In Japan, kōnenki describes the wider period of transition surrounding menopause. Sometimes poetically described as the “‘renewal years’, the concept invites us to think beyond hormones alone and consider what else may be changing for women in midlife: identity, relationships, roles, priorities and our sense of what comes next.

Family disagreements carry history, which is why they can hurt so deeply. We explore what psychology tells us about listening, defensiveness and repair - and why healing a strained family relationship doesn't always mean returning to the way things were.

Every mother gets things wrong. We lose patience, misunderstand our children and sometimes respond in ways we regret. But psychology suggests healthy relationships aren't built on perfect parenting. What happens after those imperfect moments - repair, responsibility and reconnection - may matter far more.

You still love them, care about them and struggle to imagine life without them. So why aren't you happy? Psychology suggests love, commitment and relationship satisfaction aren't quite the same thing. We explore what it means when the love is still there but something in the relationship isn't working.

Introducing our new Hear. You. series, Things Women Don't Say Out Loud - an exploration of the thoughts, feelings and experiences women often carry quietly. We begin with the psychology of self-silencing and why so many of us learn to edit what we're really feeling in order to appear capable, grateful or simply fine.

Motherhood isn't only exhausting because of everything you do. It's also everything you have to remember, anticipate, organise and monitor. We explore the psychology of the mental load, why mothers so often carry it and why ‘helping’ isn't always the same as sharing responsibility.

Do you carefully choose your words, monitor your partner's mood or avoid difficult conversations because you're worried about their reaction? We explore the psychology of walking on eggshells in a relationship, what it can mean and when the pattern deserves closer attention.

Setting boundaries with in-laws sounds simple until family loyalty, guilt, your partner and decades of family history become involved. We explore the psychology behind difficult in-law relationships - and how couples can create boundaries without turning family differences into a battle.

Do you replay conversations long after they've ended, analysing what you said and what someone else might have thought? Psychology calls this post-event processing. Here's why it happens, when reflection becomes rumination, and what research suggests can help.