How to Make Peace with the Midlife Unraveling: People-Pleasing, Self-Abandonment, and the Woman You Were Before You Performed — with Ashley Turner
There comes a moment in a woman’s life when the old ways stop working.
The people-pleasing.
The over-functioning.
The pushing through.
The quiet self-abandonment.
And something deeper begins to rise.
In this episode of The Brave Table, I sit down with licensed psychotherapist, yoga and meditation expert, psychedelic-assisted therapist, and founder of The Haven, Ashley Turner, for a powerful conversation on perimenopause, menopause, mental health, nervous system healing, and why midlife is not a breakdown—it's an initiation into a new kind of power.
Ashley opens up about her own experience navigating postpartum perimenopause after becoming a mother at 46, the unexpected depression and anxiety that followed, and how microdosing psilocybin became part of her healing journey. Together, we explore aging, identity shifts, self-compassion, trauma resurfacing, feminine power, and the emotional realities that so many women experience but rarely talk about.
If you've been feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or questioning what this season of life is asking from you, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone.
WHAT YOU'LL GET OUT OF THIS EPISODE...
✨ What postpartum perimenopause actually is and why more women are experiencing it
✨ The surprising mental health symptoms of perimenopause
✨ How internalized ageism impacts women’s self-worth
✨ Why midlife can feel like a dark night of the soul
✨ The connection between hormones, nervous system health, and emotional wellbeing
✨ How unresolved trauma resurfaces during menopause
✨ The science behind microdosing psilocybin
✨ Why rest is a radical act of rebellion
✨ How to move from over-functioning into feminine power
✨ Building self-compassion during life's biggest transitions
Timestamps
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CONNECT WITH ASHLEY TURNER
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ashleyturner1
The Haven:
https://yoga-psychology.co/the-haven
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@AshleyTurner1
Ashley Turner is a licensed psychotherapist, yoga-meditation expert, psychedelic-assisted therapist, and founder of The Haven, a global community helping women navigate healing, emotional well-being, spirituality, and midlife transformation.
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IF THIS EPISODE RESONATED, CONTINUE LISTENING:
🎙️ How to Heal From Mom Burnout with Michelle Grosser
🎙️ Episode 298: How to Trust Your Intuition & Manifest Your Dream Life with Dr. Neeta Bhushan
🎙️ Episode 299: Finding 'The One': Kavita Patel Javeri on Love, Vulnerability & Family Dynamics
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Dr. Neeta Bhushan is a 5x award-winning author, emotional health advocate, and host of The Brave Table podcast. Through conversations on healing, relationships, resilience, purpose, and personal growth, she helps people live more courageous, connected, and meaningful lives.
🎙️ Subscribe to The Brave Table for conversations around healing, growth, family patterns, nervous system health, emotional wellbeing, and living bravely.
