Many women in their mid-life find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities, such as managing their family, career, and personal life. It can be a challenging time, and getting therapy can be an excellent way to seek extra assistance and support during this time.
“Therapy is beneficial for women in their 40s as this can often be a time that is coupled with much change. It is a time for many when children are leaving the home, parents are aging, health concerns emerge, or dissolution of marriages is common. It is a time when there are many changes to a woman’s body, and the effects of aging can really start to impact a woman’s self-image,” explains Briana Severine, a dual-licensed psychotherapist based out of Denver, Colorado, with over 25 years of mental health experience.
According to Severine, reaching “mid life” can be a trigger for many women to start to question and re-evaluate how they want to spend the second half of their life, but therapy is a great way to process these changes.
“Women can use therapy as a way to determine and write the story of how they want the next part of their life to go. Therapy can help teach new strategies for communication that help improve relationships and transition to independence. Women can learn better self-care strategies and coping skills for depression, anxiety and stress that can help them live a more joyful life,” she adds.
Some common stressors are family-related, whether related to aging parents, caring for children, or navigating complex family dynamics, which a therapist can help settle boundaries and manage conflict more healthily. Some women also face issues with their spouse, whether it’s divorce or trying to reignite a fading spark. Therapy serves as a tool to strengthen existing relationships and make room for new ones or create different strategies to drive in this new phase of life.
Many women also feel their careers might be at a standstill or want to explore new territories. Whatever career-related stress, a therapist can help women identify their strengths and values and explore career options that align with their goals. They can also provide strategies for coping with stress and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
More importantly, there is no such thing as trying therapy too late.
“Women are resilient humans and we always have the ability to change, grow, and self-reflect. Many people who engage in therapy throughout many periods of their life describe it as ‘peeling an onion’, meaning there are always deeper and deeper levels of self-discovery available,” she added. Therapists are also familiar with seeing clients through different periods of life.
In addition to individual therapy, group therapy options are available in most communities. Women can have the professional support of treatment while also finding a network of peer support to discuss grief and loss, women’s empowerment, chronic illness, parenting, or anything else.
Severine also recommends other resources to supplement therapy, including some great “self-help” books written by therapists that can be a great place to start. Brene Brown and her work are very popular with women in their 40s. Some other popular books that she recommends are listed below:
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk
- Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment by Amir Levine
- Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Glover Tawwab
- Love Sense: The Revolutionary New Science of Romantic Relationships by Dr. Sue Johnson
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
If therapy is a route you want to go through, there are plenty of benefits, regardless of age.
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