Kate Gardner, PhDStill Point Practice
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Midlife transitions

Therapy for midlife transitions

Support for changing roles, an emptier house, perimenopause, and the search for purpose in the next chapter of life.

Currently accepting clients located outside the United States.

An open window looking out over a quiet city street

When the old shape of life no longer fits

Midlife often brings change from several directions at once. Children grow up and leave home. Careers plateau or shift. Parents age. Bodies change. The roles that organized life for years start to loosen, and with them can come restlessness, sadness, or a sense of emptiness that's hard to name.

These are not signs that something is wrong with you. They're signs of a real transition, and they deserve thoughtful attention.

How I approach this work

Changing roles

We look at how your roles as parent, partner, professional, and caregiver are shifting, and what you want them to look like now.

Emptiness and purpose

We make room for the bigger questions, such as what matters now and what you want the next chapter to hold, and turn them into concrete choices.

Perimenopause and emotional wellbeing

Perimenopause can bring anxiety, irritability, low mood, and poor sleep, often at a demanding time of life. We address the emotional side directly, with practical strategies, and I'll encourage you to work alongside your doctor on the physical side.

Parenting and family

Parenting doesn't stop when children grow up; it changes. Drawing on years of work with families, I help parents understand their children, navigate family dynamics, and do the inner work to show up as the parents they want to be. I also offer parent coaching sessions of 30 to 60 minutes.

How therapy works

I draw on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interpersonal therapy, tailored to you. We clarify what matters most, look honestly at whether your daily life reflects it, and take practical steps toward the life you want. Some clients come for a focused period; others prefer longer-term support. We decide the pace together.

Who this suits

  • Parents facing an empty nest or a changing relationship with grown children
  • Women navigating the emotional side of perimenopause
  • People reconsidering their career or purpose in midlife
  • Expats whose midlife transition coincides with a move or a return home
  • Parents seeking coaching on family dynamics
  • Anyone who feels the life they built no longer quite fits

Next steps

Other ways I help