IMAGE The Check-in

In this essential episode of IMAGE The Check-in, Ellie Balfe sits down with Chartered Psychologist and author Allison Keating for a thoughtful conversation about the pressures women are carrying, often quietly.

Together they explore burnout, the mental load, people pleasing, health anxiety and the deep connection between psychological wellbeing and physical health. They talk about why so many women have normalised stress, what happens when caring becomes costly, and why boundaries are not simply something we set alone, but something others must help us uphold.

This is a conversation about exhaustion, yes, but also about self-awareness, compassion, nervous system health, and the possibility of living differently.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

How often do we think of oral health as part of our overall health picture? In this fascinating episode of IMAGE The Check-in, Ellie Balfe is joined by dentist, Dr Bronagh Keane, better known to many on social media, as Ireland’s Tooth Fairy, for a conversation that opens up the much bigger story behind our teeth and gums.They explore why oral health is far more than check-ups and cleanings, and how the health of our mouth can reflect, and influence, our wider wellbeing. Bronagh explains the links between gum disease and systemic inflammation, what emerging research is telling us about oral health and conditions such as dementia, and why women need to think about dental care through the lens of hormones, ageing and lifelong prevention.They also talk practical habits, common misconceptions, what signs not to ignore, and the small daily actions that can have a big impact over time. It is a conversation that may well change how you think about your next dental appointment.IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

Our skin is often treated as something simply aesthetic, something to perfect, correct or preserve. But what if we considered skin as a vital indicator of our overall health?

In this fascinating episode of IMAGE The Check-in, host Ellie Balfe is joined by Professor Caitriona Ryan, consultant dermatologist and co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists, for a wide-ranging conversation about skin health through a very different lens.

They talk about skin as the body’s largest organ and what it can reveal about what may be happening beneath the surface, from inflammation and hormones to stress and overall well-being.

Caitriona shares what women should know about common skin conditions such as acne and rosacea, what to watch for when it comes to skin cancer, and the simple habits that can protect our skin over a lifetime.

This is a rich, practical and thought-provoking episode about skin, health, beauty and what it means to age well.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung Waterstone Clinic.

In this episode, Ellie Balfe is joined by Dr Fiona Keogh, consultant gynaecologist with Blackrock Health, to explore what is really going on when it comes to pelvic health, and why so many women are left unsure of what is normal and what is not.

Together, they talk through the symptoms women often normalise, from bladder leaks to a feeling of heaviness or pressure, and why these are not simply things to accept as part of ageing or after having children. Fiona explains what pelvic organ prolapse actually is, how it presents, and the different types of incontinence women may experience, as well as what these symptoms might be trying to tell us.

They also explore how pelvic health changes across different life stages, particularly during pregnancy, postpartum recovery and menopause, and why these can be key moments where symptoms appear or worsen.

 Importantly, this conversation moves beyond awareness into reassurance, looking at what can be done to support and improve pelvic health, from pelvic floor physiotherapy to lifestyle changes and, where needed, surgical options.

Above all, this episode is about giving women clarity, confidence and permission to seek help. These symptoms may be common, but they are not something you simply have to live with.

IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.

This is an important and compassionate conversation about eating disorders, a topic that is often misunderstood, often hidden, and far more common than many of us may realise.*** Before listening, please note that this episode may be sensitive for some, so if you feel at any point that it is difficult for you, we encourage you to step away and be gentle with yourself.In this episode, I am joined by Laura Casey, Director of Services at Lois Bridges, Ireland’s only dedicated eating disorder treatment centre. Laura is an enhanced psychiatric nurse with extensive experience supporting individuals through eating disorders and complex mental health challenges. In this conversation, she shares what they are seeing on the ground in Ireland today. We explore how eating disorders are rarely just about food, but are often deeply connected to emotional wellbeing, coping mechanisms, control, identity and self-worth. Laura speaks about the signs that are often missed, the quieter behaviours that can go unnoticed, and why many women may not recognise their own experiences as disordered eating.Importantly, this episode opens up a conversation around how eating disorders can evolve across a woman’s life. This is not a conversation just about extremes; it is about understanding the nuance, recognising the signs, and creating space for more open, compassionate conversations around eating disorders.IMAGE The Check-in is part of the IMAGE Women’s Health Clinic and proudly empowered by Boots and sponsored by Samsung and Waterstone Clinic.