Emma McLarty Counselling and Wellbeing

04/05/2026

Women don’t move through menopause and midlife in isolation—although many describe feeling profoundly alone. This stage unfolds in the context of relationships: with partners, children, colleagues and friends. Yet the psychological complexity of this transition can be difficult to articulate. Without the language to express what’s happening internally, many women find themselves shutting down conversations, rather than reaching out for the support, validation and understanding they need.

What I consistently hear from women is this: when they’re supported to put words to their experience, something shifts. They feel validated. Less overwhelmed. More able to turn toward their support networks, rather than away from them.

29/04/2026

Animals can teach us so much 💞

18/04/2026

Midlife, menopause… and disordered eating
We don’t talk about this enough.

While some women may develop an eating disorder during this stage, more often I see something quieter, the return of disordered eating patterns after years, sometimes decades.
We know times of hormonal change puberty, postnatal and perimenopause can increase vulnerability. Old coping strategies can resurface.
And this isn’t just about food.

At a time when the body can feel unfamiliar or out of control, behaviours like restricting, bingeing, or over exercising can offer a sense of certainty or relief. That’s why change isn’t always straightforward. These behaviours are serving a function. They are also far more common in midlife than we acknowledge and often go unseen.

A meaningful part of this work is gently exploring the relationship women have with food, weight and exercise… and what sits beneath it.
Because recovery isn’t just about stopping behaviours. It’s about understanding them and creating something different in their place.

16/04/2026

👏👏 Infant Massage is back! Starting with a workshop in conjunction with the City of Vincent in June.

Can’t wait to be back teaching! So many benefits for both parents and bubs and so fun 🤩

10/04/2026

Rejuvenation Retreat | Chittering | September
Pause. Breathe. Return to yourself 💫💫

Step away from the noise of everyday life and into a space designed for rest, reconnection and renewal.

This September, I’ll be hosting a Rejuvenation Retreat in the beautiful surrounds of Chittering Valley, a place where nature invites you to slow down and simply be. This is your opportunity to take a meaningful pause, away from the demands daily life.

This retreat offers a gentle, supportive space to slow down, unwind and reconnect with yourself. It’s an opportunity to step away from the busyness of daily life and allow your mind and body the time they need to rest, reset and restore, creating space for greater clarity, calm and a renewed sense of balance.

Whether you’re feeling depleted, navigating change, or simply in need of time out, this experience is designed to meet you where you are.

Spaces are limited to keep the experience intimate.

To learn more and secure your place, visit https://www.journeysofthespirit.com.au/small-group-journeys/rejuvenation-retreat

09/04/2026

06/04/2026

Menopause and Melancholy
I see this often in my work with midlife clients.
It’s not always the early stage of perimenopause that brings women into the therapy room, more often, it’s the later stages of menopause, when a quieter, more persistent melancholy has settled in.

How we support women in early perimenopause needs to be different from how we work with someone who has been navigating menopause for several years. Early intervention matters. If we don’t offer support both physically and psychologically, we risk prolonging a state of low mood that, over time, can become deeply entrenched and much harder to shift.

If perimenopause begins, on average, around 45 and can last a decade or more, that’s a significant portion of a woman’s life. Without the right support, those years can feel compromised rather than lived fully. We can and should do better.

Support needs to extend beyond the individual to include partners and families, recognising the broader ripple effect of this transition. Because this stage of life isn’t something to endure it’s something to move through with awareness, support and intention.

So how do we do that?
We come back to what I believe are important components of a persons wellbeing: physical, emotional, social and spiritual.

This isn’t about scaring women. It’s about encouraging reflection: What areas of your life might need attention or refinement so that this next decade can be navigated with greater ease?

Balance becomes essential here along with thoughtful, well supported strategies that honour both the body and the broader life context.
Because the goal isn’t just to get through menopause, it’s to step into the next chapter feeling steady, resourced and fully engage in life.

04/04/2026

Katherine Schwarzenegger is unapologetic about needing her husband 👏

She shared a video of Chris Pratt building a dollhouse for their daughters with a caption that playfully pushed back on the feminist notion of not needing a man.

04/04/2026

Mental ill health is rarely experienced in isolation. While therapy often focuses on the individual, the reality is that partners, families, and close relationships are deeply impacted too. In my work, I hold space for this wider picture. I recognise that those supporting a loved one are often navigating uncertainty, emotional strain, and their own sense of overwhelm — frequently without the support they need.
Alongside individual therapy, I gently consider the relational context, supporting partners and families where appropriate, and helping to strengthen the connections around the person. When we include this broader lens, therapy becomes not just about managing symptoms, but about fostering understanding, reducing isolation, and creating a more supportive environment for meaningful, lasting change ❤️

03/04/2026

I’m yet to work with a midlife client who doesn’t, at some point, speak about a loss of confidence.
“In what way?” I ask.
“I’m beginning to doubt my decisions. Simple, everyday tasks feel harder. And there’s this quiet grief… for who I was, and how I used to function in the world. It’s confusing. Overwhelming.”

Working therapeutically with midlife clients comes with an unspoken warning: Do not underestimate this life stage. The presentation is rarely straightforward. Beneath the surface lies a complex interplay of identity shifts, physiological change, accumulated life experiences and often unprocessed grief.

This is not just a transition, it’s a profound reorganisation of self.

02/04/2026

Focusing on women and celebrating what makes them so unique, Evie Magazine helps women seek truth and find beauty...the kind that really matters.

02/04/2026

My dream life 😂