How Can a Life Coach Help the Middle Adulthood Woman?

Carl Gustav Jung was a psychoanalytic theorist who dealt with the issues of adulthood and aging, as well as human striving, including religion and spirituality (Crain, 2016). Jung believed that human minds could analyze the path of one’s center of being (Crain, 2016). Jung’s research and exploration of the unconscious gave way to modern-day psychologists to explore a new form of talk therapy, Psychodynamic therapy. Talk therapy benefitted the counselors and life coaches to help individuals explore and understand how unconscious feelings can influence daily lives.

Most women go through a mid-life crisis during middle adulthood. Middle adulthood is a period in the human lifespan that ranges from 40 to 60 years old. The cognitive development of women in middle adulthood refers to the period of development from young adulthood to old age (Maricopa Community College, 2020). At about 40 years old, the human psyche begins to experience a transformation (Crain, 2016).

Women will go through a stage where they would feel that the goals or ambitions they once had in childhood or young adulthood have lost their meaning (Crain, 2016). During this time in middle adulthood, women will go through a ‘generativity’ stage versus a ‘stagnation’ stage. They would feel depressed, stagnant, and incomplete (Crain, 2016). Most women would feel something very important is missing in their lives. Jung’s research suggested that this could happen to all women even when they have a successful and meaningful social life. 

Jung also believed the unconscious speaks to us through our dreams (Bishop, 2015). These dreams have hidden symbols and meanings that are prophetic and need to be surmised (Jung & Hinkle, 2021). As women in middle adulthood assess their own lives and listen to the unconscious messages, they will meet images of the self and the symbols will have meanings transcending to wholeness and centeredness (Crain, 2016).

According to Jung, humans have the capability to get our minds out of the ‘mid-life crisis dilemma’ (Crain, 2016). One’s psyche helps them to turn inward and examine their own life and its meaning (Crain, 2016). This phase of turning inward is prompted by the unconscious. The part of the brain which has the repressed memories and unlived phases of the self has matured and is now demanding to be heard (Crain, 2016). Jung’s theory suggests that the unconscious is calling out for recognition to bring about psychic balance and harmony within the self (Crain, 2016).

As soon as middle adult women realize and examine the unconscious messages, their images of wholeness could emerge.  In addition, as soon as the women start focusing on their inner selves, the better they can focus their energy on finding their true selves (Crain, 2016). This is also the same time they think more about the meaning of their lives—which are halfway over. This is when they would feel depressed for quite some time, but there is still time to make progress because they still have the energy and resources to make life changes. It is the life coaches’ and counselors’ responsibility to help women to go through this midlife change process successfully.

How can I support you get through this stage in your life successfully?

As a life coach, I will help you move forward towards your personal best and support you in getting better at being yourself and pursuing joy in your lives. In my life coaching practice, I can help answer the questions you may have about the changes that are occurring in your mind, emotions, and body. I can support your pursuit of rediscovering your passion. I can help you find what is important to you. I can help you streamline your goals and achieve them within a set time. I can support you to become happier and more successful in your career. I can support you by becoming your thinking partner, your cheerleader, and your confidence builder. Let’s talk!

— Marsha