Midlife Transitions

Specialized therapy for high‑functioning midlife adults in Alexandria, Virginia, Maryland, and DC

Midlife can be a season of profound change.

On paper, you may have many of the things you once wanted—career, relationships, family, home. And yet, something feels off. You might be asking yourself quietly: Is this it?

Midlife transitions can take many forms:

• Changes in work or career (by choice or not)
• Separation, divorce, or shifts in long‑term relationships
• Children leaving home—or not having children as you expected
• Health changes, your own or a loved one’s
• Caring for aging parents or experiencing significant loss
• A growing awareness of time, aging, and your own mortality

Even positive changes can stir up grief, anxiety, or a deep sense of disorientation. You may feel like you don’t recognize your life—or yourself—the way you used to.

I specialize in working with **midlife adults—often women in high‑responsibility roles—**who are moving through these kinds of transitions and wondering how to make sense of where they’ve been, where they are now, and what they want in the years ahead.

When Life Doesn’t Look—or Feel—Like You Expected

Midlife transitions aren’t just logistical changes; they touch your identity, values, and sense of belonging.

You might be:

• Questioning who you are beyond your roles (work, partner, parent, caregiver)
• Wondering whether it’s “too late” to make changes or pursue what you really want
• Grappling with regrets, “what‑ifs,” or paths not taken
• Feeling pulled between taking care of others and listening to your own needs
• Experiencing more anxiety, sadness, or irritability than before
• Comparing yourself to others and feeling behind, off track, or left out

It can be hard to talk about these feelings, especially if you also feel pressure to be grateful for what you have. You might worry others won’t understand—or that they’ll think you’re being selfish or dramatic.

Is This You?

You may recognize yourself if:

• You’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s and life feels like it’s asking you to reevaluate things
• Old coping strategies aren’t working as well as they used to
• You feel like a chapter is closing, but you’re not clear on what the next one will be
• You’re grieving changes in your body, relationships, work, or family life
• You sense something needs to shift, but you feel unsure, scared, or stuck

If this resonates, therapy can provide a steady space to reflect, grieve, and imagine what comes next.

How Therapy Can Support You in Midlife

Therapy during midlife transitions isn’t about rushing you into decisions or pushing you toward a specific outcome. It’s about creating room to:

• Pause in the middle of all the changes and truly check in with yourself
• Acknowledge and process grief, disappointment, and loss—including the less visible ones
• Explore how family history, cultural messages, and expectations have shaped your choices
• Clarify what genuinely matters to you at this stage of life
• Consider options and possibilities in a space free of judgment and pressure
• Learn skills to manage the anxiety, sadness, or uncertainty that transitions bring

In many ways, midlife can be a powerful opportunity to realign your life with who you are now—not just who you were in your 20s or 30s, or who others expected you to be.

How I Work with Midlife Transitions

As an LCSW working with adults in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC, I bring a warm, grounded, and thoughtful approach to this season of life. My background includes both clinical work and many years in high‑pressure professional environments, so I understand both the emotional and practical sides of change.

I integrate:

• Psychodynamic therapy:To understand your story over time—how your past, relationships, and internalized beliefs influence how you see yourself and your options now.

• CBT and mindfulness‑based tools:To help you manage anxiety, self‑doubt, and “spinning mind,” and to respond more flexibly to stress and uncertainty.

• A trauma‑informed, mind–body lens:To respect any earlier experiences of loss, instability, or overwhelm that may be activated by current transitions, and to support your nervous system as we work.

My coaching background (PCC) also supports this work, adding a practical, forward‑looking dimension. Together, we can explore not only what’s been but also what’s possible as you move into the next phase of your life.

What Can Change Over Time

As we work together, you may find yourself:

• Feeling more grounded and less consumed by “what ifs”
• Gaining clarity about your values, needs, and boundaries in this stage of life
• Making decisions with more self‑trust and less fear of judgment
• Creating space for grief and regret without getting stuck there
• Feeling more aligned with the life you’re actually living, rather than one driven purely by others’ expectations

The goal is not to have everything figured out, but to walk through this season with more clarity, self‑compassion, and choice.

You Don’t Have to Navigate This Season Alone

If you’re in midlife and navigating changes in work, relationships, family, health, or identity, you don’t have to sort it all out by yourself.

I offer in‑person sessions in Alexandria, VA and online therapy for adults across Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC.

You’re welcome to schedule a free 15‑minute consultation or call 703‑962‑6022 to see whether working together feels like a good fit.