Therapy for Women in Midlife & Menopause

What challenges do women in midlife & menopause face?

Hello, I’m Lynda. As well as being a woman in midlife, I’ve worked with many midlife women in my therapy practice. It’s a period when questioning and shifts can begin – in our identities, relationships, or just life!

Though individual experiences are unique, I’ve come across many common challenges facing midlife women.

Falling hormone levels – you may be struggling with sleep, hot flushes, low libido, anxiety, mood swings, forgetfulness, changing self-image and more.

Lasting impacts of childhood – our parents’ generation weren’t always able to acknowledge emotions or mental health struggles, potentially impacting their ability to parent. Many of us in midlife experienced a childhood where compliance was expected, but emotions not always tolerated. If you had to ‘be a good girl’ to feel accepted, it can set up a pattern of people-pleasing, low self-esteem, and suppressing emotions.

Others’ expectations – needing to be a ‘good’ woman, wife, partner, mother, may have meant neglecting your own needs. Resentment is common but hard to acknowledge and express because, as women, we’ve often been conditioned to quietly cope.  

Grief & Loss – this life stage can involve multiple and overlapping forms of grief including loss of fertility, loss of and ageing parents, children needing you less, or regrets – ‘the paths not taken’.

Changing relationships – relationships can face renewed pressure, scrutiny, or transformation. Your emotional wellbeing may be straining your relationships. Or perhaps you’re asking if a current long-term relationship still fits for you.

Work challenges – you could feel even more tired and burned out, lacking concentration and motivation. Maybe you fear being judged or sidelined by colleagues. Or you’re feeling ‘less than’ as you step back from full-time work.