Midlife & Menopause: A Threshold, Not a Decline
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
TAKING UP SPACE PODCAST
updated June 14, 2026
I recently sat down with Cassie Krajewski on her podcast Taking Up Space for a conversation about something I care about deeply: the idea that midlife and menopause are not a decline to be reversed, but a threshold to be crossed.
So much of the cultural script ties a woman's value to what she can produce — children, emotional labor, output.
Menopause disrupts that script, and the culture often frames the disruption as a problem to fix. I see it differently. I've started calling this stretch the mid journey, because there is a long, meaningful arc here — a season of becoming, not an ending.
Midlife, Menopause and Conversations about the Threshold
In our conversation, Cassie and I explored:
Why I work with midlife as a threshold — that in-between, liminal space where new beginnings grow out of endings, and why ritual and marking matter so much when we cross it
What's actually happening in the body — how shifting estrogen and progesterone recalibrate the nervous system, and why old coping strategies stop working the way they used to
The "window of vulnerability," and why a history of adversity or trauma can make this transition land harder in the brain, heart, and body
Nature-based ritual and the practice of impermanence — what I've learned from mandala and threshold work about letting go and being witnessed
Choosing quality of life over the longevity narrative — being present in the body you have, right now
I also shared my own story, including my surgical menopause in 2019 and how it sharpened my curiosity about this work. This is a conversation I'd offer to anyone in midlife, approaching it, or walking alongside someone who is.
🎧 Listen to "Midlife & Menopause as a Power Shift" on Taking Up Space with Cassie Krajewski — linked below.
References / Listen
Cardoza J, Krajewski C. Midlife & Menopause as a Power Shift with Julie Cardoza, LMFT. Taking Up Space with Cassie Krajewski, LCSW, CST.
Apple Podcasts (show): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-up-space-with-cassie-krajewski/id1745724135
Spotify (show): https://open.spotify.com/show/3UDwnyKp78yoPpCwAcxSon
Host's podcast page: https://www.inneratlastherapy.com/podcast
About the Author
Julie Cardoza, MS, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant specializing in Somatic EMDR, based in California. She is also an IWHI Certified Perimenopause/Menopause Health Coach and the founder of Heartscapes, LLC, where she offers holistic coaching and wellness programs for midlife women.
Julie works at the intersection of trauma, neurobiology, and hormonal transition, bringing a compassionate, body-based, and science-informed approach to healing and transformation during the menopause midjourney.
Disclaimer
The content on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute therapy, medical advice, or establish a therapeutic relationship. Reading this blog does not make you a client.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room. For professional support, consult with a licensed mental health provider in your area.
You are responsible for how you use the information shared here. This content reflects my professional perspective and lived experience but should not replace individualized care.
Land Acknowledgment
I acknowledge that I live and work on the traditional and ancestral lands of the Yokut and Mono peoples.
