Former First Lady Michelle Obama has opened up about her personal journey as she transitions into a new chapter of life—one marked by self-reflection, personal growth, and continued partnership with her husband, former President Barack Obama. Now approaching 60, Michelle shared in a candid conversation on The Jay Shetty Podcast that she has embraced therapy as a tool to help navigate this pivotal phase.
Speaking with Shetty, Michelle revealed that she is currently in therapy, calling it an essential part of adjusting to her new reality as an “empty nester” and a woman entering her sixties.”At this phase of my life, I’m in therapy right now because I’m transitioning, you know?” she said. “I’m 60 years old. I’ve finished a really hard thing in my life with my family intact. I’m an empty nester—my girls have been launched.”
Now that her daughters, Malia and Sasha, are independent adults, Michelle Obama says she finds herself in unfamiliar territory: living a life where, for the first time in decades, she isn’t constantly responsible for others. With that comes both freedom and uncertainty.“I now don’t have the excuse of, ‘Well, my kids need this’ or ‘My husband needs that’ or even ‘The country needs that,’” she said. “Every choice I’m making is completely mine.”
Michelle said therapy has helped her take a step back and reevaluate long-held patterns and emotional weight, especially in terms of unwinding old habits and addressing lingering guilt.“It’s a tune-up for this next phase,” she explained. “I believe this is a whole ‘nother chapter in life for me. And I now have the wisdom to know—let me go get some coaching while I’m doing it.”Part of her healing work, she shared, involves reflecting on her relationship with her late father and her mother, Marian Robinson, with whom she remains very close.
Michelle Obama Champions Mental Health: “Everyone Deserves the Support They Need
Michelle also encouraged others to seek support if they need it, advocating for accessible mental health care. “I am an advocate of therapy. Everybody needs to find their form of it, in the best way they can.”
Her remarks come during a media tour to promote a new collaborative project with her brother, Craig Robinson. Along the way, she has taken time to address a number of personal topics, including longstanding speculation about her marriage.In a separate appearance on The Diary of a CEO podcast with entrepreneur Steven Bartlett, Michelle spoke directly to the rumors about her relationship with Barack Obama.
Laughing, she dismissed the idea that they were having marital issues. “If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it,” she joked, gesturing to her brother. “Let me tell you, he would know it. And everybody would know it.”
While she acknowledged that marriage has its challenges, Michelle emphasized the deep bond she and Barack share.“Yes, marriage is hard,” she said. “It’s hard for both of us. But I wouldn’t trade it.”Describing her husband as “my person,” Michelle said their commitment to each other has always been solid, even during the most difficult times.“The beauty of my husband and our partnership is that neither one of us was ever going to quit at it, because that’s not who we are,” she explained. “And I know that about him. He knows that about me.”
Michelle’s openness about therapy and marriage is part of her broader message of authenticity and emotional wellness. Whether it’s navigating the pressure of public life, supporting family, or reinventing herself at 60, she continues to model resilience, reflection, and the importance of asking for help. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder that life after the White House is not about fading away but embracing growth, healing, and purpose in new and meaningful ways.
