Episode 77 | Parentification

Send us Fan MailIn this final episode of the season, I wanted to slow things down a little and talk about something I see every single day in my work in terms of what it actually looks like to prioritise your mental health.Not just when things fall apart but in the small everyday choices.In this episode, I’m sharing seven things I notice people do differently when they begin to really care for their mental wellbeing. These aren’t big, dramatic changes - they’re gentle shifts. Things like setting boundaries without guilt, softening your inner critic, letting go of people-pleasing, and learning to choose yourself in a way that feels safe.This is about presence and building a relationship with yourself that feels a little more supportive, a little more compassionate.So, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stretched, or like you only tend to your mental health when things get really hard this episode is for you - a soft, reflective conversation to close the season and a reminder that even the smallest shift matters.SPONSOR:The warmest thank you to our wonderful, wonderful sponsor, SISTERLY (I only partner with sponsors that I truly believe in)  Use code HELENMARIE at checkout to receive 10% off your order.https://sisterlylab.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Lorraine Candy and Trish Halpin - who, between them, have edited nearly all the magazines we’ve grown up with and loved, and are now the voices behind the podcast Postcards from Midlife.Together, we have a really honest, open conversation about identity in midlife - the unraveling, the quiet grief, the guilt, and that pull so many of us feel to start choosing ourselves again. We talk about parenting, the way we’ve changed, and how to cope with empty-nesting - oh and whether we can really ever be friends with our children  This isn’t about glossy reinvention or having it all figured out. It’s about the raw and messy, very human experience of changing - while still holding everything you’ve been.If you’ve been feeling a bit lost, stretched, or like your life doesn’t quite fit the way it used to - I think this one will speak to you.SPONSOR:The warmest thank you to our wonderful, wonderful sponsor, SISTERLY (I only partner with sponsors that I truly believe in)  Use code HELENMARIE at checkout to receive 10% off your order.https://sisterlylab.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Rachel Goldman to explore how we respond when life throws us into uncertainty. Inspired by her book When Life Happens, we talk about the emotional impact of unexpected change, the pressure to recover quickly, and why coping is often nonlinear. We also explore psychological flexibility, self-compassion, and how difficult moments can become turning points that reshape identity, meaning, and resilience. This episode is full of so much of Rachel’s wonderful tools to help you through in a way that makes sense and feels relatable. I hope you enjoy.SPONSOR:The warmest thank you to our wonderful, wonderful sponsor, SISTERLY (I only partner with sponsors that I truly believe in)  Use code HELENMARIE at checkout to receive 10% off your order.https://sisterlylab.com/

Send us Fan Mail“It’s complicated with my family” can hold a lifetime of experiences.In this episode, I explore the depth behind dysfunctional family dynamics - the grief, the patterns, and the complex reality of estrangement in today’s world. If this resonates, I’ll also be hosting a live online session on May 8th as part of Conversations with Helen Marie, where we’ll explore this more deeply together. Tickets available below:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/conversations-with-helen-marie-tickets-1986761628513SPONSOR:The warmest thank you to our wonderful, wonderful sponsor, SISTERLY (I only partner with sponsors that I truly believe in)  Use code HELENMARIE at checkout to receive 10% off your order.https://sisterlylab.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Pippa Campbell and Victoria Woodhall to explore the powerful link between our hormones and mental health.We talk about anxiety, burnout, and what it really feels like when you’re out of sync with yourself - and how often we internalise those experiences as personal failings, as if something is wrong with us, rather than recognising what might be happening in the body.This is a conversation about reconnecting, seeking support, and not having to navigate it all alone. Insightful, honest, and genuinely uplifting and one I think you’ll love too. SPONSOR:The warmest thank you to our wonderful, wonderful sponsor, SISTERLY (I only partner with sponsors that I truly believe in)  Use code HELENMARIE at checkout to receive 10% off your order.https://sisterlylab.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I’m joined by the fabulous psychologist, Antoinette Raymond, author of the brilliant book, Tits Up and What’s Your Point?, for a conversation about confidence, self-trust, and finding your way back to yourself.Antoinette’s energy is infectious - warm, honest, and deeply human - and there’s something in this conversation that has really stayed with me  I’m hopingI it’s one of those episodes that might make you pause, reflect, and recognise parts of yourself you hadn’t quite put into words yet.If you’ve been feeling a little lost, a little stuck, or somewhere in between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming then this one is for you.Antoinette’s links:https://sakerlynd.com/who/SPONSOR:The warmest thank you to our wonderful, wonderful sponsor, SISTERLY (I only partner with sponsors that I truly believe in)  Use code HELENMARIE at checkout to receive 10% off your order.https://sisterlylab.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I’m talking about the mother wound - something that can feel deeply painful and, at times, hard to put into words.This isn’t about blaming our mothers. It’s about understanding our experiences.I explore how the mother wound can form - whether that’s through emotional absence, unmet needs, or growing up in environments where we didn’t feel fully safe, seen, or protected. And I gently unpack how these early experiences can shape the way we relate to ourselves and others in adulthood -  from people-pleasing and self-abandonment to that quiet feeling of never quite being enough.I also talk about the grief that can come with this and grieving the mother you needed but didn’t fully have. The longing that can show up when you witness other mother-daughter relationships. And the deeper emotions that can surface when you become a mother yourself, and feel both love and loss at the same time.And, as always, I explore healing - through awareness, compassion, and learning how to reparent yourself.If this resonates with you, I hope this episode helps you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.SPONSOR:The warmest thank you to our wonderful, wonderful sponsor, SISTERLY (I only partner with sponsors that I truly believe in)  Use code HELENMARIE at checkout to receive 10% off your order.https://sisterlylab.com/

Send us Fan MailIf you were the responsible child, the peacemaker, or the one who always held everything together, this episode is for you. I’m exploring parentification trauma, the lasting impact of becoming the emotional adult too soon, and how this can show up in adulthood through over-responsibility, people-pleasing, hypervigilance, difficulty resting, and relationship patterns. We’ll also talk about how to begin healing and reconnecting with your own needs.SPONSOR:Thank you to our wonderful, wonderful sponsor, SISTERLYUse code HELENMARIE at checkout to receive 10% off your order.https://sisterlylab.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Dr Jen Douglas - psychologist, former Stanford professor, and expert on perfectionism - to unpack what perfectionism really is, where it comes from, and how it quietly shapes our lives. We talk about the roots of perfectionistic thinking, the emotional and relational costs, and why so many of us feel trapped in impossible standards.We also answer your questions and share practical tools to help you loosen perfectionism’s grip and move toward a more compassionate, grounded way of being.Perfectionism isn’t the pursuit of excellence - it’s the fear of being seen as anything less.If you’re tired of feeling like nothing you do is ever enough, this conversation really is for you. SPONSOR:Thank you to our wonderful sponsor, Bare Biology.Use code HELENMARIE20 at checkout to receive 20% off your order.https://yourshopifydomain.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=HelenMarieWebsite: https://www.barebiology.com/

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Amber Rae - bestselling author, artist, and speaker whose work has inspired millions around the world to live with more courage, creativity, and emotional honesty. Her new book, Lovable: One Woman’s Path from Good to Free, is a raw and beautiful memoir about what it means to stop being good and start being true  Our conversation felt like something special - it was real, and deeply human. We talked about self-trust, belonging, and the brave work of coming home to yourself.As a therapist, I found this dialogue both grounding and illuminating - a reminder that love isn’t something we earn through perfection or approval, but something we return to within ourselves.This episode has stayed with me. I hope it stays with you, too.Amber’s links:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyamberrae?igsh=MWR2eHQyZ2JzaTI4ZA==Her memoir, Lovable: https://www.amberrae.com/links?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAOK721leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadmf8mbKqVJDodCO7BMBY2rzFqzvELwWhYGluW3SYQVjiv5dhGXDkbK9Qrt9Q_aem_5yf8T3de7wssjXhERcg6iwSPONSOR:Thank you to our wonderful sponsor, Bare Biology.Use code HELENMARIE20 at checkout to receive 20% off your order.https://yourshopifydomain.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=HelenMarieWebsite: https://www.barebiology.com/