Burning It Down—One Hot Flash at a Time, a guide to thriving in perimenopause.
Season 1
The Power of the Pause
Menopause Beyond the Binary
Your Hormones are Talking - This is what They're Saying
by Nadia Alteme
Therapists don’t need to be menopause experts to support clients through perimenopause. In this episode, we explore the transition as a biopsychosocial life stage, its impact on identity, relationships, and mental health, and how therapists can respond with curiosity and awareness. We highlight approaches like CBT, ACT, and narrative therapy, while reframing perimenopause as a developmental transition involving disruption, reconstruction, and growth. For a full transcript of episode 4, please click on the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jfPMlI4VW_qKo9WCwfAaCbNnCgGA8EyoqI-lSCbNP9Q/edit?usp=sharing
Who experiences perimenopause? More people than the mainstream conversation suggests. In this episode, we explore how the menopausal transition affects transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals, and discuss emerging links between perimenopause and neurodivergence. We also examine how stigma, gendered language, and cultural narratives shape who feels seen, supported, and able to access care during this life stage. For a full transcript of episode 3, please click on the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QRmGqF6wdqRUsukidr9eqdWbQ46gTW7aln3O4E05Ywc/edit?usp=sharing
What’s happening in the body during perimenopause? In this episode, we explore the hormones behind the physical and emotional changes of the menopausal transition. We also unpack the science behind menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) including why it has such a controversial history and what newer research says about its safety and benefits. Finally we discuss practical ways to manage symptoms through lifestyle and community support. For a full transcript of episode 2 please click on the following link": https://docs.google.com/document/d/1muqc_XP81CgfMPk-mJszmd4D6jzTz5U-6d30rbODav8/edit?usp=sharing
Why talk about perimenopause? Because despite growing attention around menopause, stigma, misinformation, and silence still shape how we understand this major life transition. In this episode, we unpack why conversations about perimenopause matter—especially for therapists and helping professionals. For a full transcript of this episode, please click on: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12Eg6M5n74xST7QIYEl-6zO2bvJA9d39AhYB33tHfPvc/edit?usp=sharing