Breaking Patterns That Keep You Small: Women’s Health, Perimenopause and Menopause Journey

Ever wonder why you keep repeating the same relationship patterns? Why you apologize for everything, even when it's not your fault? Or why you logically understand what needs to change but emotionally can't get there?

Dr. Justine Corry, trauma-informed relationship coach and former clinical psychologist, explains why this happens - and how to break free from these patterns for good.

In this powerful conversation, Dr. Corry introduces schema therapy, a game-changing approach that looks at patterns rather than symptoms. She explains how childhood experiences create mental frameworks (schemas) that influence how we show up in relationships, and why perimenopause triggers these patterns in overwhelming ways.

Each episode will share life stories and expert insight into women's health and your perimenopause and menopause journey.

In this episode

• What schema therapy is and why understanding patterns is more powerful than managing symptoms
• The six common schemas plaguing high-achieving women: abandonment, emotional deprivation, defectiveness, self-sacrifice, subjugation, and unrelenting standards
• Why perimenopause acts as a schema trigger, making it harder to power through life while ignoring your needs
• How to recognize when you're having a "schema trigger" vs. a rational response
• Why self-trust and self-respect are the best antidepressants you've never tried
• The difference between being "self-led" vs. constantly seeking external validation
• How long real pattern change takes (spoiler: it's not quick, but it's worth it)
• Practical tools like the SIFT exercise to understand your emotional responses in real time

There's always a "why" behind your emotions, even when you can't see it. Let Dr. Corry help you uncover yours.

This podcast is brought to you by IRIS. Daily care products made with clean ingredients for hydrated vulvas and vaginas. Use code TIP20 for 20% off at lovemyIRIS.com. 

Connect with Mikelle & Michelle at This is Perimenopause

• Email us and let us know what you think of the podcast and what topic you want us to cover next.
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Instagram
• Follow This Is Perimenopause on Facebook

Dr. Justine Corry

Dr. Justine Corry is a trauma-informed relationship coach and former clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience guiding women through deep emotional healing. Her superpower? Helping high-achieving, deeply giving women break the patterns that keep them small, silent, and stuck in relationships that no longer fit. Through a powerful blend of schema therapy, nervous system wisdom, and sharp emotional insight, Dr. Corry helps women rebuild self-trust, reclaim their voice, and step into lives where they no longer have to shrink to belong.

Her signature 5-step Relationship Reinvention Method guides women to understand their self-sabotaging patterns, prioritise their emotional needs, and create relationships that feel balanced, respectful,