The Complete Guide to Finding the Right Menopause Therapist in Chicago
Finding a Menopause Therapist in Chicago is possible.
Chicago is a fun, exciting, and beautiful place to live. We have the Lake, the Bears, the Cubs, the Blackhawks, the White Sox, the Obama Library, the Field Museum, and so much more. It is a place where we get the best of both worlds: Midwest nice with a cosmopolitan feel. But, even with all the amazing advantages of living in Chicago, life can still feel hard and overwhelming. If you have been searching for a menopause therapist in Chicago, you understand what it is like to be going through this life transition. You know how confusing the process is. It is hard to pick through the endless list of providers and know who will be a good fit for you. My goal is to help make your search a little easier and help you feel more confident that you can find the correct support system for you.
While choosing a therapist based on location may be convenient, it isn’t necessarily the most important factor to consider. Instead, the biggest predictors of success in therapy are whether the client feels like they can trust the therapist and if the client feels like the therapist is a good fit for their needs.
But, how does someone figure out who to trust and if the fit is right? For many clients, those questions are major barriers that prevent them from pursuing therapy. It just feels too hard to open up and be vulnerable with someone. And people fear that they will find out after a session or two that the therapist isn’t right for them.
Therapy works best when you feel safe, supported, understood, and not judged. Which is why finding a menopause therapist in Chicago is not just a choice around location convenience, but also one that requires an emotional component. This guide will help you clarify your needs and better understand how to find the person who will work best for your unique needs.
Why Finding the Right Therapist Matters
Menopause is the hot new buzz word and you are likely being bombarded with ads, social media posts, and non-stop advice on how to manage it. Women are finding that they are being told lots of conflicting information: pros and cons of taking hormone replacement therapy, strength training exercises versus cardio, protein diets, and tons of other “must dos” for this life transition. Oftentimes, women are feeling confused and don’t even know where to begin in piecing out where to start with managing both the physical changes and all the emotional and mental changes that they are experiencing. This is why when you have decided to find a therapist, it is important that they have a good understanding of menopause and what it means for you.
What does it mean to find the right therapist?
Finding the right therapist means finding someone who you feel comfortable with. Someone who you feel like isn’t judging you and someone who you can imagine opening up to. The right therapist will meet you where you are at and not make you go faster or slower than you are wanting. The right therapist cares about outcomes and wants to get you feeling better as soon as possible.
Think for a moment about what qualities you want in a therapist. Consider what ways you like to be challenged. Do you like someone who is more direct or someone who is gentler with suggestions? Do you want someone who can inject humor into the work or do you prefer someone who is more serious? Do you prefer someone who has lived knowledge of the issue that you are dealing with? What about your background, faith, beliefs, and values? Do you want a therapist who shares them?
When you find the right person, you will be able to start opening up, increasing your capacity to be vulnerable, and begin addressing the stuck points that are holding you back from making needed changes in your life. The extra time you take now to find the right therapist will help your mental health in the long run.
What are the Different Types of Therapists in Chicago
When you are searching for a menopause therapist in Chicago, you will likely find people who have various degrees and letters behind their name. They likely can all provide therapy, but what is the difference. Here is a quick explanation of some of the more common acronyms.
All the different alphabet soup! All of these professionals can provide therapy services.
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Workers): Professionals who focus on both mental health and helping clients access resources.
LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist): Specialized in relationships, couples, and family work.
LPC/LCPC (Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor): Focus on diagnosing, treating, and providing psychotherapy for mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.
PhD/PsyD (Psychologists): Provide therapy and psychological testing services
MD (Psychiatrist): Medical doctors who can prescribe medications
Of note, sometimes people ask about working with coaches. Coaches cannot provide therapy. Additionally, their industry is not regulated like that of a therapist. Therapists have to meet requirements for ongoing continuing education and they have ethics codes they are required to follow.
In addition to the degrees that someone holds, many therapists also have specialized training. As an example, I have Certificates in Menopause Mental Health, a Trauma Certificate connected to my Masters of Social Work, and Yoga for Trauma certificate. These specializations allow for therapists to grow their practice and also create paths for clients to connect with people who focus on the things that clients really want and need.
What Therapy Approaches Are Available?
Therapy in Chicago can happen in many different ways. Traditionally, when people consider therapy, they might imagine a client laying on a couch while talking about their feelings. While many therapeutic approaches do include talk components, they aren’t the only methodologies out there. Some common methods that I see in our area include CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), somatic therapy (such as therapeutic yoga), and behavioral activation.
All of these methods look past simply talking about feelings and add additional components. CBT and SPACE integrate skills that help shape our behaviors, thoughts, and feelings into concrete steps for clients to try. Somatic work allows people to notice the body-mind connection and utilize their body to help calm their mind. Behavioral activation uses tools to kickstart people into making concrete changes. Behavioral activation is a key tool that I use in menopause therapy.
Practical Steps to Choosing a Therapist in Chicago
So now that you understand the option for the kind of therapist and therapy out there, let’s get into the practical application of how to choose a therapist.
Here are a few steps I recommend if you’re just starting your search:
Figure out what you need: Do you want someone who is in person or would virtual be ok? Do you want someone who has lived experience with the issue you are struggling with? Is this something that you need to tackle in individual therapy or is it something that would be better addressed in couples or family therapy? Make a list of your Needs and also a list of your wants (things that would be nice, but not completely necessary) and use that as your guide.
Ask trusted friends and providers for referrals. Think about how you get recommendations for things in your life. You probably go to friends and family to get firsthand reviews. Think of other people you know who might also be going through menopause and see if they have any suggestions for therapist who are familiar with the menopause transition. And remember, therapists have to maintain confidentiality. They cannot share whether or not they work with clients without their client’s express consent. So, while your friend may tell you about their work with a therapist, the therapist won’t be able to confirm or deny that unless your friend gave them explicit permission to do so.
Schedule a free consultation. This gives you a chance to ask questions and feel out the connection. I offer everyone a free 15 minute consultation. This allows me to properly introduce myself, share a little bit about my approach to the work, and share info about my practice, so that you can have full transparency from me about how I work. This also allows clients to ask clarifying questions. If I am not a good fit for a client, I will do my best to try to refer them to someone who can better meet their needs.
Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it is ok to move onto another therapist. You don’t have to have a clearly defined reason. Sometimes, it really is “not you, it’s me!” Sometime the vibe is off, and that’s ok. That’s why a free consultation is a great idea. You can get a vibe check before fully committing to working with someone.
Pro tip: Many therapists in Chicago offer free 15-minute consultations. You can use that time to ask questions and get a feel for the therapist.
FAQs About Starting Therapy in Chicago
Let’s explore some common frequently asked questions that potential clients have about starting therapy.
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
If you have been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or like you are just going through the motions, that is often a sign that having consistent support could help. You do not need to be in a full crisis to benefit from therapy. Many people come to counseling because something feels off and they want help figuring out what that is and what to do about it. If you read this page and something resonated, that is worth paying attention to.
Do I have to be in crisis to start therapy?
Not at all. In fact, many clients find that starting counseling before things reach a crisis point makes the work more effective. You do not have to hit a breaking point to deserve support. Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of yourself is enough of a reason to reach out
How long does therapy usually take?
That depends on you, your goals, and what you are working through. Some clients come for a focused period of time around a specific transition like menopause. Others find that ongoing support serves them well over a longer stretch. We will talk about what feels right for your situation and revisit that as the work progresses.
I have tried therapy before and it did not help. Why would this be different?
Fit matters enormously in therapy. The research consistently shows that the quality of the relationship between client and therapist is one of the strongest predictors of good outcomes. If past therapy felt like a mismatch, it may simply mean that the approach or the relationship was not the right one for you. A consultation call is a low-stakes way to get a feel for whether working with someone makes sense for where you are right now.
Is Therapy confidential?
Yes. What you share in sessions stays between us, with a few specific legal and ethical exceptions that your therapist should walk you through at the start of your work together. Knowing that what you say stays in the room is part of what makes it possible to be honest and do real work.
Next Steps: Taking the First Step Toward Support
Hopefully this guide helped increase your confidence about being able to begin (or continue) your therapist search so that you can find the support that you deserve. If you are looking for a menopause therapist in Chicago, please know that support is available. No matter what life transition you are experiencing, therapy can be a support to help you move forward.
Sarah Schufreider, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Chicago, IL and the founder of Six Hearts Counseling PLLC. She focuses on mid-life transitions including menopause, parenting special needs and medically complex children, SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), grief, and postpartum depression. Sarah’s goal is to help her clients feel like they can take control of their life again through identifying their values, learning concrete skills to manage and regulate their emotions, and work to challenge mental obstacles that are creating stuck points to change. Learn more about her work at About Sarah.