Difficulty saying ‘no,’ fear of saying what you really feel, and denying your own needs — these are all signs of people-pleasing. And at midlife this response can lead to feeling lost and disconnected from yourself, and burnt out from tirelessly attending to the needs of others. What is people-pleasing? People-pleasing is a behaviour that develops in response to stress or trauma. It is also known as fawning. Most of us are familiar with the first three stress responses – Fight, Flight, Freeze- but less familiar with the fourth – Fawn. Fawning, also called the Please and Appease response ..read more

As more and more women are determined to make a conscious transition through midlife, I see a growing commitment to making the most of the next chapter of their lives. They are determined to live without regrets and create a life that feels truly aligned with who they are. You too may be asking yourself whether or not you are living life fully, and spending your precious time and energy moving towards a more authentic life that feels like the perfect fit for you. So as we move towards the new year how do you start out well and begin the year inspired to create a life that aligns more closel ..read more

Divorce rates amongst couples over 40 are on the rise. The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ recent findings indicate that the highest divorce rate is amongst those aged 40 – 49. Adults in this midlife phase may be re-evaluating their earlier life choices, reconsidering current values, and reassessing whether their intimate relationship is living up to thier needs and expectations. The challenges faced at midlife are unique to this life stage, and have a significant impact on our relationships. Why are we struggling to maintain relationships during midlife? The tasks of early ..read more

Nothing helps us  feel more supported in our own journey than seeing others who are experiencing (and managing) similar issues. Research tells us that women consider the most challenging aspects of midlife to be coping with multiple co-occurring stressors. These include changing family relationships, divorce/breaking up with a partner, re-balancing work/personal life, re-discovering self and personal health issues. It is therefore no wonder the that we want to hear other women’s stories. We need to know we are not alone.  It is for this reason that I have compiled this ..read more

  Midlife is a time of transition, reflection, and introspection. We often reasses our lives, taking stock of our achievements, dreams, and goals. We also look for meaning in the challenging, stressful, or negative experiences often associated with midlife, such as relationship breakdown, caring for aging parents, career dissatisfaction, parenting teens, etc. Mindfulness is a life skill that helps us cope better with these challenging midlife experiences. It helps to lower stress, protect against anxiety and depression, supports better sleep, and improves your mood . Fo ..read more

Midlife and menopause can make for a challenging period in many women’s lives. With fluctuating hormones, mood swings, and levels of stress and anxiety rising as we question what we want from life, it’s no wonder women are finding themselves stuck in a rut. During this conversation with Andrea Duvall, editor at Prevention Magazine, we discuss why you might be feeling stuck and  where you can find solutions. In this episode I share strategies to help help you clear the path, rediscover joy, and live a life you truly love. Thank you Prevention Magazine Australia for having me on ..read more

One of the greatest challenges faced by midlife women is coping with multiple stressors simultaneously. So when we come up against conflict with our adolescent children we can feel pushed to our limit and become highly triggered. Finding positive strategies to manage our stress and emotional reactivity allows us to foster a stronger, more connected parent-adolescent relationship and reduce friction for the whole family. The challenges of parenting adolescents The adolescent years present challenges for parents and teens alike. As parents we are trying to balance concerns for o ..read more

For those who have attended my classes you will know that a message I often share with students is that “we are not just walking heads”. Our bodies are not just a servant to our overactive, thinking minds. Our bodies are our true home – where our feelings live. And as our emotions are constantly responding to our environment, so too are our bodies- we get knots in the tummy when we feel nervous, our heart jumps when we are startled , we clench our jaw when we are holding back anger, back pain is known to be linked to depression –&nb ..read more

Difficulty saying ‘no,’ fear of saying what you really feel, and denying your own needs — these are all signs of people-pleasing. And at midlife this response can lead to feeling lost and disconnected from yourself, and burnt out from tirelessly attending to the needs of others. What is people-pleasing? People-pleasing is a behaviour that develops in response to stress, or trauma. It is also known as fawning. Most of us are familiar with the first three stress responses – Fight, Flight, Freeze- but less familiar with the fourth – Fawn. Fawning, also called the Please and Appease response ..read more

Midlife is a time of transition where we begin to consider where we have been, who we are becoming, and what it means to have a meaningful and fulfilling life. This begins an honest dialogue with ourselves. If we do the work that helps us heal from the past and gain clarity about who we are now, we soon discover our true  identity, and evolve into our true self. For many women midlife is a second chance at reclaiming their power, making big decisions and potentially big moves. You may feel determined to take concrete steps toward the things that give you a sens ..read more