Using the Familiar to Navigate the Unfamiliar

Themes: Overcoming challenges, life transitions, change
Helpful for: Anxiety, stress

As counselors, one of the most important skills we help our clients develop is the ability to navigate change. Life is full of new and unfamiliar experiences—whether it’s a career shift, a new relationship, or dealing with unexpected challenges. Often, these changes can feel overwhelming and disorienting. But what if we could take the old, familiar tools we already have and apply them to the unknown? The idea of using “old familiar with unfamiliar” is a powerful approach in therapy. It involves taking well-established mindsets, coping strategies, or learned behaviors—those things clients have relied on in the past—and adapting them to new situations. When we face unfamiliar territory, they can feel paralyzed by uncertainty. Old patterns of thinking or coping may no longer seem effective or relevant in the new context. However, by drawing on past experiences and familiar strategies, clients can create a bridge between the old and the new. This process doesn’t require completely abandoning what has worked for them in the past.

Using Old Mindsets to Approach the New

One of the most profound ways to apply the "old familiar with unfamiliar" approach is by using old mindsets in new contexts. For instance, a mindset of resilience learned through past hardship can help a client face a new challenge with strength and determination. Or, a mindset of self-compassion that a client has cultivated over time can offer them patience and understanding when they are adjusting to a new phase of life.

How to Use the Familiar

Identify what’s worked for you in the past. This could include past coping strategies, positive self-talk, or lessons learned through adversity. Once these familiar tools are clear, explore how they can be adapted to meet the challenges of the present. It’s important to understand that the unfamiliar isn’t bad. It’s something to engage with using the skills that you have. Using old tools in new situations doesn’t mean you need to apply them perfectly. Change and growth often come with trial and error. Stay flexible and open to experimenting with their familiar strategies in unfamiliar contexts. As you start applying familiar strategies to unfamiliar situations, celebrate the small successes along the way. The “old familiar with unfamiliar” approach offers a practical and empowering way to navigate life’s changes. By building on what we already know—whether it’s old mindsets, learned coping strategies, or past experiences—we can move into new situations with greater confidence and resilience. Change doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch; it can be about adapting and growing from what’s already within.