When the System Shifts: Supporting Government Workers in Therapy Through Job Loss and Uncertainty

In recent months, we have worked alongside government workers and contractors during the recent administration transitions. Being centrally located in Alexandria, VA we have seen the direct impacts where many government employees have found themselves navigating layoffs, furloughs, early retirement, or sudden shifts in job roles due to funding cuts, restructuring, or political gridlock. For many, this isn’t just about losing a paycheck; it’s about losing a sense of purpose, stability, and identity.

At Seasons of Growth, we understand that government work is more than just a job. It’s often rooted in service, consistency, and mission. So when that’s taken away, abruptly or unfairly, it can shake the ground beneath you.

The Hidden Toll of Government Job Loss

While job loss is stressful for anyone, those who work in government positions often experience an added layer of emotional and systemic impact. You may be feeling:

• A deep sense of betrayal or anger toward institutions you once trusted

• Anxiety about financial stability and career uncertainty

• Guilt or shame about not being able to “hold on” when others did

• A loss of identity, especially if your role felt closely tied to your values

• Isolation, especially if coworkers are no longer accessible for connection or support

• Burnout or chronic stress, especially if you were already stretched thin before the layoff

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For many public sector workers, the job wasn’t just about income, it was about impact. Losing that can feel like losing your footing in multiple areas of life at once.

How Can Therapy Support Government Workers? Even If You’ve Never Considered It Before

Therapy offers a space to process grief, uncertainty, and change. And yes! Job loss is a form of grief. When your career path is interrupted, or the meaning you found in your work is stripped away, it’s normal to feel lost or emotionally unmoored. Therapy can help you:

• Name and normalize what you’re experiencing, including feelings of sadness, rage, helplessness, or numbness

• Rebuild confidence after a destabilizing change

• Separate your self-worth from your job title

• Explore what comes next, whether that means shifting careers or simply catching your breath

• Develop tools to manage anxiety, depression, or burnout

  
  

At Seasons of Growth, we take a trauma-informed, person-centered approach. That means we hold space for your lived experience; whether you’re a lifelong federal employee, a local public health worker, or somewhere in between.

It’s Not Just About Moving On…It’s About Healing Forward

For some clients, the end of a government job brings relief after years of stress and overextension. For others, it brings financial panic, a sense of failure, or a loss of purpose. There’s not one “right” way to feel. Therapy can help you explore the story you're telling yourself and rewrite the parts that are no longer serving you.

You might be asking:

• “What do I do now?”

• “How do I explain this to my family or friends?”

• “Was it my fault?”

• “Do I have to start over completely?”

You don’t need to figure it all out at once. In fact, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

We're Here When You're Ready

If you've recently lost your government job, early retired, or are reeling from the uncertainty of furloughs, reassignments, or restructuring; we see you. You’ve given so much of yourself to serve others. Now it’s time to invest in your own well-being.

Our therapists aren't new to providing therapy for government workers. We offer both in-person and virtual therapy options, and we accept many forms of insurance. Whether you're looking for a short-term space to process the transition or longer-term support to explore what's next, we’re here to help.

Your past, current, and future work matters. And so do you.