Health Practitioners

Western Australia

Deborah Fleck

Psychologist

We all know that menopause is a natural stage of life, affecting most woman during their forties and fifties. But just because this stage of life is natural, it doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park for everyone, and not every woman has a shared experience. For some women, menopause can feel like a roller-coaster ride, or a bungie jump!

Symptoms linked to menopause include:

  • physical symptoms – hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain, sleep disturbance, tiredness

  • psychological/emotional symptoms – anxiety, low mood, irritability, fuzzy head, feeling stressed and overwhelmed, feeling fed up.  

All this at a time when you may already be juggling other life demands with work, family, and ageing parents. Or perhaps you are experiencing life-stage changes such as your children becoming independent, or changes in your relationship with your partner. Perhaps you are trying to manage your menopause symptoms in a workplace that’s not quite menopause friendly.

With all this going on, is it any wonder many women can feel afraid, angry, sad, confused or alone during menopause? A number of women can experience the whole gamut of emotions in one day and then worry that they will never feel their ‘normal’ self again. But it doesn’t have to be like this.

My purpose in setting up Menopause Psychological Services is to support women navigate the perimenopause and post-menopause transition. I offer a personal psychological service to help you:

  • make sense of thoughts and feelings that may surface during this time   

  • make time for yourself without feeling guilty

  • learn techniques that help you let go of the pressure to ‘do everything’

  • learn strategies to help gain back a sense of control

  • feel confident that the next chapter of life can have meaning and purpose.

I recognise that we are all unique in our experiences and in our physical and psychological make-up. As women, we can read all the literature on menopause, but as the literature is written for a broad audience, it can’t accommodate individual needs and approaches. Menopause is a uniquely personal experience and can be many different things to many different women. Talking about your own experience to a qualified psychologist can help you explore what menopause means to you.

I believe in conversation, talking through processes, fears and experiences together to find a shared understanding of what you are experiencing and how you would like to manage it. I support the use of evidence-based strategies, to help you navigate and manage your menopause in your own way.

Deb Fleck - psychologist, partner, mother, post-menopausal woman

Deborah sees clients in-person and via Telehealth.

Federica Zamboni

Psychologist and Clinical Psychosexual Therapist

My name is Federica, I am a registered Psychologist and Sexologist and the Director of Tailoring Therapy.

In my years of being a therapist, I have developed the belief that psychological interventions and therapy should be tailored to the person's uniqueness. In my approach, I aim to provide knowledge and education, develop awareness, and encourage change, if that is what you are seeking.

I believe therapy shouldn’t feel like a rigid corset or tight pants, but like something that can be moulded and shaped to suit you and where you are at, both mentally and physically. Just like the same piece of fabric will fit differently on different people, the same goes for therapy. Together we will work on creating the perfect fit.

Tailoring Therapy was born from all of this. I personally discovered that change comes differently to different people and before it can happen, one has to gain new knowledge and awareness about themselves. Be ready to stop, adapt, modify, and resume the journey over time, to find your “perfect fit”.

Federica sees clients in-person and via Telehealth.

So you’ve landed here, looking for some support.

You may be in midlife and buckling under the many demands placed upon you; financial and career pressure, caring responsibilities etc… If so, I bet you fantasise about being left alone, in your own home, to muddle about and do whatever YOU feel like doing in that moment. Or maybe your thing is to run away and having your own Eat, Pray, Love experience. It just gets all a bit too much, doesn’t it.

Then again, maybe it’s not so much the demands of midlife but the ‘normal’ (but often painful) life events. You know … the one’s that hurt your heart a little or a lot (even if for some, you are looking forward to them?) Like supporting kids through casual jobs, driving lessons, ATAR, leaving school, working, uni, leaving home etc…and then ageing parents or parents who pass away. I’m sure there’s more but geez, any of those are enough.

Perhaps you’re peri or post-menopausal (or wondering if you’ve even begun down this road) and in a haze of brain fog, memory challenges, joint pain, hot flushes, irritability (perhaps even meno-rage), teariness, overwhelm and confusion. If so, you’re probably wondering where that capable and resilient woman has gone. You know … the ‘YOU’ before all this stuff cropped up.

And/or maybe you’re wondering if you’re an ADHDer. You can’t concentrate / focus, you can’t remember things, you can’t organise, plan or implement. Perhaps these things haven’t ever been your strong suit and as such, they’ve always taken a fair bit of effort. But hey, you’ve had strategies and systems to stay on top of things (mostly) even if you felt constantly overwhelmed, exhausted and chaotic on the inside. And so you wonder. Is it burnout? Is it perimenopause? Is it ADHD? Not knowing, is beginning to bug you more and more.

Well, I’ve supported many women with all of these things going on. Like LOTS of women. To be honest, I’ve learned the most useful stuff from them. But in case this matters to you, I will let you know this …

I’ve done a lot of learning in these areas; independent of one another as well as the intersection of two or all three. And that’s on top of my nearly 30 years working with women with trauma, relationship issues and separation/divorce, sexual difficulties, perinatal adjustment and parenting.

And in case you’re wondering why I’m so interested in this ‘area’ … well my 40’s have been filled with a few highs and lows. Perhaps the greatest ‘surprise’ was my own experience of perimenopause. Add to that a formal diagnosis of burnout AND a late diagnosis of ADHD and yep, it’s been a bit of a ride AND a steep learning curve. Funnily enough it’s the gift of hyperfocus that comes with being an ADHDer that’s driven me to deep dive and learn all about these experiences. Because I can’t help if all I’m drawing from is my own life experience. But it does mean I understand how discombobulating these experiences are. (In fact, I’ve never used the word discombobulating so much until this stage of life!) 

I want you to know that I truly believe midlife women are amazing. Seriously. You may not feel it right now. But you are and I would love to help you her.

So if I sound like the psych you’d like to work with, reach out. You can make a booking below.

Kirstin sees clients in-person and via Telehealth.

Clients with a compliant Referral Letter and Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) will be eligible for Medicare Rebates. Should you wish to be rebated by your Private Health Fund instead, please check with your Health Fund if you have the appropriate cover.

JOIN KIRSTIN’S WAITLIST BELOW

Kirstin Bouse

Clinical and Forensic Psychologist

Kirstin’s books are closed for therapy clients until February 2025. If you wish, you can complete the form below to be added to her waitlist for psychological therapy / treatment.

She has capacity for a few clients seeking an ADHD Screening Process. If you’re interested, please complete the form below.

If you are not experiencing mental health issues, you may wish to consider Kirstin’s 12-Week Coaching Program ‘Embracing the Madness and Magic of Perimenopause’ which begins in February 2025.

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