Supporting Midlife Career Transitions Through Coaching A Psychological Guide

Introduction

PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING THE MIDLIFE CAREER TRANSITION

1. Why Midlife Career Change is Different

2. The Psychology of Recareering

3. Contemporary Career Models and Their Relevance to Coaching

PART TWO: COACHING MIDLIFE CAREER TRANSITIONS

4. The IGLOO Framework for Career Coaching (Adapted for Career Coaches)

5. Career Exploration and Self-Discovery Coaching Tools

6. Overcoming Psychological Barriers in Career Change

7. Supporting Clients Who Choose Portfolio Careers or Self-Employment

8. Coaching for Career Longevity and Future-Proofing Work

9. Coaching for End of Career Transition

PART THREE: THE BUSINESS OF CAREER COACHING FOR MIDLIFE PROFESSIONALS

10. Designing Career Coaching Programs for Midlife Clients

11. Marketing and Positioning Your Coaching Practice for Midlife Clients

12. Coaching Ethics and Best Practices for Midlife Clients

PART FOUR: ORGANISATINAL SUPPORT MIDLIFE PROFESSIONALS

13. Leadership and HR support

14. Organisational Career Planning – Opportunities to Engage with Career Planning with Age-Friendly Focus

PART FIVE: CASE STUDIES

15. Case Studies of Career Transitions

Biography

Clare Mulligan-Foster is a Chartered Psychologist and expert in midlife career transitions, with a focus on coaching professionals in their forties and fifties who are navigating career change. With a background in both Organisational Psychology and executive coaching, she brings a unique blend of academic research and practical, real-world coaching experience to help midlife professionals find fulfilling and sustainable career paths. Prior to her psychology career, she spent 25 years in financial services, rising to Managing Director before making her own midlife career change. This personal experience, combined with her deep knowledge of career development, psychology, and workplace dynamics, makes her a trusted guide for professionals seeking their next career chapter.

'In Supporting Midlife Career Transitions Through Coaching, Dr Clare Mulligan-Foster provides a clear, psychological framework for professional change. She moves past the usual coaching generalisations to offer grounded authority on how to navigate this stage of life.It is an essential read for those looking to coach others on how to prioritise what actually matters in their career. Clare demonstrates how to reclaim agency and lead your next chapter on your own terms.'

-Dr Gemma Leigh Roberts, Occupational Psychologist and author of Mindset Matters

'This book is brilliant and an absolute must-have if you are someone who coaches or supports people who are in mid-life and wanting to change career. Clare has a wealth of knowledge and experience which she has shared so generously through clear guidance and practical exercises for readers to use. This is a book that is meant to be used and I know I will be revisiting this book again and again to help me in my own coaching practice.'

-Dr Hayley Lewis, Occupational and Coaching Psychologist, Owner of HALO Psychology

'This is an important and very engaging text of great value to coaches working with clients managing midlfe careers in the context of longer working lives. The book supports coaches working with individual clients and in organisations with very practical tools and programmes all supported by current research and theory.'

-Janet Sheath, Coaching Programme Director, Birkbeck College, University of London

'Clare has condensed years of wisdom and research into this accessible, yet high density resource. Packed with reflective exercises, practical tips and case studies this is a must read for coaches who want to make a real difference to clients.......and to even plan out their own career journey along the way!'

-Lorna Mills, Chartered Coaching Psychologist and university lecturer

'The book is the most wonderful and thoughtful resource for coaches and organisations. It combines Clare's deep psychological knowledge and experience, her clients' voices and lots of relevant evidence and research. As a coach myself I loved the reflection prompts, the new coaching models—including Clare's own model from her research—and the practical advice on pricing and marketing. If you are a coach or practitioner in this space, you simply have to read it!'

-Anna Connolly, Chartered Work and Organisational Psychologist and Coach, WorkFrontiers

'Midlife career change is becoming an increasingly visible and complex feature of contemporary working life. This is a useful and accessible book that combines a research-informed perspective with practical resources for coaches supporting clients through transition in mid and later life. It resonates with the realities practitioners encounter and invites thoughtful reflection on identity, meaning, and how success is redefined as working lives evolve.'

-Dr Elizabeth Crosse, MCCCoach Supervisor, Mentor Coach and Research Practitioner

'Clare's book is one of the most generous and practically useful guides I've come across for coaches working with mid-career clients. Supporting Midlife Career Transitions Through Coaching is comprehensive, supportive, and immediately applicable, and the coaching insights Clare shares are genuinely gold dust for anyone who wants to feel more skilled and resourced working with people navigating mid-life career decisions.'

-Wendy Kendall, C.Psychol AFBPsS Founder, Inspiring Psychology Practices, Chartered Occupational and Coaching Psychologist