facing these turning points. Many people experiencing a major life change develop symptoms consistent with adjustment disorders, a clinical diagnosis found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5-TR) published by the American Psychiatric Association. These disorders occur in response to stressful life events and may include mood shifts, irritability, trouble sleeping, physical symptoms, or difficulty concentrating.
These symptoms don’t mean you’re weak or broken. They’re human. And with the right support, they’re manageable.
Our therapists use cognitive behavioral therapy, talk therapy, family therapy, and other therapeutic approaches to help you process what’s happening, reduce distress, and build lasting coping skills. Whether you prefer in person sessions or telehealth options, we’ll meet you where you are and help you build resilience, self-care practices, and a support system you can rely on.
No matter the stressor, you deserve care, comfort, and connection during your adjustment period. We’re here to walk with you through every step of your transition.
Resources for Life Transitions & Adjustment Disorders
We believe in empowering clients with knowledge, compassion, and tools for healing. These recommended reads provide insight and encouragement for those navigating stressful life events or seeking help for adjustment disorders and related mental health conditions.
Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief
by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore
This book offers gentle, wise support for anyone grieving a profound loss, acknowledging the enduring pain of love after death. It encourages readers to move through grief with honesty, self-compassion, and emotional depth.
Jesus Wept: Understanding and Enduring Loss
by Joyce Ashton and Dennis Ashton
This faith-based guide offers emotional and spiritual insight for navigating grief in all its forms. With practical advice and heartfelt stories, it supports both the grieving and those who wish to comfort them.
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby
by Deborah L. Davis
This deeply supportive book provides comfort and guidance for parents mourning the loss of a baby. It includes personal stories, coping strategies, and healing exercises to help families process grief and find hope in the aftermath.
Testimonials from Those We've Helped
I highly recommend Dean Anderson and his practice. He is the perfect balance of listening to understand, and then offering useful, practical solutions and tools to help you improve your life. I look forward to working with him in the future.
Kristy
I’ve had an amazing experience working with Dean! Dean provides the perfect balance of listening and providing good feedback. He’s also a very respectful, light-hearted, and trustable counsellor. And as someone who has had multiple therapists, Dean was by far the one that I’ve had the best experience with. Multiple factors go into having a good therapy experience, but I think Dean is absolutely worth giving a shot in your journey of healing.
Noah
Lighthouse Counseling and Dean Anderson has been wonderful to work with over the years. I can’t say enough how much good has come from working with Dean and the wonderful folks at Lighthouse. I can honestly say Dean has been a game changer for my marriage!
Travis
Your Path to Healing Starts Here
Your healing matters. Let’s begin together
1
Let’s Talk
Your first step is simply reaching out. We’re here to listen and help.
2
Your Safe Place Begins Here
You’ll sit down with Dean, someone who truly listens and tailors your care to your needs.
3
Begin Your Healing Journey
Together with Dean, you’ll build a path forward that honors your values, goals, and pace.
4
Keep Growing Between Sessions
Healing doesn’t stop after your session. Dean’s resources help you keep growing, learning, and feeling supported.
We’ll help you with insurance
At your first session, we will evaluate your insurance and help you understand your costs and possible options.
Flexible Monthly Payment Plans
Affordable self-pay rates and flexible monthly plans available.
We’ll Help You With Insurance
At your first session we will evaluate your insurance and help you understand your costs and possible options.
Get Started Today
Call us to review your options and schedule your first appointment.
Frequently Asked Life Transitions Therapy Questions
When you’re facing major life changes, it’s natural to have questions. This section offers helpful answers about life transitions therapy, adjustment disorders, and what to expect from treatment. Whether you’re considering counseling for the first time or exploring new options for support, we’re here to guide you with clarity, compassion, and care.
What are the three phases of life transitions?
Life transitions tend to unfold in three natural phases: endings, the in-between, and new beginnings. First, there’s an ending—something familiar changes or comes to a close, and that can feel disorienting or even painful. Then we enter a middle stage, often filled with uncertainty or waiting, where old routines no longer fit but new ones haven’t yet taken shape. Finally, over time, a new beginning emerges as you adjust and move forward.
If you’re somewhere in that process, you’re not alone. We’re here to help you make sense of it. Call us today at 801-367-7505.
What is life transition therapy?
Life transition therapy is a supportive space where we walk with you through significant changes, whether that’s a job loss, divorce, grief, a move, or any shift in identity or routine. These moments can stir up stress, confusion, or grief, even if the change was expected. Therapy helps you process what’s ending, explore what feels uncertain, and move toward what’s next with steadiness and clarity.
If life feels up in the air right now, it can help to talk through it with someone who understands. Schedule your session today.
What's the difference between PTSD and adjustment disorder?
PTSD often develops after a deeply distressing or life-threatening event. People may experience flashbacks, nightmares, or a strong startle response. Adjustment disorder, in contrast, tends to follow a stressful life change like a breakup, job shift, or move, and shows up as anxiety, sadness, or difficulty coping. While both are valid and painful, PTSD involves more intense trauma responses, while adjustment disorder reflects stress from ongoing change.
Whatever you’re feeling, there’s support available to help you move through it. Schedule your session today.
How to resolve adjustment disorder?
Adjustment disorder often improves with time, but therapy can help you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed in the process. In counseling, we’ll explore what’s changing in your life, how it’s impacting you, and ways to cope with strength and self-compassion. We might also build routines, strengthen your support system, and help you reconnect with a sense of purpose.
If the stress feels like too much right now, let’s talk and work through it together.
What are the symptoms of adjustment disorder?
You might notice sadness, anxiety, irritability, or difficulty sleeping. Some people feel emotionally raw or overwhelmed, while others may withdraw from friends or struggle to focus. These symptoms usually appear within a few months of a major life change, and they’re a sign that your system is having a hard time adjusting.
If that sounds familiar, know that what you’re feeling is real, and healing is possible. Schedule your session today.
What do you do if you can't afford therapy?
You still have options. Many therapists, including those at Lighthouse Counseling, offer sliding-scale fees to make sessions more accessible. There are also community resources and organizations that provide low-cost or free mental health support. You don’t need to have everything figured out—just reaching out is a strong first step.
We’d be happy to help you find an option that fits your situation and your needs. Contact us today!
How do major life changes affect mental health, and can therapy help?
Major changes such as a divorce, move, job loss, or caregiving can deeply affect your mental health. These stressful events may lead to adjustment disorders, depression, or other mental health conditions, especially if the stress continues or reactivates past trauma.
Life Transitions Therapy helps you process emotions, reduce negative thoughts, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. A therapist can support your well-being, social life, and daily functioning while helping you manage risk factors like isolation or major depression. You don’t have to face this alone. Therapy can offer tools, stability, and real support when life feels overwhelming.
Call 801-367-7505 to learn how therapy can help.
What makes therapy helpful during stressful life transitions?
Stressful events can affect your daily life, physical well-being, and increase the risk of mental disorders like adjustment disorders, affective disorders, or post traumatic stress disorder. When the stress continues, it may also lead to behavioral issues or suicidal thoughts. Therapy helps by offering support, teaching new skills, and improving how you respond to difficult life experiences. A therapist helps you manage symptoms, reduce negative patterns, and restore a sense of balance.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to turn, call 801-367-7505 to take the next step.
Meet the Team Who Cares
Support starts with the people who care.
Dean Anderson
Founder & Lead Therapist
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience, Dean brings deep wisdom, compassion, and faith-based guidance to every session. He’s known for helping clients feel safe, understood, and empowered.
Becky Anderson
Receptionist
Becky is often the first friendly voice you’ll hear. Her warmth and genuine care help make every client feel welcome from the very first call.
Emily Garcia
Office Manager
As a Social Service Worker, Emily supports clients with kindness and heart. She brings a calm, steady presence to our office, helping every person feel valued and supported.
Insights & Support from the Lighthouse Blog
Explore helpful articles on mental health, relationships, faith, and healing. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, seeking marriage counseling in Orem, Utah, or just looking for guidance, our blog is here to shine a light on your path forward.
Understanding Relationship Burnout: Signs and Solutions for Couples
August 1st 2025
Recognize the signs of relationship burnout and discover practical solutions to reignite your connection. Read the article to revive your partnership.
Recognizing the Subtle Signs of Depression: What You Need to Know
August 10th 2025
Discover the subtle signs of depression and learn how to recognize them. Understand the importance of awareness and get the support you need.
Navigating Grief & Grief‑Like
Losses
August 12th 2025
Struggling with grief after divorce, job change, or an empty nest? Learn what grief feels like after major life changes.