Frequently Asked Questions about Menopause and Therapy:

How can psychotherapy help for perimenopause or menopause symptoms?

Psychotherapy and many of the skills learned in therapy sessions can be tremendously helpful for the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. People dealing with sleeplessness, libido issues, and even hot flashes can greatly benefit from therapeutic skills and practice. For too long, these symptoms have been whispered between friends or kept entirely silent. Having a safe environment to openly discuss what is happening with your body and how it affects your well-being is key in managing these symptoms.

What therapeutic skills are most helpful for managing menopause or perimenopause symptoms?

Cognitive behavioral therapy

mindfulness

acceptance and commitment therapy

dialectical behavioral therapy

are all skills-based treatments that can reduce suffering from symptoms of (peri)menopause. These are all treatments and skills that are the backbone of my psychotherapy practice.

Why do I hate my perimenopausal body? What can I do about it?

There may be a lot of different reasons why you are dealing with body image issues, especially since the onset of perimenopausal symptoms:

·       Societal messages and expectation around aging and beauty

·       Hormonal fluctuations resulting in negative emotions toward your body

·       Weight or body changes that feel out of your control

·       Midlife related challenges (aging parents, changing relationships, raising older kids, our own mortality) channeled toward appearance and function

·       Changes in function that leaves us frustrated

·       Partner issues that leave us feeling our bodies are the problem

Spoiler alert! Your body is not the problem. That said, it can be really helpful to have kind and educated support to challenge your body image issues (and the world around you that keeps making it worse).

Individual therapy or joining the Reclaiming Body Image in Menopause & Perimenopause Group can be a huge step toward improving your relationship with your body.