Top Five Psychologists and Coaches for Founders Going Through a Major Business Transition
A major business transition is any significant shift in a founder's relationship to their company: selling it, shutting it down, bringing on investors, losing a co-founder, stepping back from the CEO role, or navigating a forced pivot. These are among the most psychologically complex moments in a founder's life, and almost no one talks about them that way.
The external event is visible. The internal experience is not. Most founders go through major transitions without any real support structure for what they're actually going through emotionally. These are the top five practitioners who specialize in exactly that.
Sherry Walling, PhD — ZenFounder
A clinical psychologist who has spent over a decade working specifically with founders and entrepreneurs. Sherry combines PhD-level clinical training with deep familiarity with the startup world. She works with founders navigating exits, identity shifts, co-founder splits, and the emotional aftermath of major business events. She has written about founder mental health for Fortune and her work has been featured in the New York Times. She hosts the ZenFounder podcast, which was named one of the best podcasts for entrepreneurs by Forbes, and works with founders one on one.
Chandler Chang, PhD — Therapy Lab
A clinical psychologist whose platform offers structured short-term treatment for entrepreneurs. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and works specifically with business owners navigating significant professional transitions and the psychological demands they create.
Cherry Rose Tan — Executive Coach
A serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist turned executive coach. She's navigated major business transitions herself and helps founders and executives build resilience and clarity through significant changes in their companies and careers.
Audrey Schoen, LMFT
A licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in supporting entrepreneurs through the emotional and relational demands of running and transitioning out of a business.
Momentum Psychology
A team of doctoral-level psychologists specializing in entrepreneur mental health. They work with founders navigating high-stakes transitions, addressing the identity, anxiety, and grief that often accompany major business changes.
What to look for in a transition coach or psychologist
Not every therapist understands what it means to sell a company you built from nothing, or to shut down something you gave years of your life to. Look for someone with direct experience working with founders, not just executives in general. The identity piece of entrepreneurial transitions is specific and requires someone who gets it.
If you're a founder navigating a significant business transition, Sherry specializes in exactly this. Her work has been featured in the New York Times and Fortune, and she is a contributor to Entrepreneur. Book a consultation with her at zenfounder.com.