Life Of Joy & Purpose With Vicki Gardiner, LPC

Vicki Gardiner, LPC
  • 5.0 (6)
  • MENTAL HEALTH

Life of Joy & Purpose is the go-to podcast for women in life transitions ready to rediscover their passion, purpose, and confidence. Hosted by Licensed Professional Counselor and Life Coach Vicki Gardiner, each episode offers mindset tools and intentional strategies to help you move forward with clarity and joy. You’re not starting over — you’re stepping into who you were always meant to be.

  1. 4D AGO

    Trusting Yourself Again After Years of Putting Everyone Else First

    I’d love to hear from you- send a text! Have you ever looked up and realized you don’t even know what you want anymore? If you’ve spent years being the planner, the strong one, the responsible one — this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, we’re talking about what happens when overgiving leads to decision fatigue, anxiety, and a quiet loss of intuition. When you’re the one who plans the holidays, manages aging parents, anticipates financial fears, and keeps everything moving — it’s easy to stop consulting your own voice. You’ll learn: Why long-term responsibility disconnects you from your intuitionHow decision fatigue is a nervous system issue, not a personal failureThe hidden cost of being the “invisible” strong oneA simple daily self-trust practice to rebuild confidencePractical steps to move from anxiety to structureIf you’ve been wondering:  “Is my purpose just to hold everything together?”  “How do I regroup and claim something for myself?”  “Can I trust myself to handle what’s ahead?” This episode will feel like someone finally naming what you’ve been carrying. ✨ Start with one small decision.  ✨ Rebuild trust steadily.  ✨ Protect your peace with structure. If you’re ready for deeper support, explore the CARE Framework and begin with the free CARE Check-In — a simple reset you can return to anytime life feels heavy. You are not invisible here. Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too. You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up! Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time. 🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love. Free 2 Min Check-In: The CARE Check-In PDF- Course: The CARE Reset- Coming Soon Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women! Click here for all the links!

    15 min

  2. FEB 17

    Boundaries That Protect Your Peace (Without Burning Bridges)

    I’d love to hear from you- send a text! Do you struggle with overgiving… and then feel resentment creeping in? In this episode of Life of Joy and Purpose, we’re talking about how to set healthy boundaries without guilt — and without damaging the relationships that matter to you. If you’ve ever: Said yes when you meant noFelt exhausted from being the “strong one”Resented the people you loveWondered how to protect your peace without becoming coldThis conversation is for you. You’ll learn:  ✔ Why resentment is a signal — not a flaw  ✔ How overgiving leads to burnout  ✔ How to say no without burning bridges  ✔ One simple boundary script you can use this week  ✔ How the CARE Framework (Care, Allow, Respond, Empower) helps you create sustainable support You’ll also hear about the free CARE Check-In — a 2-minute reset to help you pause, clarify, and protect your energy before resentment builds. If you’re a midlife woman, silent supporter, caregiver, or simply someone who feels stretched too thin, this episode will help you protect your peace without sacrificing connection. 🎁 Grab the free CARE Check-In in the show notes.  ✨ Ready to go deeper? CARE Reset is where we build sustainable rhythms that include you. #midlife #caregiving #sandwichgeneration #therapy #coaching #CARE #overwhelmed #burnout #boundaries Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too. You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up! Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time. 🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love. Free 2 Min Check-In: The CARE Check-In PDF- Course: The CARE Reset- Coming Soon Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women! Click here for all the links!

    16 min

  3. FEB 10

    The Guilt That Keeps Caregivers Stuck (And How to Loosen Its Grip)

    I’d love to hear from you- send a text! Guilt doesn’t always shout.  Sometimes it whispers. In this episode of Life of Joy & Purpose, we’re talking directly to midlife women and silent supporters—the ones who carry responsibility quietly, love deeply, and often feel like they’re never doing enough. If you’ve ever felt: chronic guilt for wanting restemotional exhaustion without a clear reasontorn between caring for others and caring for yourselfstuck in the belief that you should be able to “handle it all”…this episode is for you. We explore why guilt becomes so heavy in midlife, how it keeps women emotionally stuck, and why feeling overwhelmed does not mean you’re failing—it means you’ve been strong for too long without support. You’ll hear a tender story many women recognize, gentle truth about why guilt shows up, and one compassionate reframe you can use in real-time when guilt flares and tightens its grip. This episode is not about fixing yourself.  It’s about loosening what’s been weighing you down. ✨ Inside this episode: Why guilt hits differently in midlifeThe hidden emotional labor of silent supportersHow guilt confuses love with self-erasureOne powerful reframe to use in guilt-trigger momentsA short closing prayer for women who are tired but still tryingIf you’re longing for relief, clarity, and permission to care without disappearing—press play.  You are not alone. And you don’t have to carry this the way you have been. Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too. You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up! Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time. 🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love. Free 2 Min Check-In: The CARE Check-In PDF- Course: The CARE Reset- Coming Soon Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women! Click here for all the links!

    10 min

  4. FEB 3

    Unshakable Confidence When Life Feels Unsteady

    I’d love to hear from you- send a text! How to Borrow Strength From the Woman You’ve Already Been Building self-confidence in midlife • Overcoming self-doubt • Finding confidence when life feels uncertain • Emotional resilience for women In this emotional and grounding episode of Life of Joy & Purpose, we talk about how to rebuild self-confidence during uncertain seasons—not by forcing positivity, but by reconnecting with the resilience you already carry. If life feels unsteady right now, this episode will remind you that you are not broken—and you are not starting over. You’ll learn: Why confidence often wavers during midlife transitions, change, and emotional overwhelm How to borrow confidence from your past resilience when self-doubt creeps inThe CARE Framework (Clarify, Acknowledge, Reclaim, Establish) and how to use it as a simple, supportive tool when life feels uncertainWhy gratitude is a powerful, whole-brain practice that calms the nervous system and rebuilds emotional steadinessHow journaling helps integrate emotion and logic—creating calm, clarity, and self-trust This episode is especially for women who feel: Disconnected from their confidenceOverwhelmed by changeStuck in comparison or self-doubtReady to feel grounded, steady, and emotionally supported again We close with a gentle prayer and an invitation to practice gratitude as a daily anchor for confidence and peace. ✨ Gratitude Journal linked in the show notes—a beautiful place to begin rebuilding confidence from the inside out. Take a deep breath. You’re not behind. You’re becoming. CARE Framework Journaling Prompts- updated version to reflect refinement with CARE Framework. (updated 2/15/26) Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too. You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up! Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time. 🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love. Free 2 Min Check-In: The CARE Check-In PDF- Course: The CARE Reset- Coming Soon Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women! Click here for all the links!

    19 min

  5. JAN 27

    Letting Go of the Version of You Who Did It All

    I’d love to hear from you- send a text! There comes a season—often in midlife or during caregiving—when the version of you who “did it all” no longer fits. In this episode of Life of Joy & Purpose, we’re talking about the quiet identity loss so many women experience when they’ve spent years being the strong one, the dependable one, the one who holds everything together. If you’ve ever thought: I don’t know who I am anymore,Why does this feel harder than it used to?I’m doing so much, but it never feels like enough,you’re not alone—and this conversation is for you. Together, we explore why letting go of old roles can feel so painful, especially in midlife and caregiving seasons, and why that grief deserves compassion. You’ll be gently invited into a small, doable shift: choosing one role you’re allowed to soften this season—without guilt or shame. This episode offers reflection, reassurance, and a reminder that you’re not losing yourself—you’re becoming someone wiser, more present, and more aligned with the season you’re in. ✨ Perfect for women navigating midlife transitions, caregiving, burnout, identity shifts, and the desire to live with more joy and purpose. Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too. You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up! Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time. 🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love. Free 2 Min Check-In: The CARE Check-In PDF- Course: The CARE Reset- Coming Soon Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women! Click here for all the links!

    12 min

  6. JAN 20

    The Quiet Exhaustion No One Talks About (And Why You’re Not Broken)

    I’d love to hear from you- send a text! The Quiet Exhaustion No One Talks About (And Why You’re Not Broken) It’s the beginning of the year… and you’re already tired. Not the kind of tired that goes away with sleep—but the quiet exhaustion that settles into your bones after months (or years) of carrying responsibility, caring for others, and holding everything together. In this episode of Life of Joy & Purpose, we’re talking honestly about the exhaustion no one names—especially for midlife women and caregivers who feel like they should be grateful, strong, and capable… even when they’re running on empty. If you’ve been wondering: “Why am I so tired when nothing is technically wrong?”“Why does a new year feel heavy instead of hopeful?”“Is something wrong with me?”This episode is for you. We’ll gently explore: Why chronic emotional and mental exhaustion is so common in midlife and caregiving seasonsWhy your tiredness is not a failure—but a signalA small, compassionate step you can take today: naming your exhaustion and releasing one unrealistic expectation You’ll also hear an invitation to go deeper with my PDF course, How to Care for Others Without Losing Yourself, created to help you support the people you love without disappearing in the process. We’ll close with a calming prayer—so you don’t just leave informed, but steadied. ✨ You are not broken.  ✨ You are not behind.  ✨ You are deeply human—and worthy of care too. 🎧 Listen in, take a breath, and let this episode meet you right where you are. Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too. You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up! Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time. 🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love. Free 2 Min Check-In: The CARE Check-In PDF- Course: The CARE Reset- Coming Soon Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women! Click here for all the links!

    14 min

  7. JAN 6

    The In-Between Season: Starting the New Year Without Rushing Yourself

    I’d love to hear from you- send a text! The In-Between Season: Starting the New Year Without Rushing Yourself January often arrives with pressure to reset, plan, and become something new — but for many midlife women and caregivers, the heart isn’t ready to sprint forward yet. In this episode, licensed therapist Vicki Gardiner speaks gently to the woman living in the in-between: no longer who she once was, not quite sure who she’s becoming. With compassion and clarity, she explores why early January can feel heavy, how caregiving intensifies this season, and why slowing down may be exactly what your nervous system needs. You’ll hear reassurance that you’re not behind, practical grounding tools you can use anytime, and a reminder that support — emotional and practical — matters deeply during seasons of transition. This episode is an invitation to begin the year without rushing your heart, honoring where you are, and creating space for calm, clarity, and steadiness to grow. 🎧 Perfect for midlife women, caregivers, and anyone navigating change with responsibility and tenderness. Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too. You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up! Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time. 🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love. Free 2 Min Check-In: The CARE Check-In PDF- Course: The CARE Reset- Coming Soon Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women! Click here for all the links!

    14 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    Surviving the Holidays as a Caregiver:Stress, Support & Simple Ways to Find Peace

    I’d love to hear from you- send a text! The holidays can feel especially overwhelming for family caregivers, midlife women, and anyone juggling aging parents, dementia care, chronic illness, or nonstop emotional labor. In this heart-centered episode, therapist and coach Vicki Gardiner, LPC shares practical tools and compassionate support to help caregivers reduce stress, prevent burnout, and find peace during the busiest time of the year. You’ll learn how to simplify holiday expectations, manage caregiving responsibilities with more confidence, and create healthier boundaries that protect your mental and emotional well-being. Vicki also offers a gentle guided reflection, real-life strategies for coping with holiday overwhelm, and self-care practices specifically designed for midlife caregivers who are stretched thin. Whether you’re caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s or dementia, supporting a spouse with medical needs, or navigating the “sandwich generation” life, this episode will help you breathe deeper, stay grounded, and rediscover moments of joy this season. Topics include: • Holiday stress for caregivers • Midlife burnout + emotional overload • Caring for aging parents or loved ones with dementia • Setting boundaries with family during the holidays • Reducing caregiver overwhelm • Practical self-care for midlife women • How to stay organized and calm during December • Managing guilt, exhaustion, and expectations • Prioritizing your mental health as a caregiver • A short caregiver’s prayer and grounding moment Plus — Vicki shares her most requested resource:  ✨ The Caregiver’s Survival Guide — Binder + Digital Edition Your complete caregiving organization system to reduce stress, track important details, and support your emotional well-being. This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, midlife women, dementia caregivers, and anyone navigating the emotional load of caring for a loved one. Thanks so much for joining me today on Life of Joy & Purpose. If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, or share it with a friend who’s on the journey too. You can connect with me on Instagram @vickigardinercoaching. Sign up for my monthly newsletter filled with encouragement, practical tools, and soul-aligned inspiration for midlife women who are ready to live with clarity, joy, and purpose. Click here to sign up! Until next time—take a deep breath, stay true to yourself, and remember: joy and purpose are already within you. You’re just uncovering it—one step at a time. 🎧 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone you love. Free 2 Min Check-In: The CARE Check-In PDF- Course: The CARE Reset- Coming Soon Join my free Facebook Group and be a part of our community of women! Click here for all the links!

    23 min
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5
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6 Ratings

About

Life of Joy & Purpose is the go-to podcast for women in life transitions ready to rediscover their passion, purpose, and confidence. Hosted by Licensed Professional Counselor and Life Coach Vicki Gardiner, each episode offers mindset tools and intentional strategies to help you move forward with clarity and joy. You’re not starting over — you’re stepping into who you were always meant to be.

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