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The 'Pause Psych

@thepausepsych

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Helping midlife women to thrive, feel supported & to be empowered.
Menopause & Mental Health.
Clinical & Counselling Psychologist

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𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 🦋

I have been a psychologist for more than 30 years, supporting people through grief, trauma, relationships, life changes, and many different seasons of life.

Over the years, my work has continued to evolve, and The Pause Psych is a reflection of where my clinical experience and my passion for supporting women have come together.

I’m looking forward to sharing more of my perspective, the things I’ve learned through my work, and the conversations that continue to shape how I approach this area.

💬 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙚?

#ThePausePsych #Menopause #Perimenopause #WomensMentalHealth #MenopauseSupport #MidlifeWomen #Psychologist #MenopausePsychology #PsychologyInRockingham #MentalWellbeing by @thepausepsych

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2

a month ago

One of the most meaningful parts of this work is being trusted by midlife women.

The questions they ask, the changes they are trying to understand, and the moments where they wonder if they are the only one feeling this way.

What stays with me is not just what women share, but the courage it takes to open up about experiences that can sometimes feel confusing and difficult to explain.

The psychological side of menopause deserves space. Women deserve opportunities to reflect on what is changing, understand themselves better, and feel supported through this stage of life.

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 conversations is one of the reasons this work matters so much to me. 🦋

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱, 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.

#ThePausePsych #Menopause #Perimenopause #MenopauseSupport #WomensMentalHealth #MidlifeWomen #MenopausePsychology #Psychologist #PsychologyInRockingham #EmotionalWellbeing by @thepausepsych

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24 days ago

I know many women wonder whether they'll fit in, whether they'll feel comfortable sharing, or whether the program is really what they need.

Those questions are completely understandable.

What I've seen time and time again is that women often arrive thinking they're the only one feeling the way they do. It doesn't take long to realise they're sitting alongside others who have asked the same questions, experienced similar struggles, and understand what this stage of life can feel like.

That sense of being understood can be incredibly powerful.

If you're wondering whether 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺, 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 & 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁 is right for you, I hope hearing from women who have experienced the program helps you decide whether it's the right next step.

✨ Comment 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠 and I'll send you the details.

#ThePausePsych #ReclaimReconnectReset #Menopause #Perimenopause #MidlifeWomen #WomensMentalHealth #EmotionalWellbeing #MenopauseSupport #PsychologistLed #WomenSupportingWomen by @thepausepsych

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a month ago

Over the years, I've sat with many women who have told me they no longer felt like themselves.

They spoke about brain fog, the constant mental load, emotional exhaustion, and feeling disconnected from who they were. Yet many also believed they simply had to push through because that's what was expected.

𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵.

Menopause is a significant life transition. It deserves understanding, support, and space to reflect on what's changing, not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well.

That's why I created 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺, 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 & 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁. It's a psychologist-led program designed to help women make sense of this stage of life, reconnect with themselves, and navigate the changes with greater confidence and self-compassion.

If you've been feeling like you've lost a part of yourself, I want you to know that you don't have to work through it alone.

If you'd like to learn more about the program, 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠.

#ThePausePsych #MenopauseSupport #Perimenopause #MenopauseMentalHealth #Psychologist #WomensMentalHealth #MidlifeWomen #BrainFog #EmotionalWellbeing #RockinghamPsychologist #WAWomen #ReclaimReconnectReset by @thepausepsych

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9 hours ago

One of the things I hear quite often from women during perimenopause is, "𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙤 𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛𝙛."

By the end of the day, they're physically exhausted, yet the moment they get into bed, their mind starts replaying conversations, thinking about tomorrow, or moving from one thought to the next.

During perimenopause, hormonal changes can make the nervous system more responsive to stress. That can make it feel much harder to settle, even when your body is ready for sleep.

One gentle strategy I often suggest is slowing your breathing. A slightly longer exhale helps activate your body's relaxation response and gives your nervous system an opportunity to begin settling.

It's a small practice, but for many women, it can become a helpful way of creating a pause before sleep.

If this sounds familiar, I've put together a free guide, 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱, with gentle, evidence-informed strategies to support your nervous system during midlife.

💙 Comment 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧 and I'll send you a copy.

#ThePausePsych #Perimenopause #Menopause #WomensMentalHealth #NervousSystem #RestForARestlessMind #SleepSupport #HealthyAgeing by @thepausepsych

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2 days ago

One of the things I often notice is how quickly women respond to everyone else's needs, yet hesitate when it comes to asking themselves what they need.

Somewhere along the way, many have learned that putting themselves first feels selfish, saying no feels uncomfortable, and asking for help feels like they're letting someone down.

Menopause often brings those patterns into sharper focus. When your energy, emotions, or capacity begin to change, the questions you've been avoiding become the ones that matter most.

𝘋𝘰 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺?
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸?
𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸?

These aren't selfish questions. They're thoughtful questions that help you respond to yourself with greater awareness and care.

🦋 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆?

#ThePausePsych #Menopause #Perimenopause #SelfCare #SelfCompassion #EmotionalWellbeing #MidlifeWomen #WomensMentalHealth #MenopauseSupport #MentalHealth by @thepausepsych

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2 days ago

Night sweats can do more than interrupt your sleep. They can leave you feeling exhausted, irritable and struggling to concentrate the next day.

While you may not be able to stop night sweats completely, a few simple changes to your bedtime routine may help you sleep more comfortably.

✔️ Take a warm shower 60–90 minutes before bed to help your body cool naturally afterwards.

✔️ Choose breathable bedding made from natural fibres like cotton, bamboo or linen.

✔️ Avoid heavy meals, alcohol and spicy foods close to bedtime, as these can make symptoms worse for some women.

If night sweats are happening regularly or affecting your quality of life, don't ignore them. There are effective treatment options available, and you don't have to manage them alone.

If you're experiencing menopause symptoms and would like personalised support, The 'Pause Psych is here to help.

#ThePausePsych #Menopause #Perimenopause #NightSweats #MenopauseSupport #SleepHealth #HealthyAgeing #HormoneHealth #WomensHealth #MidlifeHealth by @thepausepsych

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4 days ago

Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten why you were there?

Or lost your train of thought halfway through a conversation?

You're not alone.

Research suggests that around 40–60% of women experience changes in memory, concentration and thinking during the menopause transition.

These changes are often described as brain fog, but they're rarely caused by one thing alone. Hormonal changes, disrupted sleep and increased stress can all affect how well your brain is able to focus, process information and retrieve memories.

While these changes can be frustrating, they don't automatically mean something is seriously wrong.

If your memory changes are persistent, worsening, or causing you concern, it's important to speak with your GP.

💬 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲?

#ThePausePsych #Menopause #Perimenopause #BrainFog #MemoryChanges #WomensMentalHealth #MenopauseSupport #Psychology #MidlifeWomen #HealthyAgeing by @thepausepsych

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5 days ago

You don’t have to understand every change on your own.

Talking to a psychologist can give you space to understand what’s happening, whether that’s changes in your mood, confidence, relationships, sense of self, stress, emotional overwhelm, or the mental load of midlife.

It can also be a place to learn practical strategies, ask questions, and talk through things that may be difficult to put into words.

This is one of the reasons I created 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺, 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 & 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁. It gives women a supportive space to pause, understand what’s changing, reflect on what matters to them, and connect with other women going through this stage of life.

🦋 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺, 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 & 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁: A 6-week midlife support group
👩‍⚕️ Facilitated by Heather Cooke, Clinical Psychologist
📍 In person at Sound Psychology
U2/23 Chalgrove Avenue, Rockingham WA 6168

💬 Comment 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠 and I’ll send you the details.

#ThePausePsych #ReclaimReconnectReset #Perimenopause #MenopauseSupport #MidlifeWomen #WomensMentalHealth #MenopauseAwareness #MidlifeWellbeing #Psychology by @thepausepsych

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8 days ago

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆?

It's a question I often encourage women to think about because, over time, your identity can become closely tied to what you do for other people. You become known as a mother, a partner, an employee, a carer, or the friend everyone turns to. While these roles are important, they are only one part of who you are.

Are you curious? Creative? Kind? Funny? Thoughtful? Patient?

Those qualities are still part of you. They don't disappear because life becomes busy. They may simply have had fewer opportunities to shine.

Take a moment today to think about the words you would use to describe yourself. Not the roles you fill, but the qualities that make you uniquely you.

If you'd like some gentle guidance to help you reconnect with yourself during perimenopause, I've created a free guide called 𝟱 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗗𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲.

💛 Comment 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧 and I'll send you a copy.

#ThePausePsych #Perimenopause #PerimenopauseSupport #Menopause #MidlifeWomen #ReconnectWithYourself #WomensMentalHealth #EmotionalWellbeing #MentalWellbeing #SelfCompassion #MidlifeWellbeing #MenopauseSupport by @thepausepsych

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9 days ago

The version of me you see here is only one part of who I am. 🦋

There’s the psychologist, the business owner, the person who looks like she has it all together… and then there’s the person behind the scenes trying to remember what she walked into the room for. 😂

We all have parts of ourselves that other people see, and plenty they don’t. I think part of being human is learning to accept all of those parts, including the messy, tired, forgetful and slightly ridiculous ones, without judging ourselves too harshly.

So yes, this is a pretty accurate look at what happens behind the scenes. 🤣🦋

𝗕𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁… 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆? 😂

#ThePausePsych #BehindTheScenes #KeepingItReal #MentalHealth #PsychologistLife #MidlifeWomen #WomensMentalHealth #Perimenopause #MenopauseSupport by @thepausepsych

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10 days ago

There are days when we can do it all.

And there are days when simply getting through the essentials is enough.

One of the things I often encourage women to think about during menopause is whether they're expecting the same of themselves, even though their energy and capacity have changed.

I've found that many women keep adding to their to-do list without stopping to ask whether everything truly needs to happen today.

Sometimes the most helpful question isn't, "𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚?"It's, "𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩?"

Giving yourself permission to postpone something means making thoughtful decisions about what you realistically have the capacity for today.

Your to-do list will still be there tomorrow. Looking after yourself deserves a place on that list too.

🦋 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄?

#ThePausePsych #Menopause #Perimenopause #SelfCare #MentalLoad #EmotionalWellbeing #MidlifeWomen #WomensMentalHealth #MenopauseSupport #Psychology by @thepausepsych

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11 days ago