Satya Doyle Byock

A pioneering psychotherapist tackles the overlooked stage of Quarterlife, the critical developmental years between adolescence and midlife, and provides a roadmap to navigate its struggles and find joy and understanding in adulthood. I feel so stuck. What’s wrong with me? Is this all there is? Satya Doyle Byock hears these refrains regularly in her psychotherapy practice, where she works with “Quarterlifers,” individuals between the ages of sixteen to thirty-six. She understands their frustration. Some clients have seemingly done everything “right”: earn a degree, get a job, meet a partner, settle down. Yet, even after checking these boxes, they are left unfulfilled and unclear on what to do next. Byock calls those clients “Stability Types.” Others are uninterested in following this prescribed path, but often feel unmoored as a result. She refers to them as “Meaning Types.” While society is quick to label the emotions and behavior of this age group as traits of generations like millennials or Gen-Z, Byock sees things differently. She believes these struggles are a natural part of the developmental journey of Quarterlife, a distinct stage of life like adolescence or midlife that every person goes through and which has been virtually ignored by popular culture and psychology. In Quarterlife: The Search for Self in Early Adulthood, Byock utilizes personal storytelling, mythology, Jungian psychology, pop culture, literature, and client case studies to provide guideposts for this period of life. Readers will be able to gain a sense for where they exist on the spectrum between Stability Types and Meaning Types, as well as context for what Byock calls the four pillars of Quarterlife development: • Separate: Gaining independence from the individuals, relationships, and expectations that no longer serve you • Listen: Paying close attention to your own wants and needs • Build: Creating, cultivating, and constructing tools and practices for your development • Integrate: Taking what you’ve learned and manifesting something new Quarterlife is a defining work that offers a compassionate roadmap towards finding understanding, happiness, fulfillment, and wholeness in adulthood.

The Search for Self in Early Adulthood

Quarterlife

An innovative psychotherapist tackles the overlooked stage of Quarterlife—the years between adolescence and midlife—and provides a guide to navigate it and thrive. “Quarterlife is an insightful, revealing look at the messy and uncharted paths to wholeness, and a powerful tool for anyone navigating early adulthood.”—Tembi Locke, New York Times bestselling author of From Scratch I’m stuck. What’s wrong with me? Is this all there is? Satya Doyle Byock hears these refrains regularly in her psychotherapy practice where she works with “Quarterlifers,” individuals between the ages of (roughly) sixteen to thirty-six. She understands their frustration. Some clients have done everything “right”: graduate, get a job, meet a partner. Yet they are unfulfilled and unclear on what to do next. Byock calls these Quarterlifers “Stability Types.” Others are uninterested in this prescribed path, but feel unmoored. She refers to them as “Meaning Types.” While society is quick to label the emotions and behavior of this age group as generational traits, Byock sees things differently. She believes these struggles are part of the developmental journey of Quarterlife, a distinct stage that every person goes through and which has been virtually ignored by popular culture and psychology. In Quarterlife, Byock utilizes personal storytelling, mythology, Jungian psychology, pop culture, literature, and client case studies to provide guideposts for this period of life. Readers will be able to find themselves on the spectrum between Stability and Meaning Types, and engage with Byock’s four pillars of Quarterlife development: • Separate: Gain independence from the relationships and expectations that no longer serve you • Listen: Pay close attention to your own wants and needs • Build: Create, cultivate, and construct tools and practices for the life you want • Integrate: Take what you’ve learned and manifest something new Quarterlife is a defining work that offers a compassionate roadmap toward finding understanding, happiness, and wholeness in adulthood.

'I wish I had this guide when I was in my 20s and 30s but even now, it offers me a nuanced perspective on how I am built, how I operate in the world' Avni Doshi, author of Burnt Sugar Why do I feel lost? What's wrong with me? Is this all there is? Satya Doyle Byock hears these questions regularly in her psychotherapy practice, where she works with Quarterlifers - people between the ages of twenty to forty - who are searching for meaning and direction in their lives. She understands their frustration. Some clients have done everything 'right': graduate, get a job, meet a partner - yet they are unfulfilled. Others are still struggling to find their way in the world, and are unclear on what to do next. Quarterlife offers a compassionate roadmap for finding understanding, happiness, and wholeness in early adulthood. While society is quick to label the struggles of young people as generational traits, Byock sees things differently. She believes these emotions are part of the developmental journey of Quarterlife, a distinct stage that every person goes through, and which has been virtually ignored by psychology and popular culture. Through the stories of four of her clients, Byock shows us how this search can start with the right questions. Blending personal storytelling with mythology, Jungian psychology with pop culture and literature, Quarterlife pioneers a new way of thinking about adult life, to help us navigate our futures and ourselves.

Satya Doyle Byock

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