1. Managing Life’s Transitions:
Work – Military -- Education -- Personal –Relationships– Societal
Figure 2: Man trying to decide which of two directions to take
Figure 1: Butterfly growing in a cocoon
Prepared for:
Orange County One-Stop clients
By: Kathleen E. High, M.Ed., GCDFI
Education & Career Consultant,
Dream Chasers & Goal Setters

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
1 Schlossberg, N. K. (2011). The challenge of change: The transition model and its applications

3. Transitions Defined2: Endings Neutral Zones New Beginnings
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
Movie Clip: Transition Metaphor – Cast Away
Clip – Letting go of Wilson - Neutral Zone
Full movie:
Survival Mode: 39:20 -46:00
Loss of productivity (Learning curve) – 52:00
Paradigm Shift 1:51:47
Let go of past to move forward (looses Wilson): 2:11:00
New Beginnings – process: At a crossroad
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:
Career
New assignments, bosses, etc.
Employee to manager
Employed to unemployed
Unemployed to employed
Employee to retired
Military
Civilian to soldier
Soldier to veteran
Education
High school to college
Community college to university
College student to graduate
Student to employee
Employee to student
Societal
A Changing World
Native to immigrant
Groups – majority to minority, etc.
Spiritual – place of worship
Move to a new community

6. Many Types of Transitions: (Continued)
Personal
Child to adult
Dependent to independent
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
Caregiver to “empty nest”
Independent to caregiver (or the reverse)
Death (or separation from) a loved one

7. 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), housing, financial, etc.

8. 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

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

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

11. 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
4 Bridges, W. (1980). Transitions. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books.

12. 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?

13. 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.

14. Managing the Effects of Transitions (Continued)
Seek professional help if necessary:
One-stop Case Manager
Mental health counselors
Career Counselors
Other “professional skilled helpers” (clergy, lawyer, parole officer, VA officer, drug/alcohol counselor, life coaches, 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)

15. Utilize Resources Community Resources and Support
Local One-Stop Centers (Employment)
Case Managers, Workshop Coordinators, Resources, Libraries & Databases (job search info), Referrals to community resources
VA Office
VFW – Veterans of Foreign Wars
12-Step programs (AA, Alanon, etc.)
Employer’s Human Resources Dept. or EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
Check these institutions for potential resources and support:
City, County, and State Governments
Non-profits organizations (legal, etc.)
Local houses of worship

16. Utilize Resources (Continued)
On-Campus Resource Centers Available on Most College Campuses
Career Center
Transfer Center
Veterans Center
Disabled Students Programs & Services
Financial Aid
Student Health Center
EOPS/CARE/CAL-WORKS
Re-Entry Services
Campus Study Labs/Tutorial Centers/Tutors
Special Interest Student Clubs

17. Utilize Resources (Continued)
Written Resources:
Presenter’s Handouts Available (
Discerning Seasons
Paradigm Shifts
Hidden Rules
Setting Effective Goals
Purposeful Living
Happenstance
Additional Workshops
Books
Transitions
On Death and Dying
Luck is No Accident

18. 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?

19. References
Bridges, W. (1980). Transitions. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Books.
Krumboltz, J.D., Levin, A.S. (2010). Luck is no accident (2nd. Ed.): Making the most of happenstance in your life and career. Atascadero, CA: Impact.
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,