Understanding the Mind-Body Connection
PERIMENOPAUSE & MENOPAUSE
Managing Mental Health During
Perimenopause & Menopause
Understanding the Mind-Body Connection.
Did you know that changes in hormone levels during menopause and perimenopause can contribute to depression, anxiety, mood swings, hot flashes, and sleep disturbances? These shifts can feel overwhelming — both physically and emotionally — but with the right care and support, balance and relief are possible.
At Elliott Counseling Group, our team offers compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals navigating the mental health impacts of menopause, perimenopause, and hormonal changes. While we do not provide hormone management, our providers use behavioral health strategies and psychotropic medications, including SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), to help manage mood fluctuations and sleep disruptions related to hormonal transitions.
How Hormonal Changes Affect Mental Health
During perimenopause and menopause, the body experiences natural decreases in estrogen and progesterone — hormones that influence key neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These fluctuations can affect both emotional and cognitive wellbeing, leading to symptoms such as:
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Mood swings, irritability, or increased anxiety
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Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or lack of motivation
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Difficulty concentrating or memory “fog”
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Changes in sleep patterns or fatigue
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Increased stress sensitivity
These symptoms are not “all in your head” — they’re part of how the body and brain respond to hormonal transition. Understanding this connection allows our team to provide care that’s both compassionate and scientifically grounded.
HOW CAN ELLIOTT COUNSELING GROUP HELP?
Our clinicians take a holistic approach that considers your full health history — including gynecological background, ADHD, and lifestyle factors — to create a treatment plan that supports both mind and body. Among our providers, Meegan Leech, PMHNP, CNM, brings extensive experience in gynecological care and behavioral health, bridging medical and mental health perspectives to promote well-being through every stage of life.
If you’re experiencing mood changes, sleep challenges, or other common symtomns related to menopause or perimenopause, therapy and thoughtful medication management can make a real difference.
MEET MEGAN LEECH, PMHNP, CNM
Our Nurse Practitioners provide compassionate, individualized medication management services to support your mental health and overall wellness.
MEGAN LEECH
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER
LOCATION: URBANA & TELEHEALTH
She/Her/Hers
Meegan Leech brings a rare and valuable perspective to this area of care. As both a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), she bridges the gap between gynecological physical health and mental health — offering compassionate, evidence-based care for those experiencing hormonal transitions, and other common menopause and perimenopause symptoms.
Her approach is collaborative and patient-centered, grounded in empathy, education, and empowerment. Meegan works with clients to understand their symptoms, identify root causes, and create sustainable treatment plans that restore a sense of balance, confidence, and vitality.
Medication Management and SSRI Treatment
Our psychiatric nurse practitioners, including Meegan Leech, PMHNP, CNM, specialize in using psychotropic medications such as SSRIs to ease the mental and physical symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.
SSRIs can help:
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Regulate mood and reduce irritability
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Relieve anxiety and depression
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Improve sleep and reduce night sweats
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Support emotional stability and energy
While hormone replacement therapy isn’t offered at Elliott Counseling Group, SSRIs and other psychotropic medications can provide meaningful relief for clients experiencing the psychological and physiological effects of hormonal transition.
Each treatment plan is individualized, with careful monitoring, education, and collaboration between our clients and providers.
Therapy and Behavioral Health Support
Therapy plays an essential role in navigating midlife changes with confidence and self-compassion.
Our therapists work with clients to address the emotional, cognitive, and relational aspects of menopause and perimenopause.
Therapy can help you:
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Process changes in mood, identity, or body image
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Learn stress management and mindfulness strategies
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Improve communication and relationships
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Build healthy routines around sleep, nutrition, and movement
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Develop tools to cope with anxiety, irritability, or grief
Combining therapy with medication management provides a holistic, whole-person path to wellness.
CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS
Have questions about perimenopause and menopause symptoms relief? We’d love to hear from you. Our team is happy to provide details about starting services with us.
Take the Next Step Toward Relief and Balance
Perimenopause and menopause can bring physical, emotional, and mental health challenges — but you don’t have to face them alone. These transitions can affect your sleep, mood, energy, and daily functioning, and it’s normal to need support along the way.
At Elliott Counseling Group, we provide comprehensive care that honors your mind, body, and emotions during every stage of change. Our clinicians combine therapy, behavioral health strategies, and thoughtful medication management to help you regain balance, improve daily functioning, and reduce the impact of symptoms on your life.
We meet each client where they are, offering personalized, evidence-based interventions that empower you to navigate these changes with confidence, clarity, and a renewed sense of well-being.
Take the first step today toward relief and support — your health and comfort matter.
How do I get started?
Get In Touch With Client Care
Please call or email our Client Care department to get signed up.
Get Registered & Set-Up
Our client care representative can speak with you about the services we offer. Together, we’ll create a path toward greater balance, confidence, and well-being.
Get Started
Our skilled and empathetic staff will conduct a consultation at your first appointment with you. Together you will discuss your goals, medical history, side effects, and conduct appropriate labs.