Something has shifted
You may not be able to name exactly when it started. But you know that the way you feel - the anxiety, the exhaustion, the moments of rage or grief that catch you off guard - just doesn't feel like you. You're holding your life together. But it's costing you more than it used to.
This is not who you are. And you don't have to navigate it alone
YOUR BRAIN IS CHANGING. NOT BREAKING
The psychological impact of perimenopause and menopause is still widely under-recognised, even in clinical settings. As oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate and decline, they directly affect the brain's regulation of mood, anxiety, sleep and stress. What you're experiencing has a neurological basis. It is real, it is significant, and it is treatable.
For many women, this transition also brings something unexpected, such as the resurfacing of old experiences. Difficult relationships, grief, past trauma. Things you may have long since moved through can return with a force that feels disproportionate and confusing. There is a reason for this. And there is a way through it.
IS THIS FOR YOU?
You may be in the right place if you are a woman in your late 30s to mid-50s and you recognise yourself in any of the following:
The anxiety, irritability or low mood arrived without a clear cause and hasn't lifted
You've begun HRT and the physical symptoms have improved, but emotionally something still isn't right
You feel less like yourself than you have in a long time, less patient, less confident, less certain of who you are
Past experiences or difficult periods of your life feel closer to the surface than they have in years
You are functioning well outwardly, but privately you are exhausted by the effort of it
You want to speak with someone who understands this transition at a clinical level, not just sympathetically
HOW I WORK
I'm Ashton Hayes, an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker with over 15 years of experience in trauma treatment. I work with women navigating the psychological and emotional complexity of perimenopause and menopause, particularly where there is a history of trauma, anxiety, or significant life experience that this transition has brought back to the surface. I am an approved Medicare provider, meaning sessions may be eligible for a Medicare rebate with a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
My primary treatment approach is EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based therapy endorsed by the World Health Organisation and Australia's NHMRC, and it is particularly well suited to this stage of life. The hormonal changes of perimenopause can reduce the brain's capacity to manage stored trauma memories, allowing past experiences to resurface even when they felt resolved. EMDR works directly and efficiently with this, without requiring you to speak at length about difficult experiences if you would prefer not to.
I also draw on other modalities and all of my work is trauma informed, meaning I work with your whole history and context, not only your presenting symptoms.
Sessions are available face to face in Hawthorn, Melbourne, and via telehealth across Australia.
GETTING STARTED
You do not need a referral to book a session.
If you hold a current Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, your sessions may be eligible for a Medicare rebate. I am also recognised by a number of private health funds.
If you are unsure whether this is the right fit, you are welcome to get in touch before booking. I am happy to answer any questions.
Perimenopause and Menopause asks a great deal of women. It can also, with the right support, be a time of significant clarity about what matters, what no longer serves you, and who you are becoming. I would be glad to be part of that work with you.
- Ashton