Show Notes (with helpful links at the end) Published 08/06/2026

Welcome back to Central Coast Stories, and if you are listening for the first time, welcome.  I am a journalist and your host Kayleen Bell.

When I started this podcast I didn’t plan on doing so many episodes about women’s health and in particular perimenopause.  However, as I myself was navigating this incredibly tough journey with very little information I decided to use this platform to help mid-life women and the next generation of women to get information that is greatly needed about what can be the toughest decade of a woman’s life.  

Today’s episode will be the last one on this topic for awhile, but it is a really great discussion I had with clinical psychologist Heather Irvine Rundle. 

I do want to encourage men to listen today as well as there is useful information to help anyone manage their nervous system state.  As a disclaimer today’s episode is for general educational purposes and in no way should be taken as diagnostic or medical advice.  Listeners are encouraged to seek their own guidance regarding their physical and mental health from medical professionals. 

Now a little about my guest Heather Irvine-Rundle is a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years experience working in various roles throughout the UK and Australia. She is passionate about health care for women, and has a particular interest in working with women with postnatal depression, premenstrual dysmorphic disorder, menopause and women with trauma histories.

Heather founded My Menopause Matters in response to the gap in the psychological care of women at this important stage in their lives. Bringing together her experience in psychology and lifestyle medicine, as well as training in the EMBERS menopause program in the UK, Heather developed the My Peri Matters Program.

In addition to My Menopause Matters, Heather is a director of THE READ CLINIC on the NSW Central Coast, and is a sought-after speaker and presenter.

We discuss many things today and strategies to help navigate this difficult time for women, which doesn’t just affect women, it affects their spouses or partners and also their children.

Heather will be talking about a supportive and affordable program she has created which she believes is a world’s first which combines “the first one we know of in the world that combines lifestyle medicine which is your exercise, diet, sleep, mindfulness.  It combines autonomic nervous system regulation and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) through a trauma lens.”

My Peri Matters (MPM) is a CBT-Plus program designed to address the mental, emotional and physical shifts of menopause with science, not stigma. We help women move from overwhelmed to empowered.

The My Peri Matters (MPM) program has been designed by women, for women, to help you manage your perimenopause symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, disrupted sleep, and hot flushes – all while building resilience, emotional clarity, and physical well-being.

Now to today’s interview with Heather Irvine Rundle.

I hope you enjoyed today’s episode and if you would like to hear more about perimenopause and women’s health please go back and listen to episodes 6, 8, 9, and 10 and 15 in this podcast.   Please subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and also I would be grateful if you would share this podcast.   Thanks again for listening see you next time.

Stats & Links
The Read Clinic Psychology:

“The READ Clinic is the oldest and largest psychology practice on the Central Coast. Our clinics at Erina and West Gosford are home to over 40 psychologists and therapists dedicated to providing high quality, evidence-based psychology services. With over 45 practitioners offering psychology services at the READ Clinic there is someone for everyone. Our administration team is trained to help you find the right therapist for you.”

https://mymenopausematters.com.au/

https://mymenopausematters.com.au/my-peri-matters/
The Gottman Institute:

https://www.gottman.com/about/

Our Mission Is to Foster and Sustain Greater Love and Health in Relationships

“We recognize the challenges facing families today and believe that everyone deserves compassion. Our mission is to foster and sustain greater love and health in relationships. To achieve this, we actively reach out to families, offering support and resources designed to enhance relationship dynamics. We commit to ongoing, rigorous research programs that deepen our understanding of relationships and contribute to well-evaluated intervention strategies. Our goal is to ensure that our services are accessible to everyone, regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. We are also committed to the care and support of our Institute team, as we know that compassion must begin with ourselves.”

https://www.gottman.com/blog/navigating-perimenopause-together-how-to-strengthen-your-relationship-in-midlife/
Australasian Menopause Society – Supporting Midlife Women:

https://www.menopause.org.au/about-ams/

“The Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) is a professional community dedicated to supporting health professionals who care for women through midlife, menopause, and beyond. Together, we share knowledge, resources, and connections to advance evidence-based practice and improve women’s health.”
Circle of Security International:

https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/

John Bowlby, the "father" of attachment theory, described its importance:

"Intimate attachments to other human beings are the hub around which a person's life revolves, not only as an infant or a toddler or a schoolchild but throughout adolescence and years of maturity as well, and on into old age. From these intimate attachments a person draws strength and enjoyment of life and, through what he contributes, gives strength and enjoyment to others. These are matters about which current science and traditional wisdom are at one."
The Holistic Psychologist - Reparenting:

https://theholisticpsychologist.com/what-is-reparenting-and-how-to-begin/

“We can only give others what we have practiced giving ourselves.”

I’ve worked with all different demographics of people. Over time I’ve come to understand that most people seek help for relationship “communication problems”, destructive habits (addiction, self-sabotage), identity confusion (“Who AM I”), and generalized feelings of low-self worth.

Each of these issues manifest differently, but they’re all tied to one thing: conditioned behavior practiced since childhood.

Some of you reading this might be thinking “My childhood is over, there’s no reason to go back there.” Or “If my childhood is where I learned most of my coping mechanisms, I’m screwed.”

We tend to be protective and defensive around our childhood experience, but the truth is we have a unique opportunity to heal and consciously choose different behavior as adults. Regardless of what we have experienced in our past.

This process is called reparenting.  

Reparenting the Inner Child & Breaking Patterns with Dr. Nicole LePera, The Holistic Psychologist – Heal with Kelly podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q0sh7niA8I
The Attachment Project:

https://www.attachmentproject.com/

The Attachment Project’s genesis was born from the drive to distribute it’s insights on human attachment, as well as it’s alternative approaches to healing, to as many people as possible. 

Today, people from all over the world are discovering more about their attachment styles using our online tools. Our goal is to keep expanding and finding new ways to raise awareness and interest in the science of human attachment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Show Notes (with helpful links at the end) Published 08/06/2026
Welcome back to Central Coast Stories, and if you are listening for the first time, welcome.&nbsp; I am a journalist and your host Kayleen Bell.
When I started this podcast I didn&rsquo;t plan on doing so many episodes about women&rsquo;s health and in particular perimenopause.&nbsp; However, as I myself was navigating this incredibly tough journey with very little information I decided to use this platform to help mid-life women and the next generation of women to get information that is greatly needed about what can be the toughest decade of a woman&rsquo;s life. &nbsp;
Today&rsquo;s episode will be the last one on this topic for awhile, but it is a really great discussion I had with clinical psychologist Heather Irvine Rundle.&nbsp;
I do want to encourage men to listen today as well as there is useful information to help anyone manage their nervous system state.&nbsp; As a disclaimer today&rsquo;s episode is for general educational purposes and in no way should be taken as diagnostic or medical advice.&nbsp; Listeners are encouraged to seek their own guidance regarding their physical and mental health from medical professionals.&nbsp;
Now a little about my guest Heather Irvine-Rundle is a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years experience working in various roles throughout the UK and Australia. She is passionate about health care for women, and has a particular interest in working with women with postnatal depression, premenstrual dysmorphic disorder, menopause and women with trauma histories.
Heather founded My Menopause Matters in response to the gap in the psychological care of women at this important stage in their lives. Bringing together her experience in psychology and lifestyle medicine, as well as training in the EMBERS menopause program in the UK, Heather developed the My Peri Matters Program.
In addition to My Menopause Matters, Heather is a director of&nbsp;<a href="https://thereadclinic.com/">THE READ CLINIC</a>&nbsp;on the NSW Central Coast, and is a sought-after speaker and presenter.
We discuss many things today and strategies to help navigate this difficult time for women, which doesn&rsquo;t just affect women, it affects their spouses or partners and also their children.
Heather will be talking about a supportive and affordable program she has created which she believes is a world&rsquo;s first which combines &ldquo;the first one we know of in the world that combines lifestyle medicine which is your exercise, diet, sleep, mindfulness.&nbsp; It combines autonomic nervous system regulation and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) through a trauma lens.&rdquo;
My Peri Matters (MPM) is a CBT-Plus program designed to address the mental, emotional and physical shifts of menopause with science, not stigma. We help women move from overwhelmed to empowered.
The My Peri Matters (MPM) program has been designed by women, for women, to help you manage your perimenopause symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, disrupted sleep, and hot flushes &ndash; all while building resilience, emotional clarity, and physical well-being.
Now to today&rsquo;s interview with Heather Irvine Rundle.
I hope you enjoyed today&rsquo;s episode and if you would like to hear more about perimenopause and women&rsquo;s health please go back and listen to episodes 6, 8, 9, and 10 and 15 in this podcast.&nbsp;&nbsp; Please subscribe so you don&rsquo;t miss an episode and also I would be grateful if you would share this podcast.&nbsp;&nbsp; Thanks again for listening see you next time.
Stats &amp; Links
<ol>
<li> The Read Clinic Psychology:</li>
</ol>
&ldquo;The READ Clinic is the oldest and largest psychology practice on the Central Coast. Our clinics at Erina and West Gosford are home to over 40 psychologists and therapists dedicated to providing high quality, evidence-based psychology services. With over 45 practitioners offering psychology services at the READ Clinic there is someone for everyone. Our administration team is trained to help you find the right therapist for you.&rdquo;
https://mymenopausematters.com.au/
<a href="https://mymenopausematters.com.au/my-peri-matters/">https://mymenopausematters.com.au/my-peri-matters/</a>
<ol>
<li> The Gottman Institute:</li>
</ol>
https://www.gottman.com/about/
Our Mission Is to Foster and Sustain Greater Love and Health in Relationships
&ldquo;We recognize the challenges facing families today and believe that everyone deserves compassion. Our mission is to foster and sustain greater love and health in relationships. To achieve this, we actively reach out to families, offering support and resources designed to enhance relationship dynamics. We commit to ongoing, rigorous research programs that deepen our understanding of relationships and contribute to well-evaluated intervention strategies. Our goal is to ensure that our services are accessible to everyone, regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. We are also committed to the care and support of our Institute team, as we know that compassion must begin with ourselves.&rdquo;
<a href="https://www.gottman.com/blog/navigating-perimenopause-together-how-to-strengthen-your-relationship-in-midlife/">https://www.gottman.com/blog/navigating-perimenopause-together-how-to-strengthen-your-relationship-in-midlife/</a>
<ol>
<li> Australasian Menopause Society &ndash; Supporting Midlife Women:</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://www.menopause.org.au/about-ams/">https://www.menopause.org.au/about-ams/</a>
&ldquo;The Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) is a professional community dedicated to supporting health professionals who care for women through midlife, menopause, and beyond. Together, we share knowledge, resources, and connections to advance evidence-based practice and improve women&rsquo;s health.&rdquo;
<ol>
<li> Circle of Security International:</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/">https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/</a>
John Bowlby, the "father" of attachment theory, described its importance:
"Intimate attachments to other human beings are the hub around which a person's life revolves, not only as an infant or a toddler or a schoolchild but throughout adolescence and years of maturity as well, and on into old age. From these intimate attachments a person draws strength and enjoyment of life and, through what he contributes, gives strength and enjoyment to others. These are matters about which current science and traditional wisdom are at one."
<ol>
<li> The Holistic Psychologist - Reparenting:</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://theholisticpsychologist.com/what-is-reparenting-and-how-to-begin/">https://theholisticpsychologist.com/what-is-reparenting-and-how-to-begin/</a>
&ldquo;We can only give others what we have practiced giving ourselves.&rdquo;
I&rsquo;ve worked with all different demographics of people. Over time I&rsquo;ve come to understand that most people seek help for&nbsp;relationship &ldquo;communication problems&rdquo;, destructive habits (addiction, self-sabotage), identity confusion (&ldquo;Who AM I&rdquo;), and generalized feelings of low-self worth.
Each of these issues manifest differently, but they&rsquo;re all tied to one thing: conditioned behavior practiced since childhood.
Some of you reading this might be thinking &ldquo;My childhood is over, there&rsquo;s no reason to go back there.&rdquo; Or &ldquo;If my childhood is where I learned most of my coping mechanisms, I&rsquo;m screwed.&rdquo;
We tend to be protective and defensive around our childhood experience, but the truth is we have a unique opportunity to heal and consciously choose different behavior as adults. Regardless of what we have experienced in our past.
This process is called reparenting.&nbsp; 
Reparenting the Inner Child &amp; Breaking Patterns with Dr. Nicole LePera, The Holistic Psychologist &ndash; Heal with Kelly podcast <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q0sh7niA8I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q0sh7niA8I</a>
<ol>
<li> The Attachment Project:</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://www.attachmentproject.com/">https://www.attachmentproject.com/</a>
The Attachment Project&rsquo;s&nbsp;genesis was born from the drive to distribute it&rsquo;s insights on human attachment, as well as it&rsquo;s alternative approaches to healing, to as many people as possible.&nbsp;
Today, people from all over the world are discovering more about their attachment styles using our&nbsp;online tools.&nbsp;Our goal is to keep expanding and finding new ways to raise awareness and interest in the science of human attachment.
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A podcast sharing the stories of local people who live on the Central Coast.  I believe every person has many stories to tell if they are given the time to talk and I find all people interesting.  This podcast may feature famous people but the main guests will be every day people who live on the Central Coast.
By Journalist, Host, & Producer Kayleen Bell