Something’s Different. You’re Not Losing It and You’re Not Alone
Maybe you cried at a commercial and then snapped at your family. Maybe you’re lying awake at 3am for no obvious reason, or you walked into a room and completely forgot why you were there…AGAIN. Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by life and are questioning everything.
Maybe you just feel off, and you’re starting to wonder if this is just who you are now. It’s not. And you’re not alone.
Perimenopause and menopause can turn your inner world upside down, and most women are completely blindsided by the emotional side of it. As a psychologist who works with women in the thick of this transition, I’m here to tell you; what you are feeling makes sense, there’s a reason for it, and there is real support available.
If Any of This Sounds Familiar, You’re in the Right Place
Perimenopause isn’t always obvious at first. For a lot of women, it sneaks up quietly, sometimes as early as your late 30’s, and shows up in ways that feel more emotional than physical. You might recognize yourself in some of these:
You’re more irritable than usual, and little things set you off in a way that surprises even you
Anxiety has crept in out of nowhere, or the anxiety you’ve always managed has gotten harder to handle
You feel sad or flat, and you’re not really sure why
Sleep has become a battle — falling asleep, staying asleep, or both
Your brain feels foggy and you’re forgetting things more than you used to
You’re exhausted in a way that a good night’s sleep (when you get one) doesn’t fix
You feel disconnected from yourself, like you’re not quite sure who you are right now
Your relationship with your body is shifting in ways that feel uncomfortable or unfamiliar
None of this means something is wrong with you. It means your hormones are changing, and your mind and body are feeling every bit of it. That’s exactly what we can work through together.
Here’s What Nobody Told You About Perimenopause/Menopause and Your Mental Health
The mood fluctuations, the anxiety, the “I don’t feel like myself” feeling… those are not personality flaws or signs that you can’t cope or are being dramatic. They’re connected to real, measurable changes in your brain chemistry. As estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, they affect the systems that regulate your mood, your sleep, and your stress response.
And here’s the part that often gets left out; this is all happening while you’re still showing up for everyone else. Still working, still taking care of your kids (often while they’re in puberty!), still looking out for your own parents, still taking care of your home, and still being the glue holding things together. No wonder you’re exhausted!
In our work together, we hold space and look at the whole picture. What’s happening in your body, what’s happening in your life, and what’s happening in your heart. Because it all matters and it is all important.
A Space That’s Just for You
Therapy with me is a place where you don’t have to be fine. You don’t have to minimize what you’re going through or wonder if you’re “bad enough” to need support. You can show up fully and come exactly as you are; tired, confused, frustrated, grieving, or just looking for someone who gets it.
Together, we’ll work on things like:
Making sense of what’s happening and why you’ve been feeling this way
Finding real, practical strategies for managing anxiety, mood swings, and sleeplessness
Processing the grief or identity shifts that can come with this season of life
Rebuilding your confidence and reconnecting with who you are.
Not who you used to be, but who you’re becoming
Exploring how stepping into this new phase of life can be an opportunity, energizing, and full of possibility
Learning to advocate for yourself with doctors, partners, employers, and anyone else who needs to hear it
Figuring out what you need, and actually asking for it
Whether you’re newly noticing changes or you’ve been struggling for a while, there’s no wrong time to reach out.
You’ve Been Taking Care of Everyone Else. Let’s Make Space for You.
You deserve to give yourself the care that you give everyone else in your life. So many women come to me after months, sometimes years, of quietly wondering if what they’re going through is real, or serious enough, or worth talking about. It is. You are.
This transition is significant. It deserves real attention, real compassion, and real support. Not just a shrug and a “that’s just part of getting older.” You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it, and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
I’d love to be in your corner for this.
““Dr. Allison came highly recommended from a doctor who specializes in menopause to help support me during this stage of life. Dr. Allison is truly talented at understanding the complexities and subtleties of menopause which made our work together so much more impactful. I am truly grateful for her skill and compassion. My work with her has truly changed my life.””
““I started working with Dr. Kress feeling pretty depleted, overwhelmed, and unsure of myself and what I was going through. With her guidance and wisdom, I was able to shift how I think and feel in a way that felt real and authentic…like it was coming from somewhere deeper that I hadn’t been able to access on my own. She’s very easy to talk to and knows when to be honest about what you need to hear and when to show compassion. Working with Dr. Kress has had a positive, and meaningful impact on my life, and I’d absolutely recommend her.
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““Dr. Kress is like having a menopause best friend- an expert who gives you all of the mental health support, information and advice that you need to navigate this stage of life in a safe, confidential space. Dr. Kress is extremely knowledgeable and relatable, and was able to provide helpful information and direction in a warm and comfortable way. I always felt safe, heard and understood by her. I now feel excited and hopeful about my life instead of weighted down and at my wits end. I can’t thank Dr. Kress enough for helping me navigate through the mucky waters back into clarity and myself again. My husband says “run, don’t walk to see her”, which says it all!”
