Changes throughout midlife can affect your confidence, capacity and everyday life. Occupational therapy helps you understand what’s changing and rebuild a way of living that supports who you are now.
How perimenopause can affect every day life
Perimenopause/menopause is a time of significant hormonal change. While many people recognise symptoms such as hot flushes or changes to menstrual cycles, these hormonal shifts can also affect thinking, mood, sleep, energy and emotional regulation.
Because the transition can last several years (sometimes up to a decade) many women find its impact on work, relationships and functioning changes over time.
You may notice you’re no longer thinking as clearly, juggling as well as you used to, or recovering from stress in the same way. Work feels harder, routines begin to unravel, and the mental load you’ve always carried suddenly feels heavier.
Many women describe it simply as:
“I don’t feel like myself anymore.”
Occupational therapy bridges the gap between understanding what’s changed and rebuilding a way of living that better supports your current capacity, priorities and the life you want to lead
You might recognise yourself here if
- You're getting through the day, but it takes far more effort than it used to
- You don't feel like yourself anymore, but can't quite explain why
- You find it harder to concentrate, remember things or stay organised than you used to
- You're not sleeping well, or you're waking feeling unrefreshed, making it harder to get through the day
- Everyday tasks that once felt manageable now feel overwhelming
- The routines and strategies that have always helped you cope don't seem to be working anymore
- You're constantly juggling work, family and other responsibilities, but there's little energy left for yourself
How occupational therapy can help
Every person’s experience of perimenopause/menopause is different. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, occupational therapy starts with understanding how these changes are affecting your life, your priorities and the roles that matter most to you.
Together, we’ll identify what needs to change and develop practical ways of living that feel more manageable, meaningful and sustainable.
My approach is built around three stages:
Understand
Gain clarity about what’s changing and how it’s affecting your capacity, identity and everyday life.
Rebuild
Rebuild routines, roles and ways of living that better reflect your current capacity, priorities and what matters most to you
Sustain
Together we create practical strategies that feel realistic and sustainable, helping you maintain changes long after therapy has finished.
What we might work on
- Managing brain fog, attention and executive functioning in everyday life
- Creating routines that support your energy, recovery and wellbeing
- Navigating work demands, career changes and maintaining confidence at work
- Reducing overwhelm and finding ways to manage competing responsibilities.
- Rebuilding your sense of identity as your capacity changes
- Balancing parenting, caring and other important life roles
- Developing practical systems that make everyday life feel more manageable
- Returning to the activities, relationships and parts of life that matter most to you
Working alongside your healthcare team
Perimenopause often affects many areas of life, which means support is often most effective when health professionals work together. Occupational therapy complements the care you may already be receiving from your GP, psychologist, women’s health physiotherapist, menopause clinician or other members of your healthcare team.
By working collaboratively, we can ensure your support is connected, practical and focused on helping you navigate everyday life with greater confidence and clarity.
Frequently asked questions
No. Many women seek support because they've noticed changes in their thinking, emotions, energy or ability to manage everyday life, even before receiving a formal diagnosis. Occupational therapy focuses on how these changes are affecting your daily life and helping you find practical ways to move forward.
Occupational therapy may be helpful when the changes you're experiencing begin affecting your ability to manage everyday life. You might notice that work feels harder, routines are no longer working, everyday tasks take more effort, or you simply don't feel like yourself anymore.
Occupational therapy focuses on helping you understand what's changed and rebuild routines, roles and ways of living that better support your current capacity and the life you want to lead.
While there is some overlap, occupational therapy focuses on helping you participate in everyday life. Together, we'll look at how changes in your capacity are affecting your routines, work, parenting, relationships and the activities that matter most, then develop practical ways to support you. Many people choose to work with both an occupational therapist and a psychologist
You don't need a referral to see an occupational therapist privately.
If you're eligible, you may also be able to access occupational therapy through a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, or through other funding options depending on your circumstances.
If you're unsure which option is right for you, feel free to get in touch and I'd be happy to discuss the best pathway.