My career change journey unfolded in several distinct phases, each bringing its own set of challenges and realizations.

Phase 1: Misery and Burnout in My Corporate Career

The first phase was a years-long process during which I became increasingly miserable and eventually burned out in my corporate career. The daily grind wore me down, leaving me questioning whether I could continue in a role that no longer fulfilled me.

Phase 2: Exploring Career Change

In this phase, I began to explore the idea of changing careers. I participated in workshops, consulted books and blogs, and worked with wonderful coaches. Through these efforts, I gained a deeper understanding of my strengths, interests, values, and aptitudes. I learned how to identify fields and roles that professionals like me found fulfilling, and for the first time, I felt hopeful that positive change was possible.

Looking back, I now see that all this work helped me answer the question, “What could I do next?”

Phase 3: The “Well, Now What?” Dilemma

With clarity on what my next career could be, I entered the third phase, which I call the “well, now what?” stage. Despite all my efforts, I was still left with the nagging question, “Yeah, but should I change careers?”

I felt stuck, uncertain, and alone. I had success in my former career, enjoyed parts of it, and it was financially rewarding. Was it really the right move to walk away from all of that?

The Need for a Better Approach

When I sought help to decide whether I should change careers, I found little more than conventional wisdom and pressure to make a decision. I realized that we can do better, and that’s why I developed a unique approach to help professionals—whether they’re just curious or fully committed—decide if a career change is right for them.

Different from simply figuring out what career to pursue next, my Considering Career Change framework helps professionals apply established principles and proven best practices to determine if a career change is the right move.

This approach illuminates common causes of career change inertia, helping professionals get unstuck, gain momentum, and avoid common pitfalls associated with career transitions.

Think of it as due diligence for career change. Therapy offers a unique opportunity to get to know yourself better, and I help professionals explore what’s worth knowing about themselves and their work. This deeper understanding allows for more informed and confident career change decisions.

My framework, available in both group and/or individual sessions, starts by applying management principles to reassess their current work and identify the problems a career change might solve. We also use finance principles to weigh potential risks and rewards.

To tackle one of the most common questions I hear—“How can I avoid experiencing the same old problems in a new career?”—I help clients explore who they are at work, recognizing that history tends to repeat itself until we understand how and why.

Together, we cut through the noise of common opinions and beliefs, crafting a set of meaningful guiding principles to anchor clients through the process of considering a career change.

Consider This:

When contemplating a career change, it’s vital to ask, “What could I do next?” But an equally important question is, “Yeah, but should I change careers?”

If you’re considering a career change, contact me today to explore how we can work together. I’m here to help you navigate this crucial decision with clarity and confidence.

Learn More about Therapy for Work and Career.

Group and individual therapy for career available in Central Austin, Texas. In-person, online therapy, and online across Texas.