Supporting Midlife Career Transitions Through Coaching: A Psychological Guide

By Clare Mulligan-Foster

This book provides practical advice for career coaches, executive coaches, and HR professionals who support midlife professionals navigating career transitions.
Midlife career transitions are becoming the norm, not the exception. Traditional career models no longer fit a workforce which is living longer, working longer, and redefining success. Yet, many career coaches still rely on early-career coaching models which do not address the unique psychological, financial, and identity challenges of midlife career change. This book bridges that gap by providing: a research-backed framework for coaching midlife clients; psychological insights into the fears, identity shifts, and motivations behind midlife career change; practical coaching tools, strategies, and case studies for guiding clients through uncertainty; and a roadmap for portfolio careers, self-employment, and new career pathways. As the workforce ages and recareering becomes a mainstream trend, career coaches must be equipped to support clients who are not "starting over" but evolving into their next stage of meaningful work. This book ensures coaches have the evidence-based knowledge, tools, and confidence to guide their clients through one of the most significant career transitions of their lives. It is particularly relevant for those working with clients in their forties, fifties, and beyond who are considering a career shift--whether by choice or necessity--and also includes material on end-of-career transitions.
Appealing to coaches, as well as HR professions and students of coaching, the author provides clear advice and support, based on her research and personal lived experience of making a midlife career change.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 104112998X
• ISBN13: 9781041129981
• Release Date: August 2026
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 204 Pages