Menopause and Perimenopause Therapy in Chicago
Menopause Therapy in Chicago with Sarah Schufreider, LCSW
Bria Better Health Menopause Mental Health Certified Therapist
Are You Exhausted, Overwhelmed, and Wondering What Is Happening to Your Body and Mind while Living through the Menopause Transition?
You wake up and you still feel so tired. The kind of tired that settles into your bones and follows you through the day no matter what you do. You never feel fully rested. And yet the list of things demanding your attention does not get shorter.
You are trying to hold so much at once. Your family's needs. Your job. Your household. And somewhere at the bottom of that list, almost as an afterthought, yourself. You know you are supposed to take care of you too, and yet finding the space for that feels almost laughable some days. There is just so much.
And it is all made so much worse because your mind and body feel like they are working against you as you approach and live through perimenopause and menopause.
Your thoughts do not always feel as clear as they used to. You find yourself mid-sentence and the word is just gone. You walk into a room and forget why you are there. Some moments, you worry that you might be losing your memory. You are constantly angry in a way that surprises even you, and you find yourself with no patience for anything or anyone, including the people you love most. The guilt caused by the explosive anger adds to the heavy emotional burden.
And then there is your body. What is going on with your body? It feels so unpredictable and untrustworthy. It simply is not working like it used to, and no one prepared you for how unsettling that would feel. The changes arrive constantly and without asking. It feels like your body and your mind are conspiring against you, and that you are powerless in the middle of it all. It is so hard to be getting older and dealing with life while also managing all the things that are outside of your control.
Underneath the exhaustion and the anger and the forgetting and the overwhelm, you still exist. A person who knows what they value, even if they have lost touch with it. A person who wants more than just survival. Who wants to feel like themself again.
Therapy for Women Living Through Menopause in the greater Chicago area That Meets You Where You Are
Sarah Schufreider, LCSW specializing in Menopause Mental Health
I'm Sarah Schufreider, LCSW, and I've worked with women navigating perimenopause and menopause for over 17 years, I have been helping women experiencing perimenopause and menopause in the Chicago area and Illinois who are stressed and overwhelmed trying to navigate body, mind, and hormone changes while also managing family responsibilities, career pressures, friendships, and the ongoing project of taking care of themselves.
Clients often come to me feeling dismissed by health professional who tell them to simply practice more self-care. They say that they feel confused about how to manage their changing body and don’t know who can actually help them sort out menopause-related issues versus general life stressors. They say that they need someone who will actually sit with you in the middle of it and help you figure out how to manage all the changes.
I work in a down to earth, real way. You can expect genuine collaboration and transparency about the process. plenty of space to process the hard stuff, with equal room for humor and joy. Because even in the difficult times, there is space for both.
For more than a decade and a half, I have been working with people to help them tackle life’s transitions with grace, grit, and always, a healthy dose of humor.
You Do Not Have to Keep Doing This All On Your Own!
Perimenopause and menopause are transitions. They are transitions that affect your body, your mind, your relationships, and your sense of self all at once. And you deserve real support. You do not have to figure this out alone.
Reaching out is the first step. Schedule a free consultation Let's talk about menopause therapy in Chicago and what you're hoping to feel on the other side of this season.
email Sarah at sarah@sixheartscounseling.com
fill out this contact form on the website
I’d love to help you. Click here to schedule your free 15- minute phone consultation for menopause therapy in Chicago and greater Illinois. My other specialties incorporate mid-life issues including postpartum depression, anxiety, relationship issues, parenting special needs kids, SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) and grief.
Frequently Asked Questions about Menopause Therapy in Chicago
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I offer menopause therapy in Chicago and all throughout Illinois through Six Hearts Counseling. Whether you are in the Chicago or anywhere else in Illinois, we can meet virtually. Reach out for a free consultation to see if we are a good fit.
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Most people have heard the term menopause. But, what many people think of as menopause actually describes perimenopause.
Perimenopause is the name given to the transitional phase that leads up to menopause. During this time, a woman’s hormones begin changing and the body produces less estrogen and progesterone. These hormone fluctuations can cause a host of symptoms such as mood changes, hot flashes, sleep issues, and others.
This phase averages about 4 years but can range between 2 to 10 years. This phase ends when it has been exactly 12 months since a woman’s last menstrual period.
Menopause lasts exactly 1 day. It is the day exactly 12 months since a woman’s last menstrual period.
After that day, a woman is in post-menopause.
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Therapy for menopause and perimenopause is similar to general therapy, but with a therapist who specializes in understanding the specific emotional, cognitive, and physical challenges that come with perimenopause and menopause. While general therapy addresses mental health broadly, working with a therapist who specializes in the transitions of menopause means you do not have to spend your sessions explaining why you feel the way you do or convincing someone that what you are experiencing is real. Sarah brings both clinical expertise and genuine familiarity with this life stage, so the work can go deeper, faster.
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In our sessions, we slow down and look at what this transition is stirring up for you, whether that is grief, identity, relationships, or anxiety. I do not follow a rigid script. We work at your pace, focusing on what feels most pressing, and I draw on approaches that fit you as an individual rather than a one-size-fits-all method.
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It does not have to be neatly labeled to be worth addressing. Many women come to therapy during perimenopause or menopause without a clear diagnosis, only a sense that something has shifted and that they are struggling. The menopause transition is not only a physical one, but a long lasting physical, emotional, and cognitive transition time that can affect all aspects of your life. In fact, the perimenopause transition can last up to 10 years! Whether you are in the thick of menopause, in the years leading up to it, or simply navigating a season of life that feels harder than it should, therapy can help. You do not need a diagnosis to deserve support.
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This is extremely common. Anxiety and depression frequently accompany perimenopause and menopause due to hormonal shifts, sleep disruption, and the weight of navigating so much change at once. Sarah has extensive experience working with anxiety, depression, and trauma alongside the specific challenges of this life stage. You do not have to choose which part of your experience gets attention.
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Absolutely. Medical care and therapy address different parts of the same experience. Your doctor can help with the physical symptoms; I help with the emotional and psychological ones, things like anxiety, mood changes, relationship stress, and questions about who you are becoming in this chapter. The two approaches complement each other well.
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I encourage you to contact Six Hearts Counseling directly to ask about current fees and whether I am in network with your insurance plan, as those details can change. I want cost to feel as manageable as possible, so I am happy to walk through your options with you during a free initial consultation before you commit to anything.
Sources cited: Symptoms | The Menopause Society
Proud participant in the Chicago Menopause Collective’s Menopause Retreat on October 24, 2026 from 9am to 3pm.
Check out the Swag Bag to find more information about Six Hearts Counseling!
Menopause therapy in Chicago for women who are ready to feel like themselves again.
Last Updated: October 22, 2026