There are moments in our careers that divide our lives into a before and after. For me, one of those moments came with an email.

I was at the school when I saw a message come through announcing a mandatory meeting the following morning. Like anyone would, my mind immediately started filling in the blanks. Was something wrong? Had something happened? I reached out to people I trusted, and they reminded me of something I often tell others: don’t become anxious over something we don’t know yet. It was good advice, even if it was difficult to follow.

The next morning, I waited.

Then came the news.

The company I worked for was closing.

When Panic Takes Over

I remember the panic setting in almost immediately. My thoughts raced from one question to another.

What happens to my clients?

Do I still have a job?

How am I supposed to move forward?

I felt completely lost. It was as if someone had pulled the rug out from under me, and I had no idea where I was supposed to land. I wasn’t thinking weeks ahead or even days ahead. I was just trying to understand what had happened.

Looking back, I realize that uncertainty can be one of the hardest emotions to sit with. There wasn’t a clear plan yet, only questions.

The Supervisor Who Made All the Difference

One of the greatest gifts during that experience was my supervisor.

After the meeting, I called her, and she immediately opened her office so we could gather together. She created a space where we could process what we had just heard without feeling rushed or alone.

I can honestly say I have never had a supervisor quite like her. Her door was always open. She met people with compassion instead of pressure. She didn’t pretend everything would be okay overnight, but she helped make an incredibly frightening situation feel a little less overwhelming.

I wholeheartedly believe she changed how I experienced that day.

Sometimes leadership is not about having all the answers. Sometimes it is simply about being present when people need someone to stand beside them.

I will always be grateful for that.

Finding My Way Again

Even with support, I still felt defeated.

I knew I loved being a therapist. That had never changed. But searching for another job while grieving the loss of one I cared about felt exhausting. Every application reminded me that something I thought was stable had disappeared.

There were moments when I questioned what came next.

Instead of trying to solve everything at once, I focused on the next step in front of me. One application. One conversation. One day at a time.

Slowly, things came together.

Looking Back

Today, I am still working as a therapist.

Not only that, but I was able to bring some of my clients with me into my new position. That transition meant everything to me. It reminded me that while workplaces can change unexpectedly, the relationships we build with clients and the passion we have for this work do not disappear.

I still remember how lost I felt that morning. I don’t think that feeling will ever completely leave me.

But I also remember the people who reminded me I wasn’t facing it alone.

Looking back now, I don’t remember the panic as much as I remember the kindness.

Try This

Think about a time when something unexpectedly changed in your life or career. Instead of asking yourself, “How did I get through that?” ask, “Who helped me get through that?”

Sometimes our greatest source of resilience isn’t found within ourselves alone. Sometimes it’s found in the people who quietly remind us that we don’t have to carry uncertainty by ourselves.