About Dr. Denise Taylor
Thoughtful work for people navigating later life
Where I am now
Born in 1957, I’ve learned that ageing is not an ending, but a shift in emphasis. Life beyond full-time work asks different questions, and offers different forms of depth.
I work with people who want a life that feels more considered, meaningful, and self-directed, rather than simply busy or extended.
My work now spans consultancy with organisations, reflective experiences in nature, and one-to-one conversations with individuals, from short, focused sessions online to longer, more spacious days at the Wood.
Key life events
At 60
I ended my marriage and sold my home, marking a major life transition. Still serious. Less explanatory.
At 61
I completed my first Vision Quest, spending four days and nights alone in nature.
At 62
I embarked on my doctoral studies.
At 63
I bought a private woodland, establishing a long-term relationship with place and land.
At 64
I completed my doctorate and became Dr Denise Taylor, having left school at 15 with four O levels.
At 65
I signed a contract to write "Rethinking Retirement for Positive Ageing."
At 66
I spent two weeks living with a Maasai community, deepening my understanding of indigenous culture and relationship to land.
At 67
I led my first two nature retreats on my own land and spent time in South Africa developing tracking skills and ecological awareness.
At 68
I stepped away from career coaching to focus on writing, woodland-based work, and the development of ThriveSpan.
My expertise
With over three decades as a Chartered Psychologist, my focus is on helping people thrive in later life. My doctoral research explored how individuals find meaning after full-time work, and I bring this together with lived experience to guide people and organisations through change.
I specialise in:
Later life transitions and conscious choices
Helping people navigate change with clarity and purpose.
Nature connection and deep reflection
From woodland days to Vision Quests, creating space for renewal and growth.
Credentials and background
Educational excellence
Holder of a doctorate in Psychology, research focus was finding meaning in life after full-time work, two master’s degrees in Occupational Psychology and Business Administration (MBA), and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Denise also has qualifications in counselling, and is qualified to use all major assessments.
Life-long learner
Participant in Mastery University with Anthony Robbins and numerous workshops with world class professionals such as Gerard Egan, Deepak Chopra and Stephen Jenkinson.
Professional recognition
Chartered Psychologist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS), Registered Career Development Professional (RCDP), Fellow of the Career Development Institute, and qualified Vision Quest (Rites of Passage) Guide.
Adventurer at heart
A lover of wild camping, bushcraft, and nature-based explorations.
Commitment to quality
My foundation in Total Quality Management ensures that every interaction is benchmarked against the highest standards. I continuously seek feedback and strive for improvement in all aspects of our service.
My approach
My work brings together psychological research, long professional practice, and close attention to how people experience change in later life. I work in ways that are reflective rather than directive, creating space for clarity, realism, and thoughtful choice.
Professional foundations
Academic training
Professional Doctorate in Occupational Psychology, alongside postgraduate qualifications in psychology and business. My research focused on how people find meaning and direction after full-time work.
Breadth of professional development
Training across psychology, coaching, and later-life practice, including work with established thinkers and structured apprenticeships, informing an integrative and reflective approach.
Authorship and contribution
Author of seven books exploring careers, identity, ageing, and life transitions, including Find Work at 50+ and Rethinking Retirement for Positive Ageing.
Recognition and awards
Recipient of multiple national career awards, including the 2024 UK Career Development Award for research into meaning and identity in later life.
Experiences that shaped my work
Living within different cultures
Spending extended time living with a Maasai community during a period of personal transition deepened my understanding of belonging, ritual, and relationship to land. This experience continues to inform how I think about identity, continuity, and change in later life.
Nature and wilderness practice
Owning and stewarding a private woodland, alongside training in bushcraft and wild camping, has grounded my work in close attention to natural rhythms. Game ranger training further developed my capacity for observation, patience, and working with uncertainty in complex environments.
Extended reflective training
My engagement with deep imagery, Vision Quest work, and long periods of solo time in nature has shaped how I hold space for reflection. These experiences underpin my belief that some questions require slowness, containment, and distance from everyday demands.
Award winner
In 2024, Dr Denise Taylor received the UK Career Development Award for Research by a Career Development Professional for her doctoral study into meaning and identity after full-time work. Her research explored the psychological factors that support a fulfilling and grounded later life.
Organisations I’ve worked with
Amec
BT
Cabinet Office
Carrillion
Charity People
Christian Aid
CIPD Doncaster branch
CITB
Conoco
Coutts Consulting Group
Demontfort University
DFID
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
EDF energy
FCO
GE (Bristol)
Gloucestershire Association for Mental Health
Hewlett Packard
HMRC
Learning Skills Council
Peter Black
Peugeot
Planned Futures
Prima Dental
Proteus Consulting
QED Consulting
Relate
Romec
Royal Mail
Shaftesbury Society
Social Enterprise London
Swanswell
The Oddfellows Friendly Society
The Post Office
TMP
UKTI
University of Gloucestershire
Vodafone
Warwick Consultants
Warwick University
Ready to begin your journey?
Book a 30-minute session to explore how I can support you.
Whether you’re navigating a transition, seeking deeper purpose, or drawn to nature for renewal, this is a space to begin. Together we’ll look at what matters now and how to shape the next stage of your life with clarity and intention.