Midlife & Menopause

At our women’s psychology clinic, we appreciate that midlife and menopause brings its own set of opportunities alongside some very real challenges.  It can feel as though you are carrying a huge and sometimes impossible load of responsibilities alongside hormonal changes that impact all areas of your life (and we haven’t even mentioned dealing with teenagers yet!….)

At Una Psychology, we understand that midlife and menopause can prove a challenging time for many women and that safeguarding your mental health and well-being is something you deserve in your own right.  We offer a holistic approach to your health and well-being in the following areas:

  • Perimenopause: You may not initially notice the gradual creep of losing your energy, not sleeping well or the shortening of your menstrual cycle that can begin as early as our 30s.  All too often, women only become aware of the impact of hormonal changes when they become low in mood, uncharacteristically anxious or ‘jittery’, have hot flushes and start to lose confidence in themselves.  You may be noticing you are struggling to remember names or words and feeling joint pain or extremely tired.  You may be reacting emotionally in ways that are intense or disproportionate to the situation resulting in feelings of embarrassment and losing trust in your judgment or abilities.  If you have experienced other gynaecological conditions in the past or have recently had a baby or are raising young children, it may be hard to know what is causing what.  Sadly, we too often see women in our clinic who are being treated for mental health conditions or who have been misdiagnosed with ADHD or depression because their underlying perimenopause symptoms have been misunderstood.  
  • Menopause:  Your periods may have stopped completely yet you may continue to suffer with brain fog, cognitive slowness, word block / loss, emotional overwhelm and a loss of confidence and ability to approach tasks.  You may have sought out HRT but have struggled to find a combination that works for you.  You may not have been able to take HRT because of previous health conditions and are continuing to experience difficult or debilitating symptoms.  
  • Empty Nest:   You may be struggling with a sense of grief or loss of your maternal role as your older children grow in independence or leave home.  This may bring up other feelings of loneliness or anxiety.  This can be particularly difficult if your relationship with your children is not as you would wish it to be.
  • Partner Relationships:   Your relationship with your partner may have changed and without the focus of children or parenting you may be re-evaluating your next chapter together or apart.  Your hormonal changes may be adversely impacting you and your relationships and you may be struggling with physical intimacy or a loss of libido.  You may struggle to articulate your change in sexual or intimacy preferences.  You may be feeling a loss of connection with your partner and be struggling to communicate your needs.
  • Separation/ divorce: You may be going through a painful or acrimonious separation or divorce and be experiencing considerable mental strain and distress as you negotiate the practical, financial and emotional aspects of this.  You may be wanting space or support to process this relationship and how it ended.  You may be ready for a new relationship but be uncertain about how you negotiate your needs, preferences and boundaries as you approach dating.
  • Friendships: You may have experienced loneliness or feelings of disconnection from your friends over time.  Friendships may evolve as priorities and life circumstances change and it may feel difficult for you to initiate or maintain new friendships.  You may find it challenging to open up to other people or trust them.  This can be especially difficult if you have had a history of other people mistreating you or of losing important people in your life.
  • Ageing Parents: You may be ‘sandwiched’ between caring for older parents or parents-in-law as well as for teenage children.  This can place a huge strain on your time and energy.  If your relationship with your ageing parent(s) is acrimonious or complex, you may have distanced yourself or feel compromised by their dependency and needs.  This can give rise to a complex set of emotions and unprocessed, outstanding feelings from the past.
  • Bereavement/ Loss:  You may have experienced the loss of parents or close relatives and need space and time to process your feelings.  This can be particularly difficult if your relationship with the person who died was complex or estranged.
  • Identity shift & Self Reflection : You may be considering a re-evaluation of your roles in life, particularly if you have teenagers or young adult children who are growing in their independence.  Although your children may still need you, you may find you have more time and space to reconsider your next steps.  This may involve re-training in a career, exploring a new hobby or craft or a desire to reconsider your relationships.
  • A sense of loss: You may be struggling with a sense of loss as you approach the end of your fertility or youth.  This may be particularly painful if you are mourning not having had a family or have felt ambivalent about this until nature has made the decision for you.    
  • Physical health difficulties: You or your partner may have experienced physical health difficulties which have been traumatic to go through and may have altered your relationship or the future you had planned together.  You may be in a caring role for your partner and be struggling with the demands of this or feel trapped by caring responsibilities.
  • Changing appearance: You may be uncomfortable with changes to your body and physical appearance.  If you have suffered with eating disorders or body image concerns previously this may be particularly challenging.  Societal norms that over-value a youthful appearance as a narrowed definition of beauty may leave you feeling insecure in your body.  This may be affecting your mood and/ or sexual intimacy.  You may have experienced physical health difficulties such as breast cancer or mastectomy which may be distressing and hard to adjust to.
  • Career changes:  You may be reassessing your career choices or professional path or be seeking a different sense of purpose or direction.  This may bring up dilemmas for you relating to other relationships or commitments in your life.
  • Change of pace:  If you have worked in a fast-paced or high pressure environment, you may be seeking a change of pace in your work or wanting to prioritise your health, well-being or relationships.  You may be considering developing other projects or creative endeavours.
  • Professional Support: You may need additional support from your employer to advocate for a more flexible way of working as you navigate perimenopause, menopause and multiple caring commitments.  You may find this difficult or feel as though there is a lack of understanding, or worse, discrimination from your employer. 
  • New Perspectives & Priorities: You may be approaching this life stage with the desire to make more time and space for yourself for well-being, take on a new project or aspiration or develop a new set of skills.  You may want to address any parts of you that can keep you from moving towards your goals, such as a longstanding pattern of putting others’ needs first or others being difficult with you as you start to prioritise your needs more.
  • Growing your ‘Happy Child’: If you have been absorbed in caring for others or other adult responsibilities and struggles or if you have experienced complex trauma, you may have been so focused on coping day to day and week to week that you have lost or not fully grown your sense of fun, pleasure or enjoyment in life.  You may need some support and guidance in learning what brings you joy, how to approach this intentionally and trouble-shooting any blocks that might emerge in your experimentation. 

If you are negotiating the shifting tides of midlife and menopause, we at Una Psychology are here to support you in making sense of the interplay between biological, relational, cognitive, emotional and behavioural changes that interact.  We know from so many women we have supported over the years that these changes can interact with established ways of coping in ways that can make life feel overwhelming.  We are saddened at how many women shrink away from the world and life because they have lost confidence in themselves and their abilities during this life stage.  We take a holistic approach to addressing your physical and mental health and well-being so you can emerge with greater strength, authenticity and confidence that healthy ageing offers.  If you are unsure as to how we can help you, contact us.

Antonella & Rachel
Learn More About Us

Cookies Policy

Copyright © 2026 Una Psychology
Made with ❤ by Therapy Webgenie