Life Stages & Transitions
The mental and relational challenges our clients face are often dependent on the stage of life they're in. In these articles, we explore how leaders in the field support their clients as they navigate transitions across the lifespan. Whether it's leaving home, changing careers, facing an empty nest, or entering retirement, each stage comes with unique challenges and opportunities. Join us as we explore how major changes across the lifespan can impact identity, relationships, mental health, and meaning-making.
Many therapists don't realize that treating depression or anxiety generally isn't the same as treating these mood disorders in the perinatal period. Read more
Getting old is hard. But sometimes, as the body becomes more vulnerable, the spirit becomes fiercer. Read more
We sat down with prolific author Mary Pipher for a candid discussion of the interplay of darkness and light in every life. Read more
Author Karen Kleiman argues that postpartum distress is normal—and should be normalized more in our society. Read more
As each of us grows older, we can try to embrace the full possibilities of aging, even alongside its challenges. That’s a genuine gift for our clients as... Read more
A guide to dealing with the traumas and challenges that can redefine who we are and what we want to do in the world. Read more
Why our 20s are a developmental sweet spot, and what therapists should know about helping clients make the most of them. Read more
Over 48 million couples experience infertility every year, and over 20 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Although hope and love propel most people... Read more
When a therapist moves offices after 30 years, a lot of emotional issues get stirred up. Read more
Mary Pipher, author of the classic Reviving Ophelia and nine subsequent books, was this year’s recipient of the Networker’s Lifetime Achievement Award for... Read more
In our stressful, tech-obsessed, and data-based world, psychologist Joan Borysenko reminds us that the nonlinear, nonquantitative wisdom of the heart and... Read more
What do you do when your life’s expectations get turned upside down? Read more
When you’re young, a car isn’t just a car—it can be a freedom machine. Read more
A new book claims that even if you find yourself suffering through a gloomy midlife slog, you’re likely to experience a brighter landscape in your 50s and... Read more
Bestselling author Barbara Ehrenreich believes that our obsession with longevity may have gone too far. Read more
Rather than thinking of midlife as an emotional unraveling, I believe it’s more helpful to reframe this stage of life in our early 50s and 60s as “second... Read more
Instead of viewing midlife as a time of emotional unraveling, therapists can see it as an opportunity to help clients gain a fuller sense of purpose in... Read more
As we age, our bodies and relationships change, and the pace of change accelerates. At 70, we’re unlikely to be able to function as we did in our 50s. We... Read more
Does being a therapist give us an edge in coping with the inescapable phenomenon of aging? Three prominent psychotherapists—Irvin Yalom, Joan Klagsbrun, and... Read more
A classic sci-fi movie that seems to leapfrog through eternity helps a man contemplate the mystery of his own aging. Read more
By examining how older members of our society actually live and looking at what we can learn from people who age successfully, one study shifts the focus away... Read more
The life of a seemingly frail 94-year-old takes a surprising turn. Read more
Therapists respond to the increasingly popular notion that we have a Millennial crisis on our hands. Read more
Recalling a time when kids were supposed to be out of the house—and their parents’ hair—as much as possible. Read more
Toward the end of her life, a woman turns back the clock by performing the goofy ballet of her youth. Read more
December 29, 2013. It was still dark as I was walking the unlit path to my friend’s house for our weekly meditation meeting. Suddenly, my feet went out from... Read more
Jim and I just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary by taking a trip to the Pacific Northwest. We travel differently than many of our friends, avoiding... Read more
Irv Yalom explores what it means to be honest with a client in session, even when that means processing your clients' fears of your death. Read more
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