Senior Wellness Consultant & Midlife Resilience Specialist
Orvolta Lda
Specializing in midlife transitions, resilience building, and age-positive living practices for adults over 45 in Portugal. Founder of the Coimbra Resilience Network and creator of evidence-based educational materials on coping with life changes.
Marta's journey into midlife resilience work began unexpectedly during her own career transition at 42, when she recognized the gap between available support and what adults actually needed during significant life changes. This personal experience prompted her to pursue additional training in positive psychology and gerontology at the Institute of Ageing at the University of Lisbon.
Over the past 16 years, she's conducted workshops in 23 Portuguese municipalities, developed peer support curricula used in community centers across the Coimbra region, and published research on age-positive interventions in Portuguese psychology journals. What drives her work is the conviction that midlife isn't a crisis to survive but a pivotal opportunity for genuine growth and rediscovery.
Her approach combines evidence-based psychology with the lived wisdom of people navigating these transitions, creating practical resources that honor both research and real-world complexity. At Orvolta Lda, she translates her fieldwork into accessible, authentic educational content that helps Portuguese adults 45+ build sustainable resilience.
University of Coimbra
Institute of Ageing, University of Lisbon
Established 2016 — Direct support for 800+ individuals
Decades of focused work on what actually matters for adults navigating midlife changes
Understanding and navigating major life changes — career shifts, relationship transitions, identity redefinition — with evidence-based strategies that work in real life.
Practical frameworks for developing emotional strength, coping skills, and adaptability during challenging periods. Not about positive thinking — it's about sustainable change.
Designing and facilitating peer support groups that actually work. She's built curricula used across Coimbra's community centers, helping adults find real connection.
Moving beyond age stereotypes. She's developed seminars and educational materials that reframe midlife as an opportunity for passion, growth, and authentic living.
Creating accessible resources that translate research into practical guidance. Her materials are used in workshops, community programs, and educational settings throughout Portugal.
Guiding adults to reconnect with their interests and values. She works with people who've lost touch with what makes them feel alive — and helps them find it again.
Marta doesn't believe in cookie-cutter approaches. Every person's midlife experience is different — shaped by their work, relationships, health, culture, and personal values. What she's developed over 16 years is a framework that honors that complexity while still providing clear, actionable guidance.
Her philosophy rests on three core beliefs. First, midlife transitions aren't problems to fix — they're invitations to get intentional about how you want to live. Second, evidence matters. She grounds everything in psychology research, gerontology, and positive aging science. Third, real people know things researchers don't. She listens closely to what adults navigating these changes actually experience, and that wisdom shapes her work.
You'll notice her educational materials don't use corporate jargon or oversimplified advice. Instead, they acknowledge what's actually hard about this phase of life while offering concrete strategies. She writes for adults who've already done plenty of thinking — people who want depth, honesty, and practical tools.
"Midlife isn't a crisis to survive. It's a pivotal opportunity for genuine growth and rediscovery. The question isn't how to get through it — it's what becomes possible when you lean into it."
Understanding what people are actually experiencing before offering solutions. Real conversations inform everything she creates.
All materials are informed by research in positive psychology, gerontology, and adult development. Science and lived experience together.
Research only matters if people can actually use it. Her frameworks are tested in real workshops and community settings before publication.
People change together. She's created peer support models that help adults navigate transitions while building genuine connections.
Developing comprehensive resources on coping with life transitions after 45. These materials cover everything from understanding what's happening to you during midlife changes, to practical strategies for building resilience, to finding and building peer support communities.
Running regular peer support groups where adults 45+ can share experiences and learn from each other. She's also trained facilitators across the region to run similar groups in their own communities.
Conducting workshops on reframing midlife, rediscovering passions, and building the kind of life that feels authentic at this stage. These seminars combine education, reflection, and practical planning.
Contributing to Portuguese psychology journals with research on age-positive interventions, peer support effectiveness, and resilience-building strategies that work for midlife adults.
Educational content on midlife changes, resilience, and age-positive living
What's actually happening during midlife transitions? This article breaks down the psychology of major life changes and offers a framework for understanding what you're experiencing.
Read ArticleYou're not alone in this. Discover how peer support groups work, what to expect, and how to find a community in the Coimbra region that matches what you need.
Read ArticleIf you've lost touch with what makes you feel alive, this isn't permanent. Learn concrete methods for reconnecting with your interests and values.
Read ArticleThinking about joining a seminar? Here's what happens during these workshops, what you'll learn, and how they're different from other midlife programs.
Read ArticleHave questions about her work, want to collaborate, or need guidance on midlife transitions?
Marta's work at Orvolta Lda focuses on creating accessible, evidence-based educational materials on midlife resilience and age-positive living. Whether you're looking for resources, interested in workshops, or want to discuss research collaboration, she'd like to hear from you.
Contact Orvolta Lda Return to Main Site