Kathy Caprino

The Crises

Identifying the common crises of professional women

"I can't do this." It's the desperate cry - or negative mantra - of professional women everywhere. Working women are in crisis - reporting deep-down feelings of disempowerment in their relationships with themselves, others, the world, and their "higher selves." In Breakdown, Breakthrough, author Kathy Caprino, a trained psychotherapist and work-life coach, identifies the 12 common crises of professional women. Among them:

Suffering from chronic health problems
Failing health--a chronic illness or ailment--that won't respond to treatment

The mantra: "I can't resolve my health problems."

Losing your "voice"
Contending with a crippling inability to speak up--unable to be an advocate for yourself or others, for fear of criticism, rejection, or punishment

The mantra: "I can't speak up without being punished."

Facing abuse or mistreatment
Being treated badly, even intolerably, at work--and choosing to stay

The mantra: "I can't stop this cycle of mistreatment."

Feeling trapped by financial fears
Remaining in a negative situation solely because of money

The mantra: "I can't get out of this financial trap."

Wasting your real talents
Realizing your work no longer fits and desperately wanting to use your natural talents and abilities

The mantra: "I can't use my real talents."

Struggling to balance life and work
Trying--and failing--to balance it all, and feeling like you're letting down who
and what matters most

The mantra: "I can't balance my life and work."

Doing work you hate
Longing to reconnect with the "real" you--and do work you love

The mantra: "I can't do work that I love."

"Crisis is a wake-up call that demands your attention and reveals that major change in life or work is required, and fast." --Kathy Caprino