I’m Done! Now What?

Feel like you’re failing? This week on the podcast, I’m joined by psychotherapist and Director of Mind and Body Works Trisha MacHale to talk about what happens when you decide you’ve had enough and you want to make a change — whether that’s getting fit and strong, giving up alcohol or cutting back on sugary foods. What happens when you’re struggling your way to success? How do you detach your self-worth from whether you’re succeeding or failing? And what can you do to stop feeling so bad when things aren’t going the way you hoped? Click play and let's dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

Working out but not seeing the results you want? You might be working hard, but if your strategy is wrong, you’re not going to get the results you’re looking for. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 common mistakes women make with their workouts that could be keeping you stuck — and what you need to do instead. If you want to get fit, feel strong and feel good in your clothes again, this one is for you. Click play and let’s dive in.

This week on the podcast, I’m joined by psychotherapist Triaha MacHale to talk about neurodiversity in women. We chat about why so many women are only discovering they’re neurodivergent in adulthood, why it has historically been missed or misunderstood, and some of the signs that might be more than simply being busy, stressed or overwhelmed. We also talk about masking — what it is, what it can look like in everyday life, and how women can become so used to masking that they don’t even realise they’re doing it. A really interesting conversation for anyone who has ever wondered, “Why do I find some things so much harder than everyone else seems to?” Click play and let's dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

Always starting over? Feel like you never get past the 4-week mark? You start with loads of motivation. You really want it, you care, and you know exactly what you want. But then the danger zone hits. Your motivation drops, things start to feel harder and before you know it, you’re back at square one. In today’s episode, I talk about why this kept happening to me for years and why the answer isn’t to try harder, find more motivation or have more willpower. I share what I realised was actually keeping me stuck — and the simple things that helped me finally break the cycle. If you’re tired of starting over and want to understand what might actually be getting in your way, this one is for you. Click play and let’s dive in.

In this episode, Trisha and I answer two listener questions about overthinking, self-doubt and taking a break from your usual routine. The first listener asks about those middle-of-the-night overthinking spirals, when your mind starts questioning everything you've done and telling you that you're not doing enough or you're not good enough. The second listener is heading off on a much-needed two-week holiday but is worried that taking a break from workouts and her usual routine will mean losing all the progress she's made. We explore these questions and look at the thoughts and fears that can make it difficult to switch off, step away from our routines. As always, Trisha McHale brings her psychotherapist's perspective to the conversation, helping us look at these challenges with more understanding and compassion. If you struggle with overthinking, self-doubt or feeling like you have to stay on track all the time, this episode is for you. Click play and let's dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

In this episode, I answer a listener's question about what it was really like when I gave up alcohol. I chat about the adjustment period, whether people treated me differently, and what it was like explaining to others that I had decided not to drink anymore. I also share some of the biggest benefits I’ve experienced in my life since giving up alcohol, and how my relationship with socialising, meals and going out has changed. Sometimes it can feel like alcohol is just expected. A glass of wine with dinner, drinks with friends, a night out — it can become such a normal part of life that you don’t even stop to question whether you actually want it. So what happens when you decide to step away from that? I share my own experience, what I found difficult, what surprised me, and what life looks like now. If you’ve ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, felt like drinking is simply a habit or expectation when you’re around other people, or wondered what life could look like without it, this episode is for you. Click play and let’s dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive

In this episode, Trisha and I answer a listener's question about emotional eating and why we sometimes turn to food for comfort. She shares how, when she’s feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or upset, food can sometimes become a way of coping. She also asks about the connection between emotional regulation, autism, and emotional eating. We explore this topic and chat about some of the reasons we might reach for food when emotions feel difficult, and the importance of understanding ourselves with more kindness and compassion. As always, Trisha McHale brings her psychotherapist's perspective to the conversation, helping us look beneath the surface of the challenges we face. If you've ever found yourself turning to food when life feels overwhelming, or wondered why emotional eating can feel so hard to break, this episode is for you. Click play and let's dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

Just me this week for a solo episode. I'm chatting about my goals for the rest of 2026, the struggle of getting back into routine after time away, and what I'm doing to cope with feelings of loneliness. Click play and let's dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive

In this episode, Trisha and I answer two thoughtful listener questions that so many women will relate to. The first is about perfectionism and the pressure to get everything right. If you've ever felt like giving up because you couldn't do something perfectly, you're not alone. We explore why this mindset can keep us stuck and how we can begin to be kinder to ourselves. The second question looks at the balance between self-discipline and self-compassion. How do we know when to push ourselves and when it's ok to rest? It can be difficult to tell the difference, especially when guilt gets involved. As always, Trisha McHale brings her psychotherapist's perspective to the conversation, helping us look beneath the surface of these common struggles. If you've ever wrestled with perfectionism, questioned whether you're being too hard on yourself, or wondered how to find the balance between discipline and compassion, this episode is for you. Click play and let's dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

In today's episode, Trisha and I answer two powerful listener questions that so many women will relate to. The first question comes from a listener who wants to stop drinking but feels stuck in the same evening routine. She knows she'll feel better without alcohol, yet the thought of a glass of wine after a long day is hard to resist. If you've ever wondered why willpower isn't enough or why evenings can feel incomplete without a drink, this conversation is for you. The second question is about self-belief. It's about looking confident on the outside while feeling overwhelmed and not enough on the inside. We explore why so many women hold themselves back, fear putting themselves out there, and struggle to see themselves the way others do. As always, Trisha McHale shares her psychotherapist perspective, helping us understand what's really going on beneath these struggles and how small shifts in awareness can lead to lasting change. Whether you're trying to break a habit, build confidence, or simply understand yourself a little better, we hope this conversation leaves you feeling encouraged, understood, and ready to take the next step. Click play and let's dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

In today’s episode, I talk to the older version of myself that’s really struggling, feeling really bad, anxious, overwhelmed and unhealthy. The version of me back in 2021 that was still drinking way too much alcohol, overeating, restricting, dieting and feeling desperate that nothing was working. I tell her what to do and what to stop doing. If you’re struggling right now, if you’re going around in circles, this one is for you. Click play and let’s dive in.

In today’s episode, Trisha and I answer two listener questions. The first question is about feeling stuck in cycles of restarting instead of progressing, using food for comfort, and struggling to build consistency even when there is a strong desire to change. The second question is about ageing and the inner critic, and how it can feel difficult to let go of a younger version of yourself. As always, Trisha McHale shares her psychotherapist view, helping explain why these patterns happen and how to change them for good. Click play and let’s dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

If your clothes are feeling uncomfortable and you’re feeling really frustrated, like you’re going around in circles and nothing is working, this one is for you. You can feel great in your clothes at any age. It doesn't matter about menopause or getting older. There is a positive way to do it that doesn’t involve weighing yourself or obsessing about food. Actually feel good in your skin again. Click play and let’s dive in.

In today's episode, Trisha and I answer a listener's question about anxiety, overthinking and the need to control. The question comes from a listener who asks: "Has Trisha any tips for dealing with overthinking due to anxiety and wanting things to go a certain way? Why do we feel that need when all we can control is ourselves?" It's a great question and one I think many women will relate to. If you find yourself worrying about the future, replaying conversations, trying to make things go a certain way or feeling uncomfortable when things are out of your control, this episode is for you. Trisha McHale brings her grounded psychotherapist perspective as we explore this listener's question together. Click play and let's dive in. To join Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre , based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

You know what to do. So why do you keep ending up back in the same place? For years, my answer was simple: Try harder. Work harder. Be more disciplined. It never worked. In this episode, we're exploring one of the most frustrating experiences so many women face: knowing exactly what they need to do, but struggling to actually do it. If you've ever wondered: "Why can't I just stick to it?" This episode is for you. Because the reason you're stuck may not be the reason you think. And until you understand what's really going on, you'll keep finding yourself back at the same starting line. Click play and let’s dive in.

Do you ever feel like you're constantly rushing but never actually getting anywhere? Looking after everyone else. Thinking about work. Worrying about the future. Feeling overwhelmed. In this episode, we're talking about the hamster wheel so many women over 40 find themselves stuck on. Because when life feels chaotic, it's incredibly hard to stay consistent with healthy habits. Workouts get skipped. Self-care goes out the window. Food becomes comfort. And then we end up blaming ourselves. I'll share why trying harder isn't the answer, how overwhelm impacts your health, and what helped me finally step off the wheel and feel calmer, healthier, and more in control. If you've been feeling stressed, exhausted, and like you've lost yourself a little along the way, this episode is for you. Click play and let’s dive in.

In today’s episode, Trisha and I answer a listener's question about food, weight loss and the fear of slipping back into diet culture. The question comes from a listener who wants to get fit and strong and improve her health, but also feels confused about how weight loss actually works without calorie counting, restriction and obsessing over food again. We talk about overeating, fat storage, portion sizes, hunger, body trust and the fear many women have of “getting it wrong” when they stop dieting. We also explore the difference between healthy structure and diet culture, why so many women feel stuck in the all-or-nothing cycle, and how to approach weight loss in a slower, calmer and more sustainable way without becoming consumed by food. As always, Trisha McHale brings her grounded psychotherapist perspective — helping unpack what’s happening beneath these patterns and why rebuilding trust, consistency and self-awareness matters so much. Click play and let’s dive in. To apply for membership to Thrive Academy, Jessica’s coaching program, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/thrive To contact Trisha McHale for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre , based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

I went from feeling sluggish, unhealthy and like I was constantly starting over… to fit, strong and consistent. In this episode, I’m talking about what really had to change for me to finally stop the stop-start cycle and build healthy habits that actually felt sustainable. I share what life looked like before — the restrictive eating, the overwhelm, the shaky foundations, the pressure I was putting myself under, and why I kept failing even though I was trying so hard. We talk about stress, food, exercise, mindset, routines, emotional eating, boundaries, and the shift from constantly chasing weight loss… to focusing on becoming fit, strong and healthy. If you’ve ever felt like you’re forever “starting again”, this episode will really hit home. Click play and let’s dive in. To apply for membership to Jessica’s coaching program, Thrive Academy, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/apply

In today’s episode, Trisha and I answer two listener questions. The first is about food, fear and body trust after a lifetime of dieting — wondering what your body’s “comfortable weight” actually is, and whether starting to eat three proper meals a day will lead to weight gain after years of restriction, skipped meals and constantly trying to stay at a certain weight. The second question is about trying to stay mentally strong while carrying a lot emotionally. Balancing work, family illness, grief, caregiving and daily life — while also trying to look after yourself through it all. We talk about the emotional load many women carry, and the reality that life can feel very heavy at times. As always, Trisha McHale brings her grounded psychotherapist perspective — helping unpack what’s happening beneath these patterns and how to move from reacting to responding. Click play and let’s dive in. To apply for membership to Jessica’s coaching program, Thrive Academy, go to www.jessicacooke.ie/apply To contact Trisha for more information on Therapy and Counselling services: galway@mindandbodyworks.com 091 725 750 About Trisha McHale: Trisha is a Psychotherapist and Director of Mind & Body Works Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre, based in Galway, with centres in Galway and Dublin. Their team of over 50 Psychotherapists and Psychologists work with adults, couples, adolescents, and children, offering therapies including CBT, EMDR, and Art Therapy. They also run a low-cost counselling service.

If you feel like you’re doing your best… but still not seeing the results you want, this ones for you. Every Monday inside Thrive Academy, I read through check-ins from women just like you — and no matter the background, or starting point, the same three patterns come up again and again. I’ve been coaching women since 2007, and it’s incredible how consistent these barriers are. They’re not obvious. They’re not talked about enough. But they quietly get in the way of progress, consistency, and results. In this episode, I break down the three most common things I see that stop women from becoming fit, strong, and healthy — even when they’re trying. Once you see them, you can start to change them. This episode will help you understand what’s really going on, why you might feel stuck, and what to focus on instead so you can move forward with more clarity and confidence. Click play and let’s dive in.