<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Chantal Simms IWL counselling]]></title><description><![CDATA[Social Worker & Psychotherapist supporting women through midlife, menopause, and the emotional shifts that come with it.  ]]></description><link>https://www.stillbecomingpsychotherapy.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:04:07 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.stillbecomingpsychotherapy.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[When Strength Turns into Exhaustion: Navigating Change Without Losing Yourself]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that doesn’t come from doing too much in a single day—but from holding too much for too long. It often shows up quietly at first. You notice you’re more irritable than usual. Small things feel disproportionately frustrating. Your patience is thinner. Your mind feels foggy, like it’s harder to think clearly or make decisions. You feel tired in a way that sleep doesn’t fix. And underneath it all, there may be a growing sense of resentment—toward your...]]></description><link>https://www.stillbecomingpsychotherapy.com/post/when-strength-turns-into-exhaustion-navigating-change-without-losing-yourself</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69dfc063c0d279b375a694bb</guid><pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:50:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6964f7_c1a4ecb5eb20456babc0cb7357fa9909~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>chantalassessment</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Major Life Transitions Shape Women’s Mental Health]]></title><description><![CDATA[From Motherhood to Menopause As a therapist, one of the most common things I hear from women is "I don’t feel like myself anymore." Sometimes this feeling begins when someone becomes a mother. Other times it emerges years later during midlife, when children grow older and hormonal shifts begin during perimenopause or menopause. While these moments can look very different on the surface, they share something important in common: they are major life transitions that reshape identity,...]]></description><link>https://www.stillbecomingpsychotherapy.com/post/how-major-life-transitions-shape-women-s-mental-health</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b768ce3b7eb3cbe8f23c91</guid><pubDate>Mon, 16 Mar 2026 02:24:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6964f7_bee099b6ec0b4cfda466f1f3edfa51e1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>chantalassessment</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mother’s Day &#38; Menopause: Honouring Women While Supporting Mental Health]]></title><description><![CDATA[May 8, 2025 Mother’s Day is a time to honour the women who raised us, shaped us, and made lasting impacts on our lives. Amid the flowers, cards, and celebrations, it’s also important to pause and reflect on the immense pressures that many mothers face—from caregiver burnout and managing home life and careers, to supporting ageing parents and navigating complex family dynamics. One aspect that’s often overlooked during this time is the experience of menopause, and the profound impact it can...]]></description><link>https://www.stillbecomingpsychotherapy.com/post/mother-s-day-menopause-honouring-women-while-supporting-mental-health</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a71565b7ed489681498a26</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:13:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6964f7_cf45e27eb6b34373b6f38998c083b269~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>chantalassessment</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Menopause, Mood, and the Summer Heat: How Hormones, Sleep, and Family Pressures Collide]]></title><description><![CDATA[Menopause is a natural, inevitable phase of life for women — but it doesn’t always arrive quietly. While we often associate menopause with hot flashes and irregular periods, its impact reaches far deeper, especially when it comes to mood, sleep, and mental health. Add in summer’s sweltering heat, family vacations, and the invisible pressures of trying to “keep it all together,” can sometimes lead to emotional and physical overwhelm. If you’ve noticed yourself feeling more anxious, irritable,...]]></description><link>https://www.stillbecomingpsychotherapy.com/post/menopause-mood-and-the-summer-heat-how-hormones-sleep-and-family-pressures-collide</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a71484686f0e042b4f3327</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:04:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6964f7_b4ebec8053ff4f238dedb0db3065a29a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>chantalassessment</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>