Simona Stokes is an experienced counselling psychologist who uses CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) to help people with stress, depression and anxiety. After 20 years working in the NHS and voluntary sector, she then founded her own clinic in Birmingham, and has developed an interest and specialist knowledge in helping women with the emotional and psychological challenges of the peri/menopause. Simona’s personal experience of hormonal changes hit her hard and this led her to develop and successfully implement the psychological tools she had at her disposal to support her own journey and made her realise many women need help to understand the impact their hormones have on their moods, thoughts and emotions.
In discussion with Dr Louise Newson, Simona explains the power of estrogen as our primary fuel and the problems that can arise when estrogen falls. She explains the difference in perimenopausal depression compared to general depression, what CBT is and how it can help women at this time of life that can often be a pinch-point on our emotions. Simona advises how to look after yourself and your emotions and elaborates on why so many women feel a sense of loss of one’s role, of identity, and loss of purpose at this time.
Simona’s advice for women experiencing emotional challenges:
Simona’s clinic and website details can be found here.
The ‘Meno D’ rating scale to detect depression that Simona refers to can be found here.
If you would like to access psychological therapies via the NHS explore your options here.
You can find Simona on her social media pages a:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/menopausecbtclinic/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ThrivingBeyond40
098 - Davina McCall: Making a menopause documentary left me in tears
097 - Trying to right 20 years of misinformation and hysteria about HRT - Professor Rob Langer and Dr Louise Newson
096 - I have taken HRT for nearly 50 years and won’t ever stop it - Kay Anderson and Dr Louise Newson
095 - The Lorraine effect: menopause in the public eye. Lorraine Kelly and Dr Louise Newson
094 - Breast cancer treatments induced my menopause: what help is there now? - Caroline and Dr Louise Newson
093 - The midlife method to losing weight and feeling great - Sam Rice and Dr Louise Newson
092 - Menopause care and education in the United States and Britain - Heather Hirsch and Dr Louise Newson
091 - Being Young & Menopausal - Hayley Etherington & Dr Louise Newson
090 - Talking About Menopause with Women From Ethnic Minorities - Rushna Mia & Dr Louise Newson
089 - The Benefits of HRT - Professor Isaac Manyonda & Dr Louise Newson
088 - Endometriosis and the Menopause - Chris Mann & Dr Louise Newson
087 - Menopause Education for GPs - Dr Tosin Taiwo & Dr Louise Newson
086 - Lockdown & Weight Loss - Emma Ellice-Flint & Dr Louise Newson
085 - Medical Menopause - Emma McAuley & Dr Louise Newson
084 - Menopause and Health - Dr Annice Mukherjee & Dr Louise Newson
083 - The Importance of Lifestyle During the Menopause - Amanda Thebe & Dr Louise Newson
082 - The Personal & Professional Costs of the Menopause - Chris Oglesby & Dr Louise Newson
081 - Pilates & the Menopause - Dinah Siman & Dr Louise Newson
080 - ”How My Work Was Affected by the Menopause” - Kate Halfpenny & Dr Louise Newson
079 - Media & the Menopause - Nadia Sawalha & Dr Louise Newson
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Good Mood Revolution
The Relaxback UK Show
Your Sleep Guru Podcast
Anxiety Slayer™ with Shann and Ananga
Nothing much happens: bedtime stories to help you sleep
The Gary Null Show