Claiming Your Power in Perimenopause with Inés Zabalaga
Release Date: 07/10/2025
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes & J’aime Rothbard. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. How do smart, accomplished people end up in emotionally abusive relationships without realizing it? As both a trauma coach and former victim, Paul illuminates how emotional abuse operates through fear, manipulation, and control—and why it's so difficult to recognize and name. He also touches on common signs; chronic invalidation, gaslighting, control disguised as concern, walking on eggshells, confusion, toxic shame, and how our earliest attachments can create susceptibility. In this...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Mandy Rodstrom & Debbie Mason on, Creating Spaces for Stuttering to Exist Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. What if traditional fluency-focused approaches designed to "fix" stuttering cause more harm than healing? In this conversation, speech therapists Mandy Rodstrom and Debbie Mason share personal and clinical insights that reveal how trauma, nervous system dysregulation and social stigma profoundly impact those who stammer. They highlight the critical importance of connecting people who stutter with supportive communities where stuttering is welcomed and...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. What happens when we stop performing and start being? Cat guides us through her transformational journey from codependent conditioning to embodied authenticity. With wisdom drawn from 30+ years of yoga practice, plant medicine journeys, and navigating her own healing from Breast Cancer, Cat reveals why the answers we seek aren't outside ourselves, but waiting to be uncovered within. Cat reflects on: - How shedding her protective layers enabled her to access her true strength - Her expanded her capacity to be present, hold space for others...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by J’aime Rothbard & Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. What if the path to inner and outer peace—and to the survival of our species—runs through our biology, not just our psychology? In this bonus finale to our Relating Series, Eva and Zach guide us beyond the familiar terrain of human-to-human relating to the new ground of relating to our original imprint. This conversation weaves hard science with systems thinking and spiritual wisdom to show that rather than transcending our humanity, healing our separation wound is about fully embracing our original...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes and J’aime Rothbard. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This vulnerable conversation continues exploring relating through the LGBTQ+ lens, as Vimalasara and Jordan share insights rarely disclosed to the heteronormative population. Jordan reflects on the inner work required to create safety for others—unpacking his own trauma so he can hold space for someone else's. Vimalasara addresses the harsh realities of domestic violence in LGBTQ+ communities, highlighting the barriers to seeking help—being subjected to transphobia, homophobia, or violence in...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes and J’aime Rothbard. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This thought provoking conversation explores relating through the LGBTQ+ lens, but not only presented to that community. Instead it is a vulnerable and honest sharing in which Vimalarara and Jordan offer insights and perspectives rarely disclosed to the heteronormative population. In this inclusive episode they touch on the: - Use of pronouns can create a sense of safety and inclusion - Perspective of gender as a social construct rather than a personal identity - Historical impact of religious and...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes & Leila Bahri-Lucas. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This episode reminds us that the unconscious processes that drive humans, our memories and survival instincts, often lead to misunderstandings and reactive behaviors. Consequently, most relationship issues, while they may seem personal, actually stem from our innate drives. Stan outlines that rather than being approached casually, successful relationships require deliberate design, shared purpose, defined roles, and agreed-upon principles. We also explore: - The PPPRRR Approach: Couples can...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This episode introduces Polyamory, a form of consensual non-monogamy, as a relational style involving multiple loving, consensual, romantic partners simultaneously. It emphasizes trust, open communication (as opposed to secretive ‘cheating’) and mutual agreement. Jessica and David, themselves polyamory practitioners and co-authors of two books on Polyamory, are joined by JP Bolhuis, a Psychosocial Therapist, Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner and Private Mentor who recently entered the world of polyamory. Jesica and David...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by J’aime Rothbard and Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. In this soft and flowing conversation, Silva Neves differentiates the term "sex addiction" from "sexual compulsivity," as addiction is an independent disorder, while compulsion arises from environmental distress. Like food, sex is a primary drive, and has a natural physiological stopping point not present in other addictions. The analogy of food and diverse cuisines to normalize conversations about sexuality, highlighting that different tastes and preferences in food are accepted, but similar...
info_outlineThe Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. In this conversation, Kevin introduces us to Dr Paul Gallagher, a lecturer in trauma studies at Cork University who started his formal education at age 40, after a significant "gap" in his life. Born in Belfast in 1972 at the height of "The Troubles," Paul recounts growing up in a war zone, where at 21, his home was invaded and his family held hostage. During this attack, he was shot and paralysed, and while physical and medical care were provided, psychological support was not. Paul highlights: - The crucial roles of...
info_outlineHosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes & J’aime Rothbard. Produced by J’aime Rothbard.
In this social-myth-busting expose, perimenopause is presented as a force that both transforms and empowers women' s relationships with their bodies, self-worth, sexuality and desirability.
In this fluid conversation, three women explore multiple perspectives and experiences of menopause and trauma. Inés invites listeners to use their menopause experiences to redefine their relationships with their bodies, to reclaim pleasure, sensuality and sexuality. Their experiences contradict the outdated belief that a woman's worth and desirability diminishes as she ages. Inés stresses that menopause is not a medical condition but a natural process, and goes on to explain:
- International societal beliefs that influence women's menopause experiences
- How individual and generational trauma and manifests in our bodies
- Why it’s important to learn to relate to other women in a way that feels safe
- The role LSD plays in her Laboratory for Reconnecting with Our Mother
- How women’s circles, self-care and companionship provide healing and support
- What men need to know about their women’s journey through menopause
Join us to gain rich insights that invite you to remove barriers, transform your relationships with women, heal your personal and generational trauma, and enjoy a sense of solidarity with other women who are preparing for, or experiencing, menopause.
About Inés Zabalaga: MEd, MA in Systemic Therapy, Clinical Psychologist, Psychedelic
Assisted Therapies Facilitator.
With over 25 years of clinical experience in family, individual, couples and group therapy, Inés is a Compassionate Inquiry® Practitioner, a Family Constellations Facilitator, Director of Spontaneous Theatre, Bach and Uruguayan Flowers Practitioner, trained in psychodrama. She holds Master’s degrees in Education and Systemic Therapy, completed a 6-month psychedelic integration training with Iceers, and is currently in the 3-year Grof Legacy Training program for therapists oriented towards psychedelic work.
Inés is the co-founder of Bloom, a foundation that promotes research, study, and the responsible dissemination of information on psychedelic work. With her partner, she conducts assisted sessions and facilitates retreats in both Bolivia and Canada
Inés also leads Horse-Assisted Constellation workshops to create collective fields of human and equine energies that enable her clients to uncover their paths back to good lives and love.
Born in Bolivia, Inés grew up between Mexico, Central America, and Uruguay. Her heart and bones are filled with many countries' colors, territories and cultures. Early professional inclinations drew her attention to children, where it remains, as today she integrates curiosity, play, intuition, imagination and innocence into her healing approach.
Inés is the mother of two amazing university-aged children, Santiago and Julia, and companion to a wonderful dog, Pipi. Her favorite activities are learning and using her skills to help others find their way home from pain.
If you've been listening to our podcast and are curious about the Compassionate Inquiry approach developed by Doctor Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur, consider joining the Professional Training Program. It's open to all healing professionals, including naturopaths, physicians, body workers, coaches, and therapists. In addition to learning how to use compassion to support your clients in their most vulnerable moments with greater empathy and authenticity, you'll also deepen your own internal process. If you're interested, click this link to access more information.
Resources:
Websites:
Books:
Roar Like a Woman – Emma Thompson
This Is Your Brain on Birth Control
Los cautiverios de las mujeres
La diferencia sexual en la historia
Mujeres que corren con lobos / Women Who Run with the Wolves
Retreats:
Quotes:
“Let's enrich the conversations and the solutions, from grief to pride, the pride of being born,
the pride of going through shared pleasure in life so that life is the psychedelic experience without
Psychedelics.” - Inés Zabalaga
“We need to relearn how to relate to women in a way that we feel safe around women because we
all come from a mother. And this is again… about trauma and menopause, how those two relate. It
is very difficult to find a mother …[or] grandma … really feeling supported, doing nothing when
she's tired, or when she's grieving … and she feels that she can dedicate her life to raise this baby,
take care of the baby until the level of dependency allows her to just let them go.” - Inés Zabalaga
Social Media:
IG: CasaMagica Ineszabalaga
FB: IG: CasaMagica Ineszabalaga