Age-Related Crises: Turning Points in Life

At different points in life, we all face changes that bring questions, challenges, and reflection. These so-called age-related crises aren’t signs of failure — they’re natural transitions that help align your past, present, and future. Each one invites you to look deeper into what matters most and to grow from the experience. With Pleso Therapy, you don’t have to navigate these transitions alone.

Stages of Age-Related Crises

Psychological development includes stages where our identity and values shift. Here are some of the most common turning points:

• Infancy crisis – Adapting to the world, bonding with parents, and learning basic trust and autonomy.

• Childhood crisis – Developing social skills, learning norms, and discovering personal interests.

• Adolescent crisis – Searching for identity, forming values, and navigating independence.

• Quarter-life & midlife crisis – Reassessing life goals, careers, and relationships, and often seeking new direction.

• Later-life crisis – Reflecting on achievements, coping with loss, and making peace with life’s story.

Each stage brings challenges — but also an opportunity for growth, awareness, and resilience.

Signs of a Midlife Crisis

The “midlife crisis,” often around age 40, can look different for men and women, but usually comes with a search for meaning and change.

For men, common signs may include:

• Lowered self-esteem or doubts about past choices.

• Stronger irritability or stress.

• Sudden lifestyle shifts or risk-taking behaviours.

• Desire for novelty or new experiences.

For women, common signs may include:

• Shifts in identity between family, work, and personal life.

• Hormonal and emotional changes.

• Heightened stress or irritability.

• Desire for self-fulfilment and fear of wasted time.

How long these periods last varies — for some it’s brief, for others it can span years. Either way, support and reflection can help you navigate them with more clarity and strength.

How Pleso Therapy Can Support You

Pleso Therapy therapists specialise in guiding people through life’s turning points. Here’s what support can look like:

• Personalised guidance — Sessions tailored to your stage of life and emotional needs.

• Safe, empathetic space — A therapist who listens without judgment and helps you make sense of your experience.

• Specialists for each stage — From adolescence to later life, you’ll find someone who understands exactly what you’re going through.

• Focus on growth — Therapy helps turn crisis into an opportunity to redefine your values, priorities, and sense of meaning.

• Convenience and flexibility — Online sessions let you access help wherever you are.

A Chance for Transformation

Age-related crises can feel unsettling, but they also bring the possibility of renewal. With the right support, these transitions become meaningful moments of reflection, change, and empowerment. And with Pleso Therapy , you’ll have someone to walk alongside you — every step of the way.