What Perimenopause Taught Me About Supporting Clients
With thanks to our member, Louise Baverstock-Price, for this article.
I felt like I was on autopilot, so unsure of who I was, just dragging myself through each day. My body was changing in ways I couldn’t control, I was gaining weight like never before, losing hair and anxiety had come out of nowhere. I was feeling less and less like myself every day, and I didn’t know why. Until I realised I was navigating perimenopause.
Like many women, I was juggling a demanding career, family, and caregiving responsibilities, and these changes just added another layer of stress and self-consciousness. Whilst the physical changes were hard, and my normal go-to tools weren’t helping, it was the emotional impacts that were hard to fathom. Why was I so anxious? Why couldn’t I manage the stress levels I usually could? Why were my emotions so changeable? And then I realised I was navigating perimenopause – and that I was doing my best to ignore it.
When it all got too much, I sought counselling, and this proved to be transformative for me. Talking to someone outside of my life helped me process what was happening, validate my experience, and regain a sense of balance and control. And then I educated myself on the topic I had chosen to ignore and felt that was irrelevant to me. Despite being a female I was in denial.
Transformative support
Now as a wellbeing coach and a therapist-in-training I am passionate about helping women to better understand the impact of hormonal transitions. And I’m also keen to show how having this knowledge as a counsellor, you can transform your own clients’ experience. When you truly appreciate how these changes can affect both the body and the mind, you can provide a higher level of support. You are able to validate their experience and guide them to strategies to help them feel more confident and in control.
The mental and physical impact of perimenopausal hormones
Perimenopause is the stage leading up to menopause (which is actually one day in a woman’s life, one year after her last period). During this time oestrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate unpredictably. These shifts can trigger a wide variety of symptoms (some 70+ have been recognised as peri-menopause related), and can affect physical, emotional, cognitive and social aspects of life. It can also last for up to 10 years so it’s important to try and understand what is happening. Some of the changes your clients may experience include:
Physical changes: unexpected weight gain, shifts in body composition, hair thinning, skin changes, and other changes that may affect self-image and confidence.
Emotional shifts: heightened sensitivity, irritability, low mood or sudden bouts of unexplained anxiety or rage.
Cognitive effects: difficultly concentrating, forgetfulness or ‘brain fog’, or procrastination - all of which can affect work performance and daily decision making.
Energy fluctuations and fatigue: feeling tired all the time, or issues with sleep. This can make it harder to juggle work, family, and other responsibilities.
These symptoms can all collide at the same time and impact various areas of life. And that can have an impact on your client’s overall wellbeing. As a counsellor, when you can better recognise and understand the breadth and impact of these changes, you are in such a better place to understand, validate and support your client.
Practical ways you can SUPPORT your clients:
S – Self-care: Encourage your clients to maintain good routines, gentle daily movement, mindfulness and journalling. All of these will support their mood, energy and resilience.
U – Understanding: Help them understand that physical and emotional changes are common and perfectly normal during this phase of life. This will help reduce any shame and allow them to feel that you understand.
P – Prioritise: Guide your clients to reflect on their boundaries, current commitments and any competing demands. By exploring these they can prioritise what is important and regain a sense of control in their day-to-day life.
P – Professional Support: Encourage them to seek support from experts, peer networks and others who can also provide validation and reassurance. This will also help with practical coping strategies and tools.
O – Offer: Offer empathy and connection by listening actively, validating experiences and sharing where appropriate. This will also help to build trust and reduce any feelings of isolation they may be experiencing.
R – Recognise: Recognise that hormonal transitions affect multiple aspects of life, and that you cannot be an expert in every topic. By working with other professionals where needed, you as a counsellor can learn yourself, but also provide a holistic approach for your client.
T – Tools: Provide practical strategies and coping techniques that help clients manage symptoms. Some of these will be tools you already use outside of peri-menopausal clients, they don’t need to be specific. By supporting with tools you can help them maintain wellbeing and navigate this stage more confidently.
My experience of perimenopause continues to teach me that hormonal changes can ripple through every part of life - my work, family and personal life have all felt the impact. At times it was overwhelming and I had to slow down and listen to my body and mind. Counselling was so transformative for me, and I feel that taking the time to understand and talk about what was going on was such a benefit for me. It gave me the space to process what was going on and understand how I was feeling.
This continues to shape how I work with clients today. I understand first-hand how challenging it can be to navigate these changes, and I try to bring that empathy to every session. I was always someone who looked after myself, but this period reinforced the power of practical wellbeing strategies for me. From small self-care routines to reflection and support networks, anything that supports your mind and body can (and did) absolutely make a difference.
As counsellors, we know that there will be times when things feel unsteady in life. But with the right support and tools it is possible to regain confidence, find balance and truly thrive again. I use my experience to help clients feel seen, understood and empowered.
