Helping perimenopausal women like you, understand and cope with the physiological and emotional changes you may be going through

There are aspects of aging that are out of our control. Most middle-aged women who start therapy come because they are concerned about sudden mood swings, forgetfulness, and negative thought patterns. Perhaps you can relate. Maybe you feel a sense of loss of control over your mood. Or maybe you are having issues with memory.  Stuck in negativity and feeling out of touch with your body, you may feel confused and overwhelmed.

Do any of the following resonate with you?

• You are experiencing mood swings.
• Your energy levels are at an all time low.
• Your memory is getting worse and you think you’re “going out of your mind.”
• You’ve lost feelings of joy that you used to have about life.
• You sometimes feel dread, fear, have strange thoughts, and a pounding heart.
• You try to lose weight, but you just can’t no matter how hard you try.

If these sound true for you, I want you to know what you’re not alone and what you’re experiencing is very real. It’s not “all in your head.”  Perimenopause (the 7 or so years before menopause) can cause wreak emotional havoc because of the physiological changes in our brain and body. Reaching out for help can provide you with the support and encouragement you need. It’s not selfish to prioritize caring for yourself. You don’t have to always have to put work or your family’s needs over your own needs. We’re socialized to think we’re being selfish.  There’s nothing selfish about wanting to feel good.

It’s possible to feel better. Therapy can help you…

• Control how you respond to anxious and depressive thoughts.
• Improve your mood, memory, and productivity.
• Shift into a more positive and hopeful outlook on life.
• Figure out who you are and what direction to go in next.

Navigate Life’s Challenges

Therapy will teach you effective skills to navigate through difficult (and sometimes rapidly changing) feelings and situations. Therapy can also help you manage your response to stress.

I’ve helped women manage the changes going on cognitively and physiologically entering into perimenopause. My clients discover the connection between brain and body so they can use their brains more effectively and feel more connected to their bodies.

How Therapy Works…

Therapy consists of 50-minute, one-on-one sessions that help you work through the difficulties you’ve been experiencing. In addition to listening, I will ask questions and share what the science tells us about perimenopause.  Here’s how it will work step-by-step:

• First, as with any therapy, I provide a safe, accepting space so that you will feel comfortable sharing your struggles with me.
• Through hearing your story, I will start to get a picture of what your challenges are.
• We’ll start with your immediate concerns like understanding and managing changes in mood and/or memory.
• We’ll also work to discover what your goals are for therapy and for this stage of your life. For some women, I refer to this period as their “Renaissance.”
• Keeping your unique goals in mind, we’ll figure out what’s needed to help you reach them.
• Over the course of our sessions, you’ll start making progress through learning more about perimenopause and how to cope with the challenges it presents.

Research shows that therapy can help with the emotional difficulties perimenopause can present and can positively change your thinking, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. It can help you let go of what’s holding you back. It’s not the enemy, but a natural, normal, albeit challenging phase of life.

Ready to start feeling better?

Email me at: mariedonabella@outlook.com or call me at 401-829-7527.