Coaching for Transitions: Midlife and Beyond
Exploring change, meaning, and identity in life’s second half.
I work with people in midlife (around 35 and up…Yes, I thought it started later, too!) who find themselves at important life thresholds—moments when one chapter is ending and another is beginning. This may be a time of reimagining work or relationships, adjusting to retirement, questioning meaning, or sensing that something inside is shifting.
Together, we can explore what’s emerging—— so you can respond with more clarity, confidence, and intention.
“Turn and face the strange...ch-ch-changes...”
It’s been quite a ride—with a great soundtrack!—and what a long, strange trip it’s been! You’d think, by now, we’d have it all figured out. (Spoiler: Most of us don’t.)
But life isn’t static. We’re still learning, adapting, navigating detours, and discovering what matters most.
In other words: We’re still changing.
What changes are you going through?
You may be here because:
You’re retiring and unsure of what life will look like post-retirement
Your relationship to parenting is changing
A long-term relationship has ended or shifted and you’re wondering what’s next
Physical changes are asking you to relate to your body differently
Or nothing “external” has changed — but you have
Maybe what once gave your life meaning no longer does.
The usual ways of coping or succeeding aren’t working anymore.
You know change is needed — but feel stuck in the in-between.
Why is change often so hard?
Change asks us to leave what’s known to step into uncertainty. It touches on the core of our identity—which we often define as how we see ourselves in the world.
When you are no longer defined primarily as a parent, professional, partner, or athlete — but don’t yet know who you’re becoming — it’s natural to feel unmoored, adrift, or unmotivated.
This in-between space can be uncomfortable. Sometimes very uncomfortable.
But it can also be deeply creative. And coaching can help.
How can coaching help?
How can people with so much life experience, still get stuck?
It’s often because they’ve lost touch with their own inner knowing — and that’s where coaching can have an impact.
Coaching is a thoughtful, reflective partnership that helps you clarify what matters to you now, recognize inner patterns of thinking or acting that might no longer be useful, and take practical steps toward living more authentically.
It’s forward-focused and grounded in your real life. It’s not therapy, consulting, or mentoring — and it doesn’t dwell endlessly in the past.
Rumi wrote, “It’s your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.”
That captures this work well.
I can’t walk your path for you. But I can walk alongside you for a time — offering presence, perspective, and support.
Click below to schedule a relaxed, no obligation conversation to see if working together feels right.
About me
Learning and people have been my passions for as long as I can remember— so teaching was a natural fit. After earning a PhD in Linguistics, I spent over 30 years as a college professor. Along the way, I also taught composition and ESL, and found myself consistently inviting students to write to learn more about themselves. Hmm…
Along with teaching and research (“publish or perish” 🙄), much of my time was spent mentoring. I founded and directed, for 20 years, a faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, and coordinated a student mentoring program for a decade. I loved teaching and mentoring— researching, not so much!—and truly thought I’d never retire.
Then, unexpectedly, I felt done. I no longer wanted the life of an academic—it just didn’t feel like it was the right fit anymore, and I knew it was time to retire. To be honest, though, while I longed for the freedom that retiring would bring, I was petrified because so much of my time—and so much of my identity— was dominated by work. I felt depression looming, yet I knew that staying wasn’t an option.
So I stepped into the unknown.
I knew I wanted to keep learning and, in a deep way, working with people. Around that time (Jung would probably call it “synchronicity”), I discovered Jungian coaching, experienced its power firsthand, and decided to train to be a coach with the Jungian Coaching School International.
I’m now a certified Jungian coach and also, through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), an Associate Certified Coach (ACC). And, of course, I continue ongoing professional development—because I never want to stop learning—about people, about life, about myself.
About coaching
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will rule your life and you will call it Fate.”
Many people arrive at midlife feeling unsettled, restless, or quietly dissatisfied — even when, on the outside, everything looks “fine.”
A familiar role has ended. A long-held identity no longer fits. Something inside is asking for attention— and it’s getting harder to ignore.
These moments can feel confusing or uncomfortable. But they’re often invitations to a deeper process of growth and self-understanding.
In my own life, and in my work with clients, I’ve learned that lasting change rarely comes from quick fixes or motivational slogans. It comes from learning to listen more carefully to our emotions, images, dreams, questions, and desires.
My coaching sessions offer a confidential, supportive space where we can slow down, get honest, and look at what’s really going on beneath the surface. Sessions are one-to-one, 60-minutes, and conducted on Zoom at a mutually convenient time. Individual sessions are $110. I also offer packages of three sessions for $315 or five sessions for $500.
If you feel curious or drawn to this work, I invite you to reach out to schedule a free, 30-minute exploratory session, or to ask any questions you may have.
My work is grounded in Jungian psychology, which recognizes that much of what shapes our lives operates beneath conscious awareness. Through thoughtful conversation, reflection, and attention to the symbolic, we bring these patterns into awareness — so you have more choice in how you live.
*Please note: While I work with many people who are retiring or recently retired, I am not trained to advise on financial matters such as income decisions, health insurance, or estate planning. I encourage you to work with qualified financial professionals for those needs, alongside coaching support.
Let’s talk
Interested in working together?
If you’re curious about coaching, please schedule a free 30-minute Zoom session. This is simply a relaxed, no-pressure chance for us to get to know each other a bit, for you to ask questions, and to see whether working together feels like a good fit.
When completing the form below, please share a few words about what’s prompting your interest, along with your availability and time zone. I’ll follow up within a couple of days with some possible times.
Not ready to meet yet?
You’re welcome to use this form to ask any questions you may have.
I look forward to hearing from you and will get back to you soon!