When Growth Means Letting Go: Leaving Home to Make Room for What's Next

By Rose Degenhardt, MA, RCT, CCC

Registered Counselling Therapist | Founder & Clinical Director, Venture Counselling & Therapy Inc.

Posted: August 20, 2026

Growth Isn't Always Comfortable

As therapists, we often talk about growth as something positive.

Growth sounds exciting.

Growth sounds empowering.

Growth sounds like success.

But what we don't talk about enough is that growth often comes with grief.

To grow, we usually have to leave something behind.

A role.

A routine.

A relationship.

A version of ourselves.

Or sometimes, a place that feels like home.

As August comes to a close, that's exactly where I find myself.

A Summer Filled with Connection

This summer has been one of the most rewarding networking seasons I've experienced as a business owner.

It began with the Halifax Wonder Women Conference, where Venture Counselling & Therapy had the opportunity to host a booth in the marketplace. We were able to promote both our clinic and my children's books while connecting with incredible women from across Nova Scotia.

I left feeling inspired.

There is something powerful about being surrounded by women who are building businesses, leading organizations, raising families, and pursuing dreams. The energy in the room was contagious.

In June, I also attended a charity golf event supporting the IWK. Once again, I found myself surrounded by amazing women, many of whom were entrepreneurs, community leaders, and professionals committed to making a difference.

That same month, I attended the Bedford Business Association BBQ and connected with local business owners who are passionate about strengthening our communities and supporting one another.

Throughout the summer, there were additional networking events, meet-and-greets, and

community gatherings that reinforced something I have learned repeatedly throughout my career:

None of us succeed alone.

Mental health thrives in connection.

Businesses thrive in connection.

Communities thrive in connection.

And people thrive in connection.

The Office That Watched Us Grow

While this summer has brought exciting opportunities, it has also marked the beginning of a major transition for Venture.

At the end of this month, we will be moving into our new office space at 30 Damascus Road.

When people hear that, they usually respond with excitement.

And they should.

It's a wonderful milestone.

We've outgrown our current space. Our team has expanded. Our services have grown. We need more room to continue serving children, youth, adults, couples, and families throughout our community.

This move represents success.

Yet despite all of that, I find myself emotional.

Because our current office is more than an office.

It was our first home.

It was where Venture stopped being a dream and became a reality.

Remembering Where It All Started

When I think about leaving our current space, I don't just think about walls, offices, or furniture.

I think about the version of myself who first signed that lease.

The excitement.

The fear.

The uncertainty.

The hope.

At the time, Venture was a vision.

A dream.

A leap of faith.

I remember wondering:

Will clients come?

Will this work?

Can I really build something meaningful?

Like many entrepreneurs, I had moments where I questioned myself.

But day by day, client by client, session by session, the clinic grew.

Our team grew.

Our reputation grew.

Our impact grew.

And somehow, before I knew it, we had become part of the fabric of the Sackville community.

Why Change Feels So Strange

Here's the funny part.

We're only moving about 5 km away.

Less than a ten-minute drive.

Technically, our new office is in Bedford.

But emotionally?

It feels much farther.

Our brains are wired to seek familiarity.

Even positive change can feel unsettling because it introduces uncertainty.

We know where everything is in the current office.

We know the parking lot.

We know the neighbours.

We know the sounds, the routines, and the rhythm of the place.

The new office represents possibility.

But it also represents the unknown.

And that's often what makes change difficult.

Not because it's bad.

But because it's unfamiliar.

A Growth Mindset Doesn't Mean Fear Disappears

One of the biggest misconceptions about growth is that confident people aren't afraid.

The reality is quite the opposite.

A growth mindset isn't the absence of fear.

It's the willingness to move forward despite it.

Psychologist Carol Dweck's research on growth mindset reminds us that growth happens when we embrace challenges, remain open to learning, and view change as an opportunity rather than a threat.

That sounds wonderful in theory.

In practice?

It can feel uncomfortable.

Because growth asks us to leave the familiar and step toward something we haven't fully

experienced yet.

And that's exactly where we are right now.

Sackville Will Always Be Part of Our Story

Although our mailing address is changing, our heart remains deeply connected to Sackville.

This community embraced us.

Families trusted us.

Schools collaborated with us.

Community organizations referred to us.

Children laughed, played, and healed within our walls.

Adults found support during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Couples rebuilt relationships.

Families strengthened connections.

The stories that unfolded within our clinic shaped who we are today.

No move can change that.

Because community isn't a building.

It's relationships.

And those relationships are coming with us.

Growth Requires Gratitude

As I reflect on this season, I realize that growth and gratitude often go hand in hand.

It's easy to focus on what's next.

The new office.

The bigger space.

The future possibilities.

But growth also asks us to pause and appreciate where we've been.

To acknowledge the risks we took.

The lessons we learned.

The people who supported us.

The challenges we overcame.

Every new chapter is built on the foundation of the chapters that came before it.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes growth feels exciting.

Sometimes it feels scary.

And sometimes it feels both at the exact same time.

As Venture prepares for this next chapter, I find myself holding two truths:

I am excited for what lies ahead.

And I am grateful for what we're leaving behind.

Perhaps that's what healthy growth looks like.

Not rushing through change.

Not pretending it's easy.

But allowing ourselves to honour the past while embracing the future.

Because every meaningful journey asks us to leave something familiar in order to discover what is possible next.

Sign-Off

With gratitude for our community, appreciation for our beginnings, and excitement for the road ahead,

Rose Degenhardt, MA, RCT, CCC

Registered Counselling Therapist

Founder & Clinical Director

Venture Counselling & Therapy Inc.

A Reflection for You

What part of your life might be asking you to let go of something familiar so that you can grow into something new?