Menopause and Mental Health: How Calgary Women Are Finding Relief Through Therapy
Menopause isn’t just a physical change — it’s an emotional journey that can leave many women feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or even lost. While hot flashes and sleep disruption are well-known symptoms, mental health challenges during menopause often go undiscussed — and untreated.
At Shelley Qualtieri & Associates, our dedicated therapists, including Lorena Koenig, MSW, RSW, specialize in helping women navigate the emotional rollercoaster of menopause, chronic pain, and midlife transitions. With in-person therapy in Calgary and virtual sessions across Alberta and Ontario, compassionate support is within reach — and it can be life-changing.
If you’re searching for therapy for menopause, support for hormonal shifts, or mental health therapy for midlife women, this guide is for you.
Understanding Menopause: More Than a Physical Transition
Menopause typically begins between ages 45–55, marking the natural end of menstruation. What many don’t realize is that perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause) can bring dramatic hormonal changes that impact:
- Mood and emotional regulation
- Sleep and energy levels
- Cognitive function (brain fog)
- Anxiety and depression
- Irritability and frustration
- Self-esteem and body image
These symptoms often emerge before periods stop and may persist afterward. Many women feel confused or blindsided — especially when emotional issues crop up for the first time.
How Hormonal Shifts Affect Mental Health
During perimenopause and menopause, the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone fluctuates and declines. These hormones don’t just regulate reproduction — they affect neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which influence mood, sleep, and mental clarity. (Source)
Common emotional and psychological symptoms include:
- Depression – feelings of hopelessness, sadness, disconnection
- Anxiety – racing thoughts, panic, excessive worry
- Irritability or rage – heightened reactivity to stress
- Brain fog – memory lapses, poor concentration
- Insomnia – disrupted sleep that worsens mood and energy
- Loss of identity – grieving changes in body, role, or fertility
These aren’t "all in your head" — they’re biologically real, and therapy can help.
The Importance of Therapy During Menopause
Menopause is often a time of major life shifts: parenting teens, caring for aging parents, navigating relationship challenges, or questioning career goals. Combined with hormonal changes, it’s no surprise that many women feel like they’re falling apart.
Therapy offers more than a listening ear — it provides tools to cope, strategies to regulate emotions, and space to rediscover your strength.
Working with a therapist who understands the mental, emotional, and physical complexity of menopause can help you:
- Reduce anxiety and panic symptoms
- Process grief or identity shifts
- Strengthen relationships and boundaries
- Cope with chronic pain or fatigue
- Build emotional resilience and self-compassion
Meet Lorena Koenig, MSW, RSW – Calgary Therapist for Menopause & Midlife Mental Health
At Shelley Qualtieri & Associates, Lorena Koenig brings a warm, evidence-based approach to her work with women 40+, adults, couples, and teens 16+. She specializes in supporting clients through:
- Menopause and perimenopause
- Chronic pain and invisible illness
- Hormonal mood changes
- Life transitions, burnout, and grief
- Emotional regulation for teens and adults
Lorena offers in-person therapy in Calgary and virtual sessions across Alberta and Ontario, making her accessible for busy professionals, caregivers, and those in rural areas.
Her clients describe her as empathetic, deeply knowledgeable, and empowering — someone who truly understands what it means to go through menopause in today’s fast-paced world.
📣 “…who truly understands the real-life challenges women face during menopause in today’s busy, modern world.”
📣“…who gets what it’s like to manage the ups and downs of menopause while juggling life’s many demands.”
Why Choose Shelly Qualtieri & Associates for Menopause Support?
When you’re seeking therapy for menopause or midlife emotional changes, you need more than general mental health care — you need a specialized team that recognizes the connection between hormones, life transitions, and emotional wellness.
What Makes Us Different:
- Menopause-Informed Therapy: Our therapists stay current on the neurobiology of hormonal changes, integrating that knowledge into real-world support.
- Compassionate, Non-Judgmental Care: We know how isolating this experience can be. Our practice is a safe space to feel seen and heard.
- Multi-Disciplinary Expertise: In addition to Lorena Koenig’s expertise, Shelly Qualtieri & Associates offers therapy for individuals, couples, teens, and families — ensuring whole-life support.
- Flexible Access: We offer in-person sessions in Calgary and online therapy across Alberta — ideal for those balancing careers, caregiving, or rural living.
- Client-Centred Approach: We tailor therapy to your unique body, story, and goals — no cookie-cutter solutions.
Lorena Koenig, MSW, RSW, is a Calgary-based registered social worker. She draws on evidence-based practices—including DBT, CBT, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy—to support clients in navigating complex emotional landscapes. Lorena is
passionate about holistic healing and brings warmth, insight, and a dash of humour to every session.
