How Therapy can Help Identity and Life Stage Crises
Regardless of age, life’s constant changing factors impact us to our core and shape who we become. Whether they are world events, impacting our belief systems, or personal milestones that result in realizations, everyone will experience these.
What matters is how you navigate through these shifts in life to become the most authentic version of yourself.
Life Stages & Identity Crises: DON’T WORRY, THEY ARE NORMAL
As you’re growing, establishing your identity, experiencing aging, hitting the “midlife” period, and reaching new stages of life, it is normal and healthy to have questions and reflections on how you have lived your life. But it can be uncomfortable and even scary, especially if we get the sense that things don’t feel right.
In any case, working through life phases with a therapist is a beneficial way to engage in deeper self-understanding and to direct your future self on the path you want to take going forward. In this blog I will explain why this work is important to do in therapy, indications to receive help, what can happen if it is ignored, and how our work together can positively change the satisfaction and trajectory of your life.
What are Common Life Crises?
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Identity crises occur when your old sense of self no longer fits who you’re becoming. They may arise from:
Changes in your values or beliefs
Wanting something different from life
Learning that your current lifestyle is no longer meeting your needs
Gaining new knowledge about yourself that changes how you perceive yourself
Questions about your gender or sexual identity
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This type of crisis typically hits people in their early 20’s to early 30’s. It is a time where you are expected to find your path in life and begin to live as an adult. It is common for people to experience this when they are graduating college or trade school and are no longer in their academic career. This crisis can also stem from the stressors to fit into societal norms.
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Probably the most well-known identity crisis, the “midlife crisis” often occurs in someone’s late 30’s to early 60’s. It tends to be a time for reassessment and for others, a time of doubt about choices, careers, relationships, and identity. People may feel anxious about aging and unmet goals, which can lead to people making impulsive changes.
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These are crises that follow transitions in your life. They can stem from:
Graduating
Career changes
Relationships
Parenthood
Illness or loss
Retirement
The transitions make it impossible for you to stay the same person that you were before, as you will have new goals, tasks, and interests.
Who can Benefit from Identity Work
Young adults navigating independence and career choices.
People re-evaluating relationships, faith, or cultural roles.
Individuals exploring gender or sexual identity.
Anyone recovering from life changes (divorce, loss, health diagnosis, retirement) that have shaken their sense of self.
How Therapy will Help You
Therapy will first serve as a safe and non-judgmental space for you to explore painful or confusing thoughts without pressure or shame. I will respect your story and all of the situations that have lead to identity confusion.
Our work together will help you unpack the aspects of your identity that feel off such as family, culture, trauma, while noticing patterns and recognizing authentic desires beyond external expectation.
I will use tools and interventions such as narrative work, identity development models, acceptance and commitment strategies that will fit with your unique situation.
You can expect practical outcomes from our work together. Therapy will help you make decisions with confidence, set boundaries, build values-based goals, and strengthen relationships as your sense of self evolves.
Therapy will support ongoing identity integration so you can navigate future transitions more smoothly.
