Life transitions—whether expected or sudden, joyful or painful—have a way of shaking loose our assumptions about who we are and what matters most. They invite reflection, loss, growth, and the often uncomfortable process of becoming someone new.

In this conversation, clinical psychologist Dr. Rana Pishva joins Thoughts on Record to explore how we can move through change with greater awareness and self-compassion. We discuss why transitions are best understood as processes rather than events, how grief and growth often coexist, and why learning to tolerate uncertainty may be one of the most important psychological skills of our time.

Together, we reflect on how emotions can function as information, how self-help culture sometimes overcorrects toward rigidity, and what it means to find a new middle ground—a redefined sense of balance—after life’s inevitable upheavals.

Key Questions Explored

Why do we tend to think of life transitions as events rather than long, unfolding processes?
What makes even positive change feel like a kind of loss?
How can we better recognize and work with the gap between our expectations and reality during major life changes?
What helps someone move from resisting change to integrating it into a new sense of self?
Why do we crave control and predictability so deeply—even when they can limit growth?
What are some ways to build a healthy tolerance for uncertainty without feeling unmoored?
How can we learn to make “good enough” decisions in a world that glorifies optimization and certainty?
What are the psychological costs of over-planning—and what might we gain by letting go a little more?
How can emotions function as information or guidance rather than simply something to regulate or suppress?
When might sadness or anxiety reflect a deeper misalignment with our lives rather than a symptom to eliminate?
How do we discern when to act on our emotions versus when to sit with them and listen?
What’s driving the modern shift from people-pleasing to radical detachment?
How do we know when our boundaries are protective versus when they may be isolating us?
Has self-help culture made it harder to distinguish genuine growth from performative “healing”?
How do we find a new sense of balance and meaning after a major life transition, when returning to “normal” is no longer possible?

Dr. Rana Pishva, C.Psych., is a clinical psychologist based in Ottawa, Ontario. Her practice focuses on relationships and life transitions, which often emerge in the contexts of parenting, separation, role changes, and attachment- or trauma-related disorders. Drawing from cognitive-behavioural, attachment-based, and emotion-focused approaches, she helps individuals navigate change with curiosity and compassion and make sense of their life narratives. Her clinical style balances curiosity and compassion, inviting clients to understand both their thoughts and their relational patterns as pathways to transformation.

Dr. Pishva is also passionate about sharing knowledge and insights from research and clinical work, and understanding the intersection of psychology research and wellness trends. She is passionate about integrating attachment concepts into structured, evidence-based therapies and frequently presents workshops on bridging CBT with attachment-focused interventions. Through Sorted Mind, she provides clinical consultation and professional workshops on a number of mental health topics, supporting clinicians in developing their skills.

https://sorted-mind.com/

📷 Instagram: @dr.rana.sorted-mind