Identity Development

You might be in a place right now where you are asking questions like:

  • Who am I outside of my family, community, or religion?

  • What do I even believe anymore?

  • Do I have permission to be the person I’m becoming, even if that looks different from who I’ve been?

If that sounds familiar, you are not alone.

Identity development is not just something we figure out as teens. It is a lifelong process. It is especially complex if you grew up in environments where parts of yourself had to be hidden, silenced, or molded to fit someone else’s standards; whether that is family, religion, culture, or societal expectations.

Maybe you are deconstructing beliefs you were raised with. Maybe you left a high-control group, a fundamentalist faith, family expectations, or just a set of expectations that never quite fit. Maybe you never had the chance to explore your own identity, your values, your voice, your body, your relationships, because survival came first.

  • "Identity development" refers to the process of defining your own beliefs, lifestyle, and sense of self. Identity consists of many different parts, including emotions, relationships, sexuality, spirituality, to professional/career life, academic life, and social development.

  • Spiritual identity is a connection to something greater than ourselves. While it can be, spiritual identity does not have to be a connection to a religion. For those seeking recovery from religious harm, reclaiming your spiritual identity is a fundamental part of healing.

  • Sexual identity is how individuals think of themselves in terms of romantic and/or sexual attraction. It can also refer to sexual orientation. Everyone has a sexual identity, and unfortunately, many have been in spaces where it was not safe or did not feel comfortable in acknowledging their sexual identities.

  • Seeing as we tend to spend a significant part of our lives at our jobs, professional/ career identity is a big part of identity development. It can be confusing to decide on, or even to change a career. Revitalize Wellness Counseling works with clients who are struggling in their professional identity.

In the social jungle of human existence, there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity.

-Erik Erikson

Identity development is the process of defining your lifestyle, beliefs and sense of self. A sense of identity helps to determine values for your life and relationships. It helps to determine how you live and show up in the world, what you value and prioritize. Identity can change and develop at any point during one's life, and for many, our ideas of who we are and what we believe is constantly evolving.

While identity development can be fulfilling and exciting, it can also be a source of confusion, discomfort or even pain, especially when our identity development conflicts with current or changing beliefs. It is not easy to question who we are and what we believe, especially when our answers might go against social, cultural, religious, or family norms. Identity concerns can become urgent or persistent, and can lead to mental health symptoms and interfere with day-to-day life.

Therapy can be a powerful space to sit with the in-between. The part where you are no longer who you were, but not yet sure who you are. That liminal space can feel disorienting, lonely, and even scary, but it can also be full of possibility. It is where growth actually begins.

You do not need to have the answers before coming to therapy. In fact, you are not supposed to have all the answers. We can explore together, with compassion and curiosity, what it means to be you outside of shame, fear, or obligation.

In our work together, you can expect:

  • A trauma-informed, affirming space to unpack who you are and what you believe

  • Practices that support self-trust, embodiment, and nervous system regulation

  • Exploration that does not rush or push, but goes at your pace

  • Support for grief that may come with losing old identities or communities

  • A collaborative process to help you reconnect with your inner voice

We might explore your past, but we will also make space for your future. You deserve a life that feels like yours. You deserve to explore your beliefs, body, identity, and story without shame. Whether you are just starting to question or have been unraveling for years, you are welcome here.

There is no “right way” to do identity work, just your way.

Colorful LGBTQ+ pride rainbow text spelling 'LGBTQ' with the word 'Affirming' beneath, against a white background.

If you’re ready to make therapy a commitment, I invite you to request a free consultation.

I look forward to supporting your journey in empowering confidence and discovering your authentic self.