Psychological therapies can help physical symptoms where there is theory and evidence of a mind-body connection. Vasomotor symptoms or night sweats and hot flushes are amenable to change with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) groupwork or one-to-one sessions for many but not all people. Sleep problems can be improved by CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I). Psychological support using CBT and/or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help issues with low or depressed mood. CBT informed menopause-related psychological support expects practice between sessions but the work can be tried, is effective for some and has no adverse effects [1]. 

My tentative and shared holistic (biopsychosocialspiritualsexual) psychological formulation with clients can identify and recognise the complex psychological, biological and social factors affecting an individual’s experiences including life stress, menopause-ing and ageist social attitudes. My scope of practice includes menopause-related psychological support (CBT informed) including psychoeducation on the menopause and brief cognitive behavioural interventions informed by research on the contexts of more severe symptoms [2, 3, 4, 5] within my integrative counselling psychology practice. My continuing professional development includes Menopause from NHS Education for Scotland, self-directed learning of Managing Hot Flushes with Group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, an evidence-based treatment manual for health professionals [6] and supervised client work in training and as a Counselling Psychologist. 

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline 23 recommends that menopause-specific CBT is an option to be considered, by healthcare professionals, on its own, where other options are contraindicated and in addition to other management options, including HRT [7]. Tentative enquiries if you are an applied psychologist, therapist or counsellor looking for one-off or regular supervision of client work, are welcomed.  

References

1     Hunter M. Cognitive behavioural therapy. In: Hamoda H, editor. Management of the menopause. 7th ed. British Menopause Society; 2026. p. 173-182.

2     Ayers B, Mann E, Hunter MS. A randomised controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy for women with problematic menopausal hot flushes: MENOS 2 trial protocol. BMJ Open. 2011;1(1):e000047.

3     Hunter MS, Chilcot J. Is cognitive behaviour therapy an effective option for women who have troublesome menopausal symptoms? Br J Health Psychol. 2021;26(3):697-708.

4     Green SM, Donegan E, Frey BN, Fedorkow DM, Key BL, Streiner DL, et al. Cognitive behaviour therapy for menopausal symptoms (CBT-Meno): a randomised controlled trial. Menopause. 2019;26(9):972-80.

5     McCurry SM, Guthrie KA, Morin CM, Woods NF, Landis CA, Ensrud KE, et al. Telephone-based cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms: a MsFLASH randomised clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(7):913-20.

6     Hunter M, Smith M. Managing Hot Flushes with Group Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: An Evidence-Based Treatment Manual for Health Professionals. London: Routledge; 2015.

7      National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Menopause: identification and management [Internet]. London: NICE; 2015 [updated 2026; cited 2026 Aug 18]. (NICE Guideline NG23). Available from:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23