Menopause isn’t just about hot flashes — for many women, the first signs are burnout, anxiety, or brain fog. In this post, LMFT Julie Cardoza shares how trauma-informed therapy, EMDR, and a mind-body approach can support emotional health during midlife.

“ There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”— Maya Angelou   One of the menopause I rarely get political, but...

I’m a trauma-informed therapist—and I’m unmasking midlife.You may not know it, but last Friday marked a transformative moment in women’s health—and I don’t just mean hormones. I’m talking about whole-body health: mind, body, and spirit. For decades, women have been handed prescriptions, shame, or silence when it comes to midlife change. But on Friday, July 18, 2025, the FDA made a move that shifts the conversation.

As the summer solstice approaches—the longest day of the year and a symbolic peak of the element of fire, illumination, and transformation—I find myself reflecting on a theme I hear often from clients and colleagues:

Anxiety can emerge at any stage of life—but during midlife and perimenopause, it often arrives in unexpected waves. For many women, this chapter brings profound shifts—physiological, emotional, hormonal, and relational. If you're noticing increased anxiety, irritability, or overwhelm, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken.