When the question of change arises

There comes a point when you no longer recognise yourself in your work. The career you chose, sometimes very young, no longer fits who you have become. The organisation’s values drift away from your own. Weariness sets in, or on the contrary a strong but still vague desire to do something else. At other times, change is imposed: redundancy, restructuring, a health problem, a partner’s expatriation.

These transitions are full of possibilities, but they are also uncomfortable. They touch on identity (“who am I if I no longer do this job?”), financial security, how others see you and the fear of getting it wrong. It is common to hesitate for a long time, or to feel stuck.

Situations I work with

  • Loss of meaning: no longer understanding what your work is for, being bored, feeling out of step with your values.
  • Wanting to change careers: clarifying what drives this wish, what you are really looking for, the fears holding you back.
  • Imposed transitions: redundancy, negotiated departure, the end of a contract, which can be experienced as a loss or a wound.
  • Returning to work: after burnout, an illness, parental leave, a period abroad.
  • Career stages: taking on a position of responsibility, becoming self-employed, approaching retirement.
  • International mobility: the partner who follows an expatriation and has to reinvent their working life, qualifications and experience that are hard to get recognised in a new country, rebuilding a professional network in another language.

An experience lived from the inside

Before becoming a clinical psychologist, I trained as an engineer at the École polytechnique, followed a path as an economist, and had a first career. Going back to study and profoundly changing profession confronted me with the same questions as the people I support: doubt, how others see you, the fear of starting from scratch, but also the momentum that comes from a choice that makes sense. This experience does not replace yours, but it helps me understand what is at stake.

How I can help

My support is psychological: it focuses on what you are experiencing, what you are looking for and what is holding you back, rather than on analysing the job market or building a training plan. It can go hand in hand with other services; in France, for example, the free career guidance service (conseil en évolution professionnelle) or a skills assessment (bilan de compétences), which can be funded through the personal training account (compte personnel de formation).

The work is generally organised around several questions:

Understanding what is happening

Where does this need for change come from? Is it about the job, the work environment, a stage of life or exhaustion? Distinguishing these helps you avoid a hasty decision, or on the contrary staying stuck in a situation that causes suffering.

Clarifying what matters to you

We explore your values, needs, desires and what has driven you throughout your path, including outside work. The existential approach, attentive to questions of meaning, choice and freedom, is particularly valuable here (find out more about my approach).

Working through obstacles

Fear of failure, impostor feelings, family expectations, financial constraints: obstacles to change are often as much internal as external. Tools drawn from cognitive behavioural approaches help identify them and move forward step by step. The systemic approach helps take into account the project’s impact on the couple and the family.

Supporting the transition

Once the decision is made, the transition period itself can be demanding: training, lower income, new codes to learn. Support can continue to help you through this stage.

Sessions last about 50 minutes, at the Brotteaux practice, 134 rue de Sèze in Lyon 6th, or by video. Appointments are available in the early evening and on Saturdays. I work in English, French and Portuguese.

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from a skills assessment?

A skills assessment (bilan de compétences, in France) is a structured service focused on analysing your skills and building a career plan. Psychological support focuses more on what you are going through: doubt, fears, meaning, personal history. The two approaches complement each other.

Is it too late to change careers?

There is no age limit for changing careers. The question is rather to find a project that makes sense for you and takes your constraints into account. Many people change direction at 40 or 50.

I am exhausted and want to quit everything: is this the right time?

Wanting to quit everything can be a sign of exhaustion. It is generally better to recover first, then think about what comes next with more perspective. See also burnout.

Useful resources