Clinical psychologist Kristie Clarke shares her personal experiences and professional insights on navigating the menopausal transition. Kristie discusses the challenges she faced in finding the right support, the impact on her high-achieving career, and how her journey has shaped her approach to working with menopausal women. The conversation explores common symptoms, the importance of a holistic view, and Kristie's encouragement to embrace the opportunities for personal growth during this transformative stage of life.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Kristie’s Personal Journey: How her experiences with perimenopause and menopause have influenced her professional practice.
• Common Menopausal Challenges: Cognitive changes, chronic fatigue, burnout, and a loss of confidence.
• Holistic Approach: Why addressing both mental health and hormonal changes is essential.
• Practical Support: Strategies for making lifestyle adjustments and finding resilience during menopause.
• Encouragement and Hope: Insights into building support networks, embracing change, and fostering personal growth.

About Kristie Clarke:
Kristie Clark is a clinical psychologist and the owner of a group psychology practice. Her own journey through menopause inspired her to specialize in supporting women during this transformative life stage. By combining professional expertise with personal experience, Kristie offers compassionate, holistic care that empowers women to navigate menopause with confidence and resilience.

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Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

In this episode, the host Kirstin Bouse discusses the findings of a recent Senate inquiry in Australia that looked at the wide-ranging impacts of menopause on women's health, careers, families, and overall well-being.

The inquiry received over 290 submissions from women sharing their lived experiences, as well as healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers. The key takeaways were stark - menopause has a profound impact on women's mental health, often leaving them feeling like they don't recognize themselves anymore due to changes in their cognitive abilities, emotional regulation, and overall sense of self.

However, Kirstin notes that mental health services and many healthcare providers still don't have a strong enough understanding of how menopause can trigger issues like anxiety and depression. 

This reinforces what Kirstin sees in her own clinical work - that the psychological and emotional toll of menopause is often overlooked, even as women struggle to cope with the transition.

By unpacking the findings of this important inquiry, Kirstin aims to shine a light on the need for greater awareness, education, and support around menopause. 

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Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

Gut health plays a vital role in women's health, especially during the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause, yet it's often overlooked. In this episode, nutritionist and naturopath Susie Garden joins Kirsten Bouse to explore the significant impact of gut health on hormone balance, energy levels, and overall well-being.

Susie explains how to identify both the subtle and more obvious signs of an unhealthy gut, such as bloating, reflux, and excess gas. She highlights that these symptoms are not "normal" and should be addressed, as they indicate imbalances in the gut microbiome.

Key Topics:

• Recognizing gut health symptoms beyond just diarrhea or constipation
• Understanding when gut issues indicate an underlying problem
• Addressing gut health concerns, even if they appear to be "normal"

Whether you're dealing with ongoing gut issues or looking to enhance your health during menopause, this episode is full of valuable insights. Susie emphasizes the importance of paying attention to gut symptoms that may seem normal but could signal an imbalance, encouraging listeners to track how long these issues persist.

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Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

In this episode, Kirsten Bouse, Clinical Psychologist and Founder of All About Her, welcomes psychologist Angela Brooks-Horn back to discuss the transformative experience of menopause. Angela shares her unique perspective, viewing menopause as an opportunity for women to pause, reflect, and redefine their priorities. Together, they explore how this life stage can offer personal growth and self-reflection, with women often at a point where careers are established and children are grown. Tune in for an insightful conversation about supporting women through this pivotal transition.

Takeaways:

• Menopause can be a powerful opportunity for personal growth and self-reflection.
• It's a time to slow down, reassess priorities, and redefine goals.
• With established careers and grown children, women can focus more on themselves.
• Menopause is a natural transition that offers space for new perspectives on life.

If any of this resonates, know that support is available. With over 25 years of experience, Angela uses a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to help her clients navigate the transition from perimenopause to post-menopause, a time that can ultimately lead to greater freedom, personal growth, and self-assurance. Angela’s approach is grounded in authenticity and humour, and she offers a compassionate guiding hand to women ready to face their challenges head-on.

For more information and resources on menopause and mental health, visit All About Her Centre.

Click subscribe or follow to make sure you get notified about new episodes. 

Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

In this episode, Kirstin Bouse sits down with psychologist Angela Brooks-Horn to discuss her career and her work supporting women through the menopausal transition. Angela reflects on how her personal experience with menopause, along with her deep dive into research, has shaped her practice and approach to helping women during this significant life phase.

Kirstin and Angela explore:

• Angela’s unconventional career path, from studying Japanese education and politics to becoming a psychologist
• Her early work in community mental health and her transition to private practice
• The unique mental health challenges women face during menopause
• Why antidepressants often fall short in addressing menopause-related anxiety and depression
• The importance of a holistic approach, including therapy, hormone replacement, nutrition, and yoga
• Angela’s role as a trusted guide, helping women navigate the complexities of menopause

Understanding Perimenopause and Post-Menopause:
The perimenopausal and post-menopausal years can bring emotional highs and lows, feelings of overwhelm, and a re-evaluation of relationships. Women may experience physical symptoms like fatigue, hot flashes, joint pain, and cognitive difficulties such as brain fog or trouble recalling names. Those with ADHD may notice an increase in symptoms, while unresolved traumas or long-held anxieties may resurface, leading to feelings of overwhelm and strained relationships.

If any of this resonates, know that support is available. With over 25 years of experience, Angela uses a variety of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to help her clients navigate the transition from perimenopause to post-menopause, a time that can ultimately lead to greater freedom, personal growth, and self-assurance. Angela’s approach is grounded in authenticity and humour, and she offers a compassionate guiding hand to women ready to face their challenges head-on.

For more information and resources on menopause and mental health, visit All About Her Centre.

Click subscribe or follow to make sure you get notified about new episodes. 

Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

Perimenopause is more than just a medical event—it’s a deeply transformative, existential experience. It’s a time when many women begin to reflect on who they are and what they truly want out of life.

In this episode, Kirstin Bouse and Ruth Cross dive into:

• The emotional depth of perimenopause beyond physical symptoms
• How identity and self-perception can evolve during this life stage
• Why women often reassess their relationships and career paths in midlife
• The role of therapy and personal reflection in navigating these transitions
• How embracing these changes can lead to personal growth and fulfillment

If you’re interested in exploring the emotional and existential aspects of perimenopause, this conversation provides profound insights.

For more information and resources on perimenopause and midlife transitions, visit All About Her Centre.

Click subscribe or follow to make sure you get notified about new episodes. 

Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

Menopause is more than just a biological shift—it's a deeply personal, emotional, and transformative journey, and psychotherapist Ruth Cross is here to explore it through the power of storytelling.

In this episode of All About Her, host Kirstin Bouse engages in a meaningful conversation with Ruth Cross, who specializes in working with women during the menopausal transition. 

In this episode, we discuss:

• Ruth’s career shift from documentary filmmaking to psychotherapy
• The role of storytelling in understanding the human condition
• How Ruth’s own midlife transition inspired her to work with women in menopause
• The importance of focusing on the emotional and psychological aspects of menopause, not just the biomedical side
• Helping women create new narratives as they move through this life stage

Listen to Ruth’s episode to gain a deeper understanding of how therapy can support women in perimenopause and menopause, and stay tuned for future episodes where Ruth will share more of her personal journey.

Click subscribe or follow to make sure you get notified about new episodes. 

Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

Have you noticed shifts in your relationship as you navigate perimenopause? You're not alone. Many women find that this life stage brings unexpected challenges to their relationships.

In this episode, I sit down with sexologist Federica Zamboni to discuss:

• The deeper identity changes women experience during perimenopause
• How these changes can create communication breakdowns in relationships
• The impact of fluctuating libido on sexual dynamics
• Why a positive connection to your sexual self is crucial during this time
• How couples counseling can help realign relationships during perimenopause

If you’re curious about how perimenopause could be affecting your relationship, this episode is a must-listen.

Click subscribe or follow to make sure you get notified about new episodes. 

Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

In this episode, I speak with Federica Zamboni, a seasoned psychologist and sexologist, about her extensive background in working with women through various life stages. We explore her unique insights into the challenges faced during perimenopause and how her experiences have shaped her approach to therapy. From her beginnings in psychology to her deep dive into sexology, Federica shares valuable perspectives on supporting women through these transformative years.

Key Moments:

• 0:00 – Introduction and welcome
• 1:30 – Federica Zamboni’s professional background and expertise
• 3:15 – The significance of working with perimenopausal women
• 5:45 – Insights into how menopause impacts sexual identity and relationships
• 8:30 – The generational shifts in sexual understanding and its implications
• 12:00 – The future outlook on menopause support and education

Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on this topic. Share your comments and questions on our social media channels or reach out directly to Kirstin.

About the Host: Kirstin Bouse is a midlife psychologist dedicated to empowering women through the complexities of perimenopause and beyond. Her podcast, All About Her, aims to provide valuable insights and expert advice to support women during this pivotal stage of life.

Click subscribe or follow to make sure you get notified about new episodes. 

Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/

One of the big questions I hear from perimenopausal women in the therapy room is: “Do I have ADHD?”

Women are increasingly being diagnosed with ADHD late in life (myself included!), and understanding whether you’re experiencing ADHD symptoms or if your symptoms are related to perimenopause can be tricky.

In this episode, I’ll chat about:

• The common symptoms between ADHD and perimenopause
• How to determine which you’re experiencing
• My experiencing being diagnosed with ADHD in my 40s
• The relationship between ADHD and our hormones
• How ADHD shows up in perimenopause
• Treatment options

Find Kirstin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_midlife_psychologist

Click subscribe or follow to make sure you get notified about new episodes. 

Visit here to access a comprehensive resource hub for Australian women navigating menopause, offering trusted professionals, support, and information all in one place.

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au/