Using ACT to Navigate a Career Pivot: A Real Client Example

A former client came to therapy as she prepared to reenter the workforce after several years at home with her young children. Earlier in her career she worked in Big Law, often putting in 70-hour weeks to meet her billable-hour requirements. While she was “successful” on paper, the work left her depleted and disconnected from what truly mattered to her - which was being present during her children’s early years. After the birth of her second child, she chose not to return to her firm, recognizing the toll that juggling motherhood and such a demanding career had taken.

Now that her children were in school fulltime, she wanted to resume working outside the home but felt paralyzed by anxiety. She struggled to imagine a path forward that didn’t simply replicate the burnout of her past. Our work together began with reducing her anxiety by examining thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and also exploring early childhood experiences. Using an IFS lens, we identified and worked with different “parts” of her that held beliefs that tied ambition with worth. Alongside this, we explored her attachment patterns, which helped her see how her early relationships shaped her assumptions about what work “should” look like.

As her anxiety eased and she gained greater self-understanding, we began to explore career reentry through the framework of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This shift allowed her to consider what it would mean to return to work in a way that honored her evolving identity, values, and life context. Her journey offers a helpful illustration of how ACT can support meaningful career change:

1. Values Clarification

We began by identifying what truly mattered to her - not just in her career but in her life as a whole. Mentorship emerged as a core value. She found deep fulfillment in supporting junior attorneys and helping others grow professionally. She also valued being available for her children before and after school and having space to engage in her own interests outside of work and parenting.

2. Cognitive Defusion

Early on, she was tangled in unhelpful thoughts like, “I’ve been out of the game too long,” and “No one will take my experience seriously unless I go back to Big Law.” Using defusion strategies she observed these thoughts as mental events not as facts. This allowed her to take perspective and begin considering new possibilities for the direction she could go in her career. 

3. Acceptance

Rather than trying to eliminate her anxiety about returning to work, she practiced making space for it. We reframed the anxiety not as a barrier, but as a signal which pointed  to how much this decision mattered to her. With compassion and curiosity, she learned to carry those feelings alongside her values, rather than waiting for them to disappear.

4. Self-as-Context

As we explored her career identity, she practiced stepping back from rigid self-definitions like “I’m a Big Law lawyer” or “I took too much time off.” From this broader perspective, she could view her past experiences as part of her story, not the full definition of who she was or what she could become. She was able to recognize over time that there were many facets to her identity beyond Big Law and being a parent. 

5. Present-Moment Awareness

Through mindfulness practices and present-focused awareness she was able to stay connected to what was actually happening in the here and now rather than spiraling into fear about the future or regret about the past. This presence allowed her to notice new opportunities as they emerged and also enjoy the time with her children after-school and when she was engaging in her favorite activities - such as going to a pilates class or reading a novel. 

6. Committed Action

With her values as a compass she began exploring roles that would allow her to mentor others, maintain balance, and stay connected to the legal field. She took committed action by updating her resume, reaching out to her network on LinkedIn, and going for dozens of coffee chats. Through these conversations, she eventually realized that legal recruiting offered the alignment she was looking for. It allowed her to support attorneys in their careers while preserving time and energy for her family and herself. 

This client’s journey is a clear example of how ACT can support a values-driven career pivot. When we’re willing to make space for discomfort, step back from limiting thoughts, and move in the direction of what truly matters, meaningful change becomes possible—even in the face of uncertainty.

*** Note - some details have been changed and/or omitted to protect client confidentiality