Feel Better

Charlotte Cummings
  • 5.0 (14)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED DAILY

A podcast focused on building better mental and emotional health, with New Zealand counsellor Charlotte Cummings.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Feeling Off? Here's What To Do Next

    Do you feel off but can't explain why? Flat, disengaged, not quite yourself but you don't know where to start? In this episode of Ask Charlotte, I'm responding to a listener who's feeling flat and disconnected, and walking you through exactly where to begin when something just doesn't feel right. I break down a practical, no-fluff framework for understanding why you feel off and what to actually do about it. In this episode I cover: Why feeling flat and disengaged is information, not a flawHow to check your physical wellbeing first (sleep, nutrition, movement, blood work)The role of unresolved decisions and avoided conversationsHow misalignment with your values quietly drains your energySaying yes when you mean no, and the toll it takesWhat "too much on your plate" really looks like How to read and reset your nervous systemMaking a practical plan to find your spark again Whether you're burnt out, emotionally exhausted, going through a life transition, or just can't put your finger on what's wrong, this episode is for you. Send me your question: charlottecummings.nz If this episode helped you, I'd love you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs it.

    11 min
  2. Close Your Confidence Gap

    17 MAY

    Close Your Confidence Gap

    Do you look capable on the outside but feel held back by self-doubt on the inside? You're not alone, and you're not failing. You might just be living with a confidence gap. In this episode, I'm digging into one of the most common and costly patterns I see in high-functioning women: being far more capable than you believe yourself to be. Research shows women tend to underrate their competence, wait until they feel 120% ready before going for opportunities, and carry a five-year lag in their professional self-concept. The result? Missed promotions, missed pay, and a life lived smaller than it needs to be. But confidence isn't a personality trait you either have or you don't. It's a behaviour, and it can be built. I'm sharing my most practical, honest advice for closing the confidence gap, including: Why your self-concept is behind your actual capabilities and how to update itThe power of acting ahead of your identity (and the Mel Robbins technique that makes it easier)How what you wear can genuinely shift how you show upThe language patterns that quietly undermine your authority and what to say insteadHow to use evidence, not feelings, to build a more accurate picture of who you arePractical tools for interrupting overthinking and moving towards actionHow to channel a confident role model and up-regulate your mood before high-stakes momentsWhether you're navigating career decisions, relationship pressures, or simply tired of holding yourself back, this episode will help you carry things differently.

    21 min
  3. Wisdom From A Hypnotherapist

    10 MAY

    Wisdom From A Hypnotherapist

    What if the heaviness you're carrying isn't a personality trait — it's your nervous system asking for something different? Clinical hypnotherapist Bec Marshall joins Charlotte to unpack hypnotherapy, the fawn response, functional freeze, and how high-functioning women can start feeling safe in their own bodies again. If you've been pushing through, performing capable, and quietly wondering why everything feels heavier than it should, this episode of The Feel Better Podcast is for you. Bec is a clinical hypnotherapist, trainer and nervous system educator with a rare gift for making the science of the subconscious mind feel both fascinating and genuinely useful. Together we explore hypnotherapy, nervous system regulation, and why understanding your stress response is the foundation for feeling better in your body, your motherhood, and your everyday life. Inside this episode: What hypnotherapy actually is (and what it isn't)The conscious vs subconscious mind, and why willpower keeps failing youFight, flight, freeze and fawn — and why so many women are stuck in fawnFunctional freeze: how high-functioning women run on emptyWhy feeling safe in your body is the foundation for nervous system regulationHow birth, motherhood and grief reshaped Bec's own nervous systemA simple three-step framework for moving out of stress: interrupt → anchor → practiceWhy food is a signal of safety to your nervous system, not a moral testThe link between long-held emotion, trauma and chronic painPlus a bonus self-hypnosis practice you can come back toIf you've been searching for a gentler, more grounded approach to anxiety, burnout, perfectionism, and the quiet weight of high-functioning life — this is the conversation you didn't know you needed. Find Bec Marshall at behypnotherapy.co.nz, and more support, tools and ways to work with me at charlottecummings.nz. The Feel Better Podcast helps high-functioning women carry things differently. New episodes weekly.

    56 min
  4. How To Talk To Kids About War

    3 MAY

    How To Talk To Kids About War

    If you’ve been wondering how to talk to your kids about war… you’re not alone. With global conflict dominating headlines, many parents are finding themselves having conversations they never expected to have. Conversations about safety, fear, and what’s happening in the world. In this episode, I walk you through how to talk to children about war in a way that keeps them feeling safe, informed, and emotionally steady. You’ll learn: What to say (and what not to say) to kids about warHow to manage your child’s fear and anxietyWhy “safety first” is the most important starting pointHow to explain complex global conflict in age-appropriate waysHow to handle conversations differently for younger kids vs tweens and teensWhat to do if your child has already heard things at school or onlineHow to set boundaries around news, social media, and exposureHow to use this moment to build resilience, emotional literacy, and critical thinking. This isn’t about having the “perfect” conversation. It’s about being the calm, steady place your child comes back to when the world feels uncertain. If you’re a parent trying to support your child through scary or confusing world events, this episode will give you practical tools, language, and confidence to do that well. 🎧 Listen now and feel more equipped to have one of the hardest parenting conversations of our time.

    25 min

  5. 26 APR

    You Hate Routine. Now What?

    You want to look after yourself better…but you hate routine. So every time you try to “get your life together,” it lasts about five days. Then you’re back to square one, telling yourself you’re the problem. You’re not. In this Ask Charlotte episode, I’m breaking down why the way we talk about consistency is actually setting a lot of people up to fail and what to do instead. We cover: Why you don’t need strict routines to take care of yourselfThe difference between consistency and repetitionHow to use “bursts,” themes, and menus instead of rigid habitsThe real reason you’re struggling to start (and how to fix it)How to stop comparing yourself to the 5am routine crowdThe identity shift that changes everything: “I’m someone who shows up for myself”If you’ve ever thought“I’m just not disciplined enough”this episode will rewire that completely. You don’t need to become a routine person.You need a way of showing up that actually works for you. Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next.

    13 min

  6. 19 APR

    Your Relationship Isn't Broken. Your Pattern Is

    You don’t have a relationship problem.You have a pattern problem. And until you see it, nothing changes. In this Ask Charlotte episode, we’re unpacking the uncomfortable truth most couples avoid:it’s not just them… and it’s not just you either. It’s the dynamic you’re both creating. If you’ve been: Stuck in the same argument on repeatNoticing everything your partner does wrongWondering how to take responsibility without blaming yourselfTrying to “fix” the relationship by analysing themThis episode will shift how you see everything. We cover: Why blame keeps you stuck (and shame isn’t the answer either)The “relationship dance” that’s quietly running your interactionsHow your past relationships reveal your current patternsThe hidden emotional triggers driving conflictThe one question that changes everything:Is my behaviour moving us closer… or further away?Because here’s the truth:You don’t fix a relationship by diagnosing your partner.You fix it by understanding what you’re co-creating together. This is about clarity, not self-blame.Ownership, not over-functioning.And finally getting out of the loop you’ve been stuck in. If you’ve ever thought:“I know I’m part of this… but I don’t know how to change it”this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen now and start breaking the pattern. And if your relationship needs a reset but therapy feels like too much, my Give Me 10 Minutes programme walks you through exactly what to do, week by week.

    13 min

  7. 12 APR

    You’re Playing Small. You Know It

    You’re playing small. And if you’re honest… you already know it. In this episode of The Feel Better Podcast, I sit down with Georgia from George Design to talk about what it really takes to stop holding yourself back and start backing yourself. Georgia is the founder of George Design, working with businesses to clarify their brand, grow their visibility, and make smarter, braver decisions. You can find her at georgedesign.co.nz. This is a conversation for the woman who: ​knows she’s capable of more​has ideas she’s not acting on​keeps waiting until she feels “ready” We get into: ​why women underestimate themselves by years​how to make bold decisions without certainty​the mental load of trying to do everything “right”​building a business alongside motherhood​handling judgment, criticism, and other people’s opinions​what actually moves the needle when growing something And the shift that changes everything: 👉 stop asking what if it fails?👉 start asking what if it works? Because staying where you are? That’s a decision too. If you’ve been hesitating, overthinking, or quietly playing smaller than you know you could… this episode will call you forward.

    46 min
  8. Your Hyper-Independence Is Costing You

    5 APR

    Your Hyper-Independence Is Costing You

    You’re the one who gets it done. The capable one. The reliable one. The strong one. But what if that version of youis quietly costing you more than you realise? In this episode, we’re unpacking hyper-independencethe pattern that looks like strength… but is often driven by fear, control, and past experiences. If you: ​find it hard to ask for help​feel like it’s easier to just do it yourself​get frustrated when others don’t step up​struggle to switch off or truly rest​feel secretly overwhelmed, disconnected, or resentfulthis episode will hit close to home. We explore: ​what hyper-independence actually is (and why it’s not just your personality) ​how trauma and life experiences shape this pattern​the hidden cost most people don’t see until later​why it blocks connection, support, and ease​simple, practical ways to start letting people in Because the goal isn’t to become dependent. It’s to become someone who can be capable and supported. You don’t have to hold everything on your own. If this resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear itand hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes.

    30 min
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5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

A podcast focused on building better mental and emotional health, with New Zealand counsellor Charlotte Cummings.

Information

  • Creator
    Charlotte Cummings
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    129
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Charlotte Cummings
  • Show Website
    Feel Better

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