You’ve landed here because you’re feeling anxious, emotional, exhausted, overwhelmed, or simply not like yourself anymore. You have found your place. A place where you’ll find empathy, compassion, hope and a little humour as you travel the bumpy road of menopause.I see you and I get it.

My name is Alison Maratos. I am a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist. Before I go any further, I want you to know something important about me first: supporting women through perimenopause and menopause through psychotherapy didn’t begin in a textbook for me. It began with my own experience.

A few years ago, I was living my life, balancing family, work and my own health and wellness, just like everyone else. Then one day I woke up and found myself facing unexpected perimenopausal physiological and emotional changes: anxiety I had never experienced before: anxiety and mood changes that didn’t feel like me, brain fog, self-doubt, disrupted sleep, and the unsettling feeling that I was somehow losing myself. This, combined with the expected life-stage changes that came from a gradually emptying nest and the need to support aging parents, I was, in short, overwhelmed, grumpy and tired most of the time.

Fast forward to finding a knowledgeable, empathic menopause practitioner who didn’t dismiss my symptoms and who helped me learn about the role of hormones, estrogen replacement therapy and develop a deeper understanding of the impact of menopause on my mind, body and spirit, I started to feel better. 

What surprised me most were the symptoms of menopause that fell outside of the commonly talked about night sweats, hot flashes and brain fog and how little they were talked about. The emotional and mental health changes that most women have never experienced to this depth before are particularly unsettling. Of course, given my profession, I took a deep dive into learning more about menopause and the impacts on mental and emotional health. 

Even as a therapist, I found it difficult to connect the dots. I realized that many women are left wondering whether they’re experiencing anxiety, depression, burnout, or something else entirely. Reports of being dismissed, feeling misunderstood, or told to simply “manage their stress” are the norm. To add insult to injury, there was very little research in my field about how psychotherapy can support women as they navigate ever-evolving physiological symptoms. 

That experience changed the direction of my practice. Today, I offer therapy for perimenopause and menopause because I understand this stage of life from both a professional and a personal perspective. While no two women’s experiences are the same, I know how isolating and frightening these changes can feel. Isolating because it feels like nobody gets it, and frightening because when you don’t feel like yourself most days, your relationships, career and ultimately your quality of life suffer. 

When we work together, my goal isn’t simply to help you cope. I want to help you understand what’s happening, reduce anxiety during menopause, rebuild your confidence, improve your emotional well-being, strengthen your relationships, and reconnect with the person you know yourself to be. I want to help you communicate your needs to the people in your world, and to spend some time thinking about what you really want for your “second half”.

Therapy also gives you something many women don’t realize they need: the confidence that comes from learning how to be a self-advocate. The validation you receive during therapy, as well as the development of skills to manage emotional health shifts will help you put words to your experience, communicate effectively with healthcare providers, and make informed decisions about your mental and physical health going forward.

I recognize that many therapists have never personally experienced perimenopause or menopause. While empathy and clinical skill are essential, there is something uniquely validating about working with someone who has lived through navigating the same questions, frustrations, and emotions. My lived experience doesn’t replace my professional expertise; it deepens it.

If you’re looking for menopause counselling, therapy for perimenopause, or support with women’s mental health in Ontario, I’d be honoured to help you. My hope is that you leave each session feeling heard, understood, empowered, and reassured that you haven’t lost yourself. I will help you understand how to navigate one of life’s biggest transitions, through learning more about what you really want and need at this stage of your life. I also want to help you to truly embrace the most precious gift that comes from the mid-life journey: the “zero f*$ks given” attitude that will help you gain perspective, choose where your energy goes, and audit your life so you can embrace the freedom that comes from saying no, setting boundaries and FINALLY living your life on your own terms.

Want a little more support as you navigate perimenopause or menopause?

Download Alison’s free resource below for practical information and support you can come back to anytime.

Perimenopause Mental Health Symptom Checklist