Therapists’ journeys through the menopause transition and their emergence as empowered practitioners

This study explores how menopausal symptoms impact person-centred counselors’ experiences during client sessions. Menopause is a significant life transition characterised by hormonal changes that can affect physical, cognitive and psychological wellbeing. Four semi-structured interviews were conducted with UK-based person-centered counselors who had experienced menopausal symptoms during client work. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), resulting in three overarching themes: The Menopause Journey, Experiencing Symptoms During Client Work, and Impact on Client Work. Although each participant’s experience was unique and access to reliable information and support was often limited, participants described their experiences as ultimately enhancing their therapeutic practice. Their accounts reflected a movement from confusion to understanding, silence to self-advocacy, and disconnection to greater relational presence. The findings suggest that, when navigated with curiosity, self-compassion and the core conditions of person-centered practice, lived experience of menopause can deepen therapeutic awareness and enrich the counseling relationship.