Chef and former model Lorraine Pascale has spoken out about the pressures on women over 50 to stay quiet about their struggles, urging them to seek therapy as a sign of strength. The 53-year-old said there is a cultural expectation for women to 'keep going' and not appear weak, but that reaching out for help can be empowering.
Pascale, who spent much of her childhood in foster care, said her own therapy journey began with a social worker. She explained that she once believed she was given away at birth because she 'was not good enough', leading to a lifelong pattern of over-delivering and striving to prove her worth. She has been in and out of therapy since the age of 18, and says it has helped her find balance and self-approval in midlife.
Recently appointed as an ambassador for the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), Pascale is supporting its No More Stiff Upper Lip campaign, which encourages women to access therapy. The BACP has also released a limited-edition lipstick collection with names such as 'Heard' and 'Resilient' to highlight how therapy can make women feel.
According to BACP research, nearly two-thirds of women over 50 say they have struggled with their mental wellbeing since turning 50, yet 87 per cent admit hiding it – described as an 'epidemic of silence'. Almost half avoided seeking support for fear of being a burden, while a quarter cited a generational tendency to keep a 'stiff upper lip'.
Pascale said that beyond hormonal changes, women in their 50s face relationship shifts, career uncertainty, caring for children and ageing parents, and dealing with past traumas. She added that modern society is more isolated than the large families of the past, making it even more important to speak out.
Reflecting on her own experience, Pascale said therapy has given her a stronger sense of self, clearer boundaries and a better understanding of her past. While acknowledging that therapy is a personal choice, she insisted there is no shame in speaking to a professional: 'For me, therapy is one of the best things you can do for yourself.'
