Sarah Schufreider, LCSW. Menopause Mental Health Certified
By Sarah Schufreider, LCSW, Menopause Mental Health Certified
In my previous post, we talked all about the myths of menopause therapy in Chicago. While it is important to be able to know what things are false, it is just as important to know what is TRUE! Here are some of the truths that I think you should know when you are searching for the right menopause therapist in Chicago.
Truth #1 – Therapy is More Than Talking
Find out more about the truths of menopause therapy in Chicago from licensed clinical social worker, Sarah Schufreider.
Of course, talking happens in therapy. But, the Freudian image of a client lying on the couch with a therapist in the corner silently taking notes, isn’t the reality of what menopause therapy actually looks like .
Therapy can look many different ways and involves a number of evidence-based interventions and techniques to help improve someone’s mental health. Some common examples of these evidence-based interventions include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). The thing that makes evidence-based approaches especially important is that they have been studied extensively and have been shown to have positive outcomes on client’s mental health.
In my own practice, I employ a number of evidence-based interventions such as CBT, ERP, and MI. In these approaches, we utilize different tools to guide the work that we are doing. For example, in ERP, we start by creating a distress scale that looks at the degree of distress a person feels in different scenarios. While exploring this, we look at a person’s thoughts, feelings, body sensations, behaviors, and impact on their mood. We don’t simply talk about these things; rather, we chart them out and create a personalized tool that we can use as we continue the work of decreasing the impact of anxiety on the client’s life. I often explain to clients that one of the goals of therapy is the create as many tools for our mental toolbox. Creating this mental toolbox happens when we utilize evidence-based approaches to therapy.
Truth #2 – The Relationship is the Most Important Part
While the various evidence-based approaches to menopause therapy in Chicago are important to help people heal, one of the most fascinating things about therapy is how much the therapeutic relationship really matters. In fact, research even shows that a good relationship between the therapist and the client is as important, if not more important, than using a precise clinical intervention.
In fact, the American Psychological Association states “Based on its 16 meta-analyses on aspects of the therapy relationship, the APA Task Force on Evidence-Based Relationships and Responsiveness concludes that a number of relationship factors—such as agreeing on therapy goals, getting client feedback throughout the course of treatment and repairing ruptures—are at least as vital to a positive outcome as using the right treatment method.” (source: CE corner: Better relationships with patients lead to better outcomes )
Given this, it makes sense that choosing the correct menopause therapist in Chicago is so vital. In order for a client to be successful in healing, they need to feel like the therapist they choose is someone they can trust, be honest and vulnerable with, and someone who connects with them in an authentic and caring way.
Truth #3 – Menopause Therapy is for Everyday Women in Chicago
A woman does not need to be at her wits-end to start looking for support. In fact, therapy works really well when we are able to start addressing concerns when they are less debilitating. Plus, there is no one type of woman who benefits from menopause therapy. Because the truth is, 50% of the world will eventually go through menopause. And with the medical community recognitzing 34 distinct symptoms of menopause, ranging from hot flashes to brain fog to joint pain to rage, it makes sense that women might need some support during this time in their life (source: Medical News Today. What are the 34 symptoms of menopause? ).
To give you some idea of the types of women that I have seen in my practice, here are a few examples:
I worked with a woman who is a recent empty-nester and is struggling with what her life looks like now that her mothering role has greatly changed. We were able to start focusing on her values and identifying areas where there were disconnects between her values and her behaviors. From there, we were able to start making realistic plans for how to begin increasing her values-aligned behaviors.
Another woman noticed that her tolerance for life’s inconveniences was decreasing at an alarming rate. She noted that even the smallest things would send her into a yelling fit and that her partner and kids were actively trying to avoid being in the same room with her. We were able to start identifying possible triggers for the increased angry mood. In doing so, we noted that she was experiencing increased generalized anxiety, as well as extreme physical discomfort from night sweats and recurrent urinary tract infections. In addition to identify coping skills to help with the anxiety, we also got the client connected to a menopause-informed gynecologist who helped prescribe her medications to help ease her physical symptoms.
A little humor is one of our best coping skills for managing the discomforts of menopause.
A third client was having such bad insomnia that she said that she felt like a zombie most days and was struggling to think clearly throughout the day. We were able to start identifying triggers for the insomnia, utilized a specialized, evidence-based treatment called Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (CBT-I), and helped identify and practice coping skills to increase her capacity for better night’s sleep.
Truth #4 – Menopause Therapy Can Be Short-Term and Effective
You don’t have to be in therapy forever! Some people prefer and benefit from long-term therapy and use it as part of their wellness and self-care plan. But, that does not need to be the case for everyone. There are plenty of short-term interventions that can lead to positive outcomes. Here are some examples of these short-term menopause therapies in Chicago.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): uses a structured program to help the brain and body relearn healthy sleep patterns by looking at someone’s thoughts and behavior patterns
Behavioral Activation: a short-term talk therapy that breaks the cycle of depression by helping people re-engage in meaningful, rewarding daily activities and utilizes specific tools to help clients be active participants in the work
CBT for Hot Flashes: while not getting rid of the physical symptom, this techniques helps reduce the distress, daily interference, and sleep problems caused by hot flashes
Truth #5 – Investing in Menopause Therapy is Investing in Your Life
If there is one thing I wish that women going through the menopause transition knew, it is this: YOU MATTER!!!
So often, the women I work with struggle to hold onto the true value of their own worth. They are so used to being and doing everything for everyone but themselves. It can be extremely hard to challenge the core belief that their needs are less important than everyone else’s needs. But, that is one of the beautiful things about engaging in menopause therapy. It gives you a chance to change those long held beliefs. You get a chance to create meaningful change for the next stage of your life. Some of these positive changes include mood regulations, increased coping skills, better sleep hygiene, increased self-compassion, and resiliency in relationships.
One of the greatest benefits of therapy is that the results are not short-term. They have the potential to positively affect your life going forward, as well.
Finding the Hope You Deserve with Menopause Therapy in Chicago
Therapy holds so many potential benefits for women who are in the menopause transition. It is a place where women can find emotional support, concrete tools to help them manage distressing symptoms, normalize the expereince that they and half of the world will deal with at some point in their lives. If you are ready to start, down the path of feeling better and more in control of your life, I encourage you to explore menopause therapy in Chicago.
Last revised: September 21, 2026
If any of this resonates, menopause therapy in Chicago is available online — let's talk.
Sarah Schufreider, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (Illinois license # 149016639) based in Chicago, IL and the founder of Six Hearts Counseling PLLC. She is has a Level 1 Menopause Mental Health certification from Bria Better Health. 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.
Visit Other Blogs in this Series:
The Complete Guide to Finding the Right Menopause Therapist in Chicago
Questions to Ask a Menopause Therapist in Chicago Before Your First Session
What To Expect In Your First Menopause Therapy Session in Chicago
FAQs About Menopause Therapy, Counseling, and Coaching in Chicago
Top 5 Myths About Menopause Therapy in Chicago (and the Truth Behind Them)