Perimenopause and menopause are profound life transitions that bring a unique mix of physical, emotional, and psychological changes. While recent research from Melbourne, published in The Lancet (Brown et al., 2024), suggests that menopause does not uniformly lead to mental health diagnoses, hormonal shifts alongside sleep disruption, cognitive changes, and other life stressors, can increase susceptibility to mood fluctuations and perimenopausal depression. It is important to discuss these changes with your GP, as hormonal treatment is considered a first-line option (Kulkarni et al., 2026).
Beyond physical symptoms, this stage of life can also prompt shifts in identity and relationships, whether through evolving roles at home and work or navigating societal expectations around ageing. While these challenges can feel overwhelming, they can also create space for growth, self-reflection, and renewal.
I provide a supportive space to help you navigate these changes, build resilience, and reconnect with a sense of balance and purpose. My approach is grounded in evidence-based therapies, which are effective in improving mood, well-being, and overall quality of life during the menopause transition.
For some women, perimenopause can also bring a re-emergence of earlier emotional difficulties or trauma responses, even if these have been well managed in the past. Hormonal changes, sleep disruption and increased stress, can reduce resilience and make longstanding patterns feel more intense or harder to manage.
EMDR can be particularly helpful in this context. Rather than focusing only on current symptoms, it works with the earlier experiences that may be shaping how you feel and respond now. By processing these experiences in a safe and supported way, your nervous system can begin to respond more flexibly in the present. This can be especially relevant if you notice familiar patterns of anxiety, self-doubt, or emotional overwhelm returning in ways that feel out of proportion or difficult to shift. If you’re noticing these patterns and would like to understand them more, you can read more about how I work with this approach here.
Managing Emotional Well-Being
Strengthening Relationships
Navigating Physical Symptoms
Rediscovering Purpose and Meaning
Coping with Identity and Role Transitions
Fostering Empowerment and Growth
