The Psychology of Retirement is the first self-help guide
to retirement based on highly proven psychological coping
strategies.

* Provides the most comprehensive and coherent account of the
challenges of retirement and the associated aging process

* Represents the culmination of over 30 years of clinical,
teaching and research involvement in the main issues discussed
within this book

* Draws systematically on applied scientific theories, accepted
professional circles, which are interpreted and communicated by an
applied scientist

* A constructive emphasis establishes the best possible coping
strategies and perspectives

Derek Milne retired as the Director of the Newcastle University Doctorate in Clinical Psychology training programme in 2012. In addition to practicing as a clinical psychologist within the National Health Service (including work with older adults) and teaching within Higher Education, he has occupied the related roles of coach, sport and exercise psychologist, trainer, researcher, mentor and organizational consultant. He is the author of Wiley's Evidence Based Clinical Supervision (2009).

Incorporating the latest research and well-established theories concerning how individuals adapt to retirement, The Psychology of Retirement is the first text of its kind to draw on proven psychological coping strategies. These strategies are described in the context of retirement, which is often an eagerly awaited respite from the working life, but which is too often a surprisingly stressful life event for which individuals are ill-prepared

The self-help approach draws extensively on case studies of the personal experiences of retired individuals and the author's professional understanding, grounded in his work as a Clinical Psychologist with adults in Britain's National Health Service over the past 30 years.

The book is a primer on coping with retirement by highlighting core issues and challenges, identifying positives, suggesting options, and encouraging an optimistic and constructive approach to this vital transition, complementing the traditional emphasis on the physical as well as the financial aspects of retirement. The result is a guide allowing readers to gain a better understanding of the psychological realities of retirement, and which clearly illuminates the most effective strategies for coping with the transition.

The Psychology of Retirement is the first self-help guide to retirement based on highly proven psychological coping strategies.

• Provides the most comprehensive and coherent account of the challenges of retirement and the associated aging process
• Represents the culmination of over 30 years of clinical, teaching and research involvement in the main issues discussed within this book
• Draws systematically on applied scientific theories, accepted professional circles, which are interpreted and communicated by an applied scientist
• A constructive emphasis establishes the best possible coping strategies and perspectives

About this Book and Author ix

Acknowledgments xi

1. The Surprises of Retirement 1

2. Understanding Retirement 29

3. Reframing Retirement 55

4. Relating in Retirement 79

5. Supporting Retirement 99

6. Learning from Life 119

7. Learning for Life 139

8. Conclusions 159

Notes 177

Recommended Reading 187

Index 189