Well+Being Holistic Mental Health
Emotional Health & Wellness Tips From The Therapy Couch And Other Places
Kimberly Seelbrede, LCSW, is a New York State licensed psychotherapist and women’s emotional health expert whose work weaves together the science of the mind, the biology of the brain, and the art of holistic integrative wellness. With nearly two decades of clinical experience, she helps women in midlife navigate the profound emotional, hormonal, and identity transitions that often surface during perimenopause and menopause. In addition, she works with couples to improve communication, strengthen emotional intimacy, and navigate changes in sexual health, relationship dynamics, and shared life stressors. She works with men who are experiencing personal and professional crises, life transitions, stress, mood changes, or relationship challenges. Her approach blends evidence-based psychotherapy with holistic mind-body interventions, including EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing® techniques, mindfulness, and lifestyle medicine — to address the full spectrum of emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Disclaimer: I am a licensed and fully credentialed mental health provider, but I am not a medical doctor. The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical or health-related concerns, including perimenopause, menopause, hormone therapy, or other chronic medical conditions. Reliance on the content on this site is solely at your own risk.
Perimenopause, Menopause, and Mental Health: How Hormonal Changes Bring Emotions and Life Challenges to the Surface
Are you a woman in NYC navigating the challenges of perimenopause and menopause? Hormonal changes during this transitional stage can bring mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, and heightened stress to the surface. At Holistic Therapy, EMDR & Wellness NYC, I specialize in supporting women through perimenopause with talk therapy support, education, somatic therapy, mindfulness, and other supportive holistic approaches that help manage emotional shifts, release tension, and regain balance.
Perimenopause and menopause can bring major emotional and cognitive shifts that may leave you wondering, “What’s happening to me?”If you’re experiencing mood swings, anxiety, or brain fog, you’re not alone. These symptoms are common and are linked to natural hormonal changes that affect the brain and the body. Mental health challenges during menopause are often overlooked, even though this transitional period can bring increased symptoms of anxiety, depression, mood swings, and struggles with alcohol or substance use. Women with pre-existing conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may find their symptoms intensifying during perimenopause and menopause.
Isobel, a 48-year-old professional living in NYC, came to therapy feeling unusually anxious and fatigued. She initially thought it was just the stress of her job and life transitions, but over time, she realized her mood swings and irritability were intensified by hormonal changes associated with perimenopause. In therapy, Isobel explored both the external pressures in her life—career changes and family responsibilities—and the internal shifts brought on by hormones. Through a combination of somatic therapy and mindfulness practices, she learned to notice how tension and stress showed up in her body, release stored trauma, and develop strategies to manage her emotions.
Over time, Isobel also recognized growing dissatisfaction in her marriage. Therapy helped her examine her feelings honestly, set boundaries, and explore what changes might be necessary to cultivate greater fulfillment and alignment in her personal life, alongside managing her emotional and hormonal shifts. She also noticed that her ability to tolerate situations, compromises, or patterns that no longer served her had lessened, allowing her to prioritize her well-being and make clearer decisions about her relationships.