Perimenopause counselling

Counselling for perimenopause, including with ADHD or autism

Feeling unlike yourself, and wondering whether perimenopause might be part of it?

I offer counselling for anyone going through perimenopause or menopause, including people who are autistic or have ADHD, whether diagnosed or not. Sessions are online across the UK, or in person near Clapham Junction in south-west London. Counselling can help you make sense of the emotional changes, alongside any medical support you are receiving.

Fee: £75 per session
Where: Online, or in south-west London
First step: Free 15-minute call

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More than hot flushes

Perimenopause is the time leading up to the menopause, when your hormone levels change and your periods eventually stop. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, though it can start earlier, and symptoms can last for several years.

Alongside the physical symptoms, the NHS lists mood swings, low mood, anxiety, poor memory and brain fog among the common ones. Maybe you have become anxious when you never used to be. Maybe you are snapping at the people you love, waking at 3am, or losing words mid-sentence and worrying about what that means. It can feel as though you are no longer yourself.

If you are also autistic or have ADHD

If you are autistic or have ADHD, perimenopause can make existing difficulties harder. In one study of women with ADHD, those of menopausal age reported more anxiety, low mood and other menopausal symptoms than usual. Autistic women have described menopause intensifying their sensory, social and emotional difficulties, and making it much harder to keep masking.

For some, this is the point at which they first wonder whether they might be autistic or have ADHD, as coping strategies that worked for years stop working. And because brain fog, overwhelm and low mood can come from perimenopause, neurodivergence or both, it can be hard to untangle what is happening.

Counselling alongside medical support

Counselling doesn’t replace medical care, and it’s always worth talking to your GP about your symptoms. NICE guidance says HRT can be considered for low mood that starts around the same time as other menopausal symptoms, and that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can also be an option.

What counselling offers is a space to make sense of what this transition is doing to your life. Perimenopause can bring things to the surface: grief for who you were, questions about relationships or work, or needs you have put aside for years. We can explore all of this together, at your own pace.

Counselling with Nadia

Working with me

I'm a BACP-registered counsellor and an HCPC-registered Educational Psychologist. I worked in education and mental health for over 20 years before training as a counsellor. More about me.

Sessions are 50 minutes, weekly or fortnightly, at £75 per session. I offer a limited number of reduced-fee places for students and people on low incomes.

I work online via Zoom with adults (18+) anywhere in the UK on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am to 8.30pm, and on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 5pm. Face-to-face sessions are available near Clapham Junction in south-west London on Mondays at 1pm or 2pm.

The first step is a free, no-obligation 15-minute conversation, so you can tell me a little about what's bringing you to counselling, ask any questions, and see whether we're a good fit.

Common questions about perimenopause counselling

Can counselling help with perimenopause?

Counselling won’t change your hormones, but it can help with the emotional side: anxiety, low mood, changes in how you see yourself, and the strain on relationships. It works well alongside medical support from your GP.

Do I need an ADHD or autism diagnosis to come to you?

No. You are welcome whether you have a diagnosis, are waiting for an assessment, or are only just starting to wonder.

Should I see my GP as well?

Yes. It’s worth talking to your GP about perimenopausal symptoms, especially if they are affecting your daily life. Treatments such as HRT can help, and counselling can sit alongside them.