As we close Season 8 of Midlife Reclaimed, I wanted to share a conversation that feels deeply relevant to the times we are living in.

My guest is Minky van der Walt, Registered Music Therapist, trauma therapist, clinical supervisor, and educator. While much of Minky's work focuses on supporting therapists, healthcare workers, educators, and other helping professionals, the themes we explore in this conversation extend far beyond any one profession.

Together, we reflect on what happens when we find ourselves operating in systems where demands are high and resources are low. Whether that system is healthcare, education, community services, a workplace, a family, or even our own household, many of us know what it feels like to carry more than seems sustainable.

We explore the emotional toll this can take, the impact of burnout and moral distress, and why simply telling people to practise more self-care often misses the bigger picture.

Minky introduces a different way of thinking about wellbeing through collective care and self-leadership, inviting us to consider the role of community, connection, accountability, and shared responsibility in helping us navigate difficult times.

We also discuss practical approaches that can help us reconnect with ourselves, including creative reflection, music, somatic practices, and ways of accessing wisdom beyond the thinking mind.

Whether you are supporting others professionally, caring for family members, navigating the demands of midlife, or simply feeling the weight of modern life, this conversation offers gentle wisdom, practical reflections, and a reminder that we were never meant to carry it all alone.

Thank you for sharing another season of Midlife Reclaimed with me. I look forward to reconnecting with you in Season 9.

Guest: Minky van der Walt is a Registered Music Therapist, trauma therapist, clinical supervisor, educator, and the founder of Tempo Therapy & Consulting.

With more than 25 years of experience across health, education, and community services, Minky is passionate about supporting therapists, healthcare workers, educators, and other helping professionals to navigate the impacts of caring work. Her work focuses on burnout prevention, vicarious trauma, sustainable practice, clinical supervision, collective care, and fostering resilience through creative, embodied, and relational approaches.

Drawing on music therapy, trauma-informed practice, somatic approaches, reflective supervision, and creative arts-based methods, Minky creates spaces where caregivers can reconnect with themselves, deepen their clinical presence, and sustain their capacity to continue doing meaningful work.

Based in Hobart, Tasmania, Minky works with individuals, groups, and organisations across Australia through supervision, professional development programs, consultation, and therapeutic support.

www.tempotherapy.com

www.instagram.com/tempo.therapy.supervision/

www.linkedin.com/in/tempotherapyandconsulting/

Host: Shannon Swales: Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, and midlife woman who’s walked through burnout and come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, and big life transitions. Through gentle conversations and evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, and grow through what once felt like breaking points.

• Midlife Reclaimed Online Community - https://midlife-reclaimed.mn.co/

• Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn @shannon.a.swales

• 1:1 Therapy: www.shannonaswales.com/therapy

• Midlife Reclaimed Coaching for Women: www.shannonaswales.com/coaching

Subscribe: www.shannonaswales.com/subscribe

Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon A Swales. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when everything feels like too much?

In this final solo episode of Season 8 of Midlife Reclaimed, clinical psychologist Shannon Swales offers gentle, practical grounding practices for overwhelmed days — especially for midlife women carrying the emotional, mental, and physical load of life.

Together, we explore why overwhelm is such a common experience in midlife, including the impact of caregiving, work stress, emotional labour, burnout, identity shifts, and the pressure many women carry within family and cultural systems.

This is not an episode about fixing yourself or “getting rid” of overwhelm. Instead, Shannon shares accessible grounding techniques designed to help regulate the nervous system, reconnect with the body, and gently expand our world when stress and overwhelm narrow it.

Inside this episode:

• feet-on-the-floor grounding
• orienting to the space around you through the senses
• long exhale breathing for nervous system support
• self-compassion grounding practices
• mindful grounding through everyday moments like tea, coffee, nature, or movement
• how to work with overwhelm one small step at a time
• the “just one thing” practice for reducing mental overload

This episode may resonate with midlife women navigating:

• burnout and emotional exhaustion
• anxiety and overwhelm
• perimenopause and life transitions
• chronic stress and mental load
• caregiving fatigue
• identity shifts in midlife
• nervous system overwhelm

These practices are intentionally simple, realistic, and designed for real life — because small moments of grounding can accumulate over time and become powerful support for our wellbeing.

Host: Shannon Swales: Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, and midlife woman who’s walked through burnout and come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, and big life transitions. Through gentle conversations and evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, and grow through what once felt like breaking points.

If you enjoy the Midlife Reclaimed Podcast, join our community:

• Midlife Reclaimed Online Community - a place to come back home to self - https://midlife-reclaimed.mn.co/

• Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn @shannon.a.swales

• 1:1 Therapy: www.shannonaswales.com/therapy

• Midlife Reclaimed Coaching for Women: www.shannonaswales.com/coaching

Subscribe to my Mailing List: www.shannonaswales.com/subscribe and receive a free eJournal to assist in coming back to yourself.

Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon A Swales. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About the Episode

In this episode of Midlife Reclaimed, I’m joined by Kim — a survivor of domestic abuse, a mother, an author, and a fierce advocate for truth-telling.

This is a deeply important conversation.

We explore the often unseen and misunderstood nature of domestic abuse — particularly the gradual ways it can unfold over time. The kind that doesn’t always look obvious from the outside, and can leave someone questioning their reality, their worth, and their sense of self.

Kim shares her story with honesty and courage — speaking to the complexity of these experiences, the patterns that can develop, and what it takes to begin seeing things more clearly.

A gentle note: this episode discusses domestic abuse and may feel heavy or activating for some listeners. Please take care as you listen, and pause or step away if you need.

If this conversation brings up anything for you, or if you are in need of support, you’ll find links to international support services below.

Support Services

Australia: 1800RESPECT — National Domestic Violence Support

Lifeline Australia — 13 11 14

USA: National Domestic Violence Hotline — thehotline.org

UK: National Domestic Abuse Helpline — refuge.org.uk

About the Guest — Kim

Kim is a survivor of domestic abuse, a mother, an author and a passionate advocate for truth-telling. She is also a trauma-informed energy practitioner, supporting others on their path to healing and recovery through a compassionate, lived-experience-informed approach. Through her work and her voice, Kim creates space for awareness, resilience, and hope.

Kim’s Resources

The Boiling Water: When Love Becomes a Trap

A collection of stories from survivors of domestic abuse, offering insight into the often subtle and gradual nature of abuse, and validating the lived experience of those who have been through it.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Boiling-Water-When-love-becomes/dp/1764133218

Capacity for Connection

A resource discussed in this episode, exploring how our emotional and nervous system capacity shapes our ability to connect — particularly in the context of parenting but can be applied to other challenging areas of life. Download https://drive.google.com/file/d/18RBmsnVALIbYZjm77Yko-8RHWdX4KEmh/view?usp=sharing

Host: Shannon Swales: Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, and midlife woman who’s walked through burnout and come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, and big life transitions. Through gentle conversations and evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, and grow through what once felt like breaking points.

If you enjoy the Midlife Reclaimed Podcast, join our community:

• Midlife Reclaimed Online Community - a place to come back home to self - https://midlife-reclaimed.mn.co/

• Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn @shannon.a.swales

• 1:1 Therapy: www.shannonaswales.com/therapy

• Midlife Reclaimed Coaching for Women: www.shannonaswales.com/coaching

• Reflective Supervision for Psychologists: www.shannonaswales.com/supervision-for-psychologists

Subscribe to my Mailing List: www.shannonaswales.com/subscribe and receive a free eJournal to assist in coming back to yourself.

Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon A Swales. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode may resonate with midlife women navigating burnout, identity shifts, or a desire to reconnect with themselves in a more compassionate way.

Episode Description:

This isn’t an episode to give you answers.

It’s a space to gently turn toward yourself.

In this solo episode, I invite you into a quiet pause, a space to step outside of the narratives we’ve been given about midlife — especially as women — and begin to explore what feels true for you.

Together, we move through a series of reflective questions:

What beliefs do I hold about midlife… and where did they come from?

What is this season of life actually feeling like for me right now?

What no longer fits… and may be ready to fall away?

What might be quietly emerging underneath it all?

This is not about fixing, striving, or finding the “right” way to do midlife.

It’s about creating space to notice, to question, and to gently come back into relationship with yourself.

You’re invited to pause the episode at any point, take your time, and reflect in whatever way feels natural — journaling, thinking, walking, or simply being.

If you’ve been sensing a shift, questioning things more, or quietly wondering “is this it?” — this space is for you.

🧡 Take what resonates

🌻 Leave what doesn’t

And as always, take gentle care of you

Host: Shannon Swales: Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, and midlife woman who’s walked through burnout and come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, and big life transitions. Through gentle conversations and evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, and grow through what once felt like breaking points.

If you enjoy the Midlife Reclaimed Podcast, join our community:

• Midlife Reclaimed Online Community - a place to come back home to self - https://midlife-reclaimed.mn.co/

• Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn @shannon.a.swales

• 1:1 Therapy: www.shannonaswales.com/therapy

• Midlife Reclaimed Coaching for Women: www.shannonaswales.com/coaching

Subscribe to my Mailing List: www.shannonaswales.com/subscribe and receive a free eJournal to assist in coming back to yourself.

Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon A Swales. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WOMEN IN PODCASTING AWARDS: Show your support by voting for Midlife Reclaimed: https://www.womenpodcasters.com/midlife-reclaimed Voting is open April 1 - 30th. Winners Announced in May 2026. Host, Shannon A Swales, is also nominated in the category of podcaster guest for her 20+ appearances on other podcasts to spread her wisdom and knowledge on burnout and midlife health and well-being for women - https://www.womenpodcasters.com/shannon-swales

In this solo episode, I’m exploring a question that so many women find themselves asking in midlife — especially in the depths of burnout:

“Is this career still right for me?”

It’s a tender and often confusing place to be.

Because when we’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and running on empty, the urge to escape can feel very real.

But how do we know:

👉 Is this burnout speaking — a need for relief?

👉 Or is it a deeper misalignment — a genuine call for change?

In this episode, I gently walk you through:

• Why career questions often arise during burnout
• The difference between burnout-driven escape and true misalignment
• How our identity and sense of worth can become tied to our work
• Why making big decisions in burnout can feel urgent — but isn’t always wise
• The role of the “threat brain” and our natural urge to seek relief
• Practical ways to create space before making decisions
• How to reconnect with your values to find clarity and direction

I also share parts of my own experience — including the moment I questioned whether I could continue in my career at all.

This is not about rushing into answers.

It’s about creating space, to listen more deeply, and to reconnect with what truly matters to you.

☕ So if you’ve been quietly wondering,

“Is this still for me?” — this episode is for you.

Host: Shannon Swales: Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, & midlife woman who’s walked through burnout & come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, & big life transitions. Through gentle conversations & evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, & grow through what once felt like breaking points.

Other ways to connect with Shannon

• Midlife Reclaimed Community

• Social Media: @shannon.a.swales

• Burnout Therapy

• Midlife Reclaimed Coaching for Women

• Join Shannon's Mailing List - free eJournal

Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WOMEN IN PODCASTING AWARDS: Show your support by voting for Midlife Reclaimed: https://www.womenpodcasters.com/midlife-reclaimed Voting is open April 1 - 30th.

Creativity is something many of us leave behind as life becomes fuller, busier, & more demanding. But what if reconnecting with creativity in midlife could be one of the most nourishing things we do for ourselves? In this ep, I’m joined by Chrissy from Artuition for a warm & honest conversation about art therapy, creativity, & the midlife experience. We begin with a very real midlife moment — the kind of tiredness many women recognise as their bodies start asking for more attention & care. From there, our conversation unfolds into the role creativity can play in reconnecting us with ourselves. Chrissy shares her journey into art therapy & explains how creative expression can support our bodies, offer a different way to process thoughts & emotions, & help women reconnect with parts of themselves that may have been quietly set aside for many years. This conversation explores how creativity can become a gentle pathway back to yourself — not through pressure or perfectionism, but through curiosity, expression, & permission to simply create. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “I’m not creative” or feeling disconnected from the joy you once felt in creative activities, this episode offers a compassionate invitation to explore that part of yourself again.

In this ep., we explore:

- Why creativity often fades from our lives as responsibilities grow

- The connection between midlife, fatigue, & listening to the body

- What art therapy actually is & how it works

- How creative expression can support the body & mind

- Reconnecting with creativity after burnout or long periods of caring for others

- Why giving yourself permission to create can be quietly revolutionary in midlife

Guest Chrissy: I am a proud AuDHD’er (Autistic-ADHD), passionate about soulful self-discovery, nourishing personal wellbeing, and expressing, learning and processing through therapeutic arts experiences. Alongside a Masters in Therapeutic Arts Practice with Specialisation in Arts-based Research, and ANZACATA Professional registration, I weave together 30 years as a Professional Artist and Educator, with special expertise working with neurodivergent children, late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD women in peri/menopause, families, LGBTQIA+, and allied health professionals. As a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman, it’s my passion to support neurodivergent folk to creatively discover their unique strengths, interests and goals for thriving, while expanding the research base of our community’s unique, lived experiences and needs.

In my free time, I love chilling at home with my son, puppy Banjo & 3 cats, sipping tea, going on nature walks, making art, building LEGO, tending to my house plants & enjoying gluten-free friendly cafes. Oh, & frolicking barefoot in the rain!

Connect with Chrissy: www.artuition.com

Discover her Online Peri-Women-Pause space: https://artuition.com.au/peri-women-pause

Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/artuitionstudio

Host: Shannon Swales: Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, & midlife woman who’s walked through burnout & come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, & big life transitions. Through gentle conversations & evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, & grow through what once felt like breaking points.

Other ways to connect with Shannon

• Midlife Reclaimed Community

• Social Media: @shannon.a.swales

• Burnout Therapy

• Midlife Reclaimed Coaching for Women

• Join Shannon's Mailing List - free eJournal

Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode of Midlife Reclaimed, I explore grief in midlife — a powerful but often unrecognised experience for many midlife women, especially those navigating burnout, identity shifts, changing roles, and the emotional transitions of this life stage.

When we think of grief, we often think about death. But grief in midlife can also arise through:

• burnout and recovery
• changes in health, energy, or menopause transitions
• children growing up or leaving home or not
• career and identity shifts
• ageing parents and changing relationships
• the quiet realisation that parts of our former life no longer fit

Drawing on my work as a psychologist supporting midlife women experiencing burnout and mental health challenges — as well as my own lived experience — I explore:

• what grief in midlife actually is
• why it often goes unnoticed
• anticipatory grief and life transitions
• the connection between burnout and emotional wellbeing
• self-compassionate ways to support yourself

If you’ve been feeling heavier, unsettled, or sensing change within yourself, this episode may help you understand what’s happening — and remind you that you’re not alone.

Healing, growth, and reclaiming yourself in midlife are possible.

Host: Shannon Swales, Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, and midlife woman who’s walked through burnout and come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, and big life transitions. Through gentle conversations and evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, and grow through what once felt like breaking points.

The Midlife Reclaimed Podcast has been nominated in the Women in Podcasting Awards, recognising podcasts created by women making an impact through meaningful conversations and storytelling. Find out more here https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards Voting opens in April 2026. We'd love your support.

If you enjoy the Midlife Reclaimed Podcast, join our community:

• Midlife Reclaimed Online Community - a place to come back home to self - https://midlife-reclaimed.mn.co/

• Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn @shannon.a.swales

• 1:1 Therapy: www.shannonaswales.com/therapy

Subscribe to my Mailing List: www.shannonaswales.com/subscribe and receive a free eJournal to assist in coming home to yourself.

Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon A Swales. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Midlife Reclaimed Podcast, I’m joined by Clinical Psychologist Kirstin Bouse — widely known as The Midlife Psychologist — for an important conversation about hormones, mental health, and identity in midlife women.

We explore how hormonal transitions such as perimenopause and menopause can influence mood, anxiety, burnout, neurodivergence, and overall psychological wellbeing. This life stage often brings multiple shifts at once — physical, emotional, relational, and identity-based — and it’s rarely just one factor affecting how women feel.

Together, we unpack why midlife can feel unexpectedly intense, how hormonal changes interact with mental health across the lifespan, and why understanding this connection can be empowering rather than alarming. We also talk about the identity reorganisation that often occurs in midlife — that sense of asking Who am I now? — and how this can become a meaningful opportunity for self-understanding rather than simply a crisis.

If you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, burnout, emotional fatigue, or simply noticing changes in yourself during midlife, this conversation offers reassurance, insight, and practical understanding.

You’re not imagining it — and you’re certainly not alone.

The Midlife Reclaimed Podcast has been nominated in the Women in Podcasting Awards, recognising podcasts created by women making an impact through meaningful conversations and storytelling. Find out more here https://www.womenpodcasters.com/awards Voting opens in April 2026. We'd love your support.

Guest: Kirstin Bouse is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with nearly 30 years’ experience supporting women through life’s most complex transitions. Her work focuses particularly on midlife mental health, menopause, identity shifts, and the psychological impact of hormonal change across the lifespan.

She is the founder of All About Her – The Centre for Menopause, a multidisciplinary initiative dedicated to improving access to menopause-informed health care and psychological support for women. Kirstin has worked across hospitals, universities, correctional settings, and private practice, and is widely recognised for her advocacy in women’s mental health during midlife.

Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience of perimenopause, burnout, and neurodivergence, Kirstin is passionate about helping women better understand themselves, access informed support, and navigate midlife with greater clarity, self-trust, and wellbeing.

🌐 Website (Psychology Practice & Programs):

https://kirstinbousepsych.com.au

🌐 All About Her – The Centre for Menopause:

https://www.allabouthercentre.com.au

📸 Instagram:

@the_midlife_psychologist

@allabouthercentre

✉️ Contact:

Best via the contact forms on either website.

Host: Shannon Swales: Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, and midlife woman who’s walked through burnout and come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, and big life transitions. Through gentle conversations and evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, and grow through what once felt like breaking points.

If you enjoy the Midlife Reclaimed Podcast, join our community:

• Midlife Reclaimed Online Community - a place to come back home to self - https://midlife-reclaimed.mn.co/

• Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn @shannon.a.swales

• 1:1 Therapy: www.shannonaswales.com/therapy

Subscribe to my Mailing List: www.shannonaswales.com/subscribe and receive a free eJournal to assist in coming back to yourself.

Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon A Swales. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When caring for others leaves you burnout, midlife can become a turning point for many women.

In this solo episode of Midlife Reclaimed, clinical psychologist Shannon Swales explores midlife burnout, caregiver stress, and how self-compassion can help exhausted women learn to care for themselves without the pressure to “fix” themselves.

Many midlife women are exceptionally skilled at caring for others — partners, children, ageing parents, clients, teams. But when it comes to their own needs, care can feel awkward, selfish, or unsafe.

In this episode, we explore:

– Why caring for others often leads to burnout in midlife

– How early caregiving patterns shape self-neglect

– What self-compassion really means (and what it is not)

– Why compassion can feel threatening for burnt-out women

– How to practise self-compassion in a gentle, embodied way

– A simple compassion practice you can try today

This is not an episode about self-improvement, optimisation, or fixing what’s broken.

It’s an invitation to learn how to care for yourself with the same warmth and steadiness you offer everyone else — especially during midlife, perimenopause, and burnout recovery.

Host: Shannon Swales, Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, and midlife woman who’s walked through burnout and come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, and big life transitions. Through gentle conversations and evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, and grow through what once felt like breaking points.

If you enjoy the Midlife Reclaimed Podcast, join our community:

• Midlife Reclaimed Online Community - a place to come back home to self - https://midlife-reclaimed.mn.co/

• Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn @shannon.a.swales

• 1:1 Therapy: www.shannonaswales.com/therapy

Subscribe to my Mailing List: www.shannonaswales.com/subscribe and receive a free eJournal to assist in coming home to yourself.

Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon A Swales. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Perfectionism often looks like being capable, reliable, and responsible — the one others can count on.

But beneath those labels, many women over 40 are quietly exhausted and teetering on the edge or tipping over into midlife burnout.

In this solo episode of Midlife Reclaimed, psychologist and author Shannon A. Swales explores how perfectionism subtly tightens its grip in midlife — and why it so often becomes a key driver of burnout during this season of life.

This conversation isn’t about fixing yourself, lowering your standards, or striving for yet another version of “better.”

It’s about understanding perfectionism for what it is — a once-protective survival strategy — and gently loosening its hold so you can live with more energy, meaning, and self-trust.

• What perfectionism really is (and why it’s not about being perfect)
• How perfectionism hides behind “shoulds,” “musts,” and rigid expectations
• Why perfectionism becomes heavier and harder to carry in midlife
• The strong link between perfectionism, chronic stress, and burnout
• How perfectionism shows up in work, relationships, self-care, and decision-making
• The perfectionist voice — how it speaks, its tone, and its impact on your nervous system
• Why perfectionism is a survival mechanism — and why it no longer serves you
• What to expect when you begin loosening perfectionism’s grip (including discomfort)
• How values-based living offers a gentler, more sustainable alternative
• Small, compassionate steps you can take toward good-enough living

Shannon also shares openly about noticing her own perfectionism show up while recording this episode — choosing to let it be real rather than polished, and modelling the very practice she’s inviting you into.

This episode is an invitation to move away from unrelenting standards and toward a values-guided life — one where worth is not measured by output, and where how you live matters more than how flawlessly you perform.

✨ You don’t need to be perfect to be worthy.

✨ You don’t need to do more to be enough.

Host: Shannon Swales: Clinical Psychologist, award-winning author, and midlife woman who’s walked through burnout and come out the other side. Shannon combines clinical wisdom with lived experience to support others navigating chronic stress, burnout, and big life transitions. Through gentle conversations and evidence-based insights, she helps women reconnect with themselves, reclaim their energy, and grow through what once felt like breaking points.

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Disclaimer: This podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship with Shannon A Swales. The views expressed are general & not a substitute for personalised therapy. If in distress, seek professional help. Remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

Engaging with this podcast does not intend to create, nor does it create, a therapist-client relationship between you and Shannon A Swales. All views, opinions, and tips expressed by me or my guests are general in nature and not a replacement for personalised therapy. As I have done for myself, I encourage anyone experiencing distress to seek professional support. In Australia, if you are in a life-threatening emergency, please dial 000. For immediate counselling, contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for First Nation Australians. Stay safe, and remember—you don’t have to face your struggles alone.

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