Grief is one of the most human experiences we share. It is powerful, unpredictable, and deeply personal. Yet many people do not realize just how differently grief can unfold in the lives of neurodivergent folks, especially those with ADHD or Autism. At Inner Ocean Therapy, I often hear clients say they feel like they are grieving the wrong way or that their reactions do not look like the grief they see in other people. They worry they are falling behind or missing something important.

Perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause, can be one of the most disorienting yet transformative chapters in a woman’s life. Hormones shift, bodies change, and emotional waves can rise without warning. You may find yourself saying, “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

Midlife is often painted as a time of crisis or decline, but in reality, it’s a profound season of transition—a threshold between what has been and what is still emerging. For many women, this stage brings both beauty and intensity: raising teens, supporting aging parents, navigating perimenopause, and juggling work, relationships, and the changing landscape of one’s own identity.

It can feel like being stretched in every direction, with little time to pause and catch your breath. You may find yourself asking, “Where do I fit in all of this?”

At Inner Ocean Therapy, I often meet women who come to therapy in midlife not because something has gone wrong, but because so much is happening at once. Therapy can be a place to slow down, gather yourself, and learn how to move through this complex stage with more clarity, compassion, and care.

Healing from trauma, grief, or life transitions often feels like a complex journey. Sometimes it’s not just the painful memories themselves, but how they ripple through your nervous system, your thoughts, and your relationships. EMDR therapy is a powerful tool for helping the brain process these experiences, and when combined with mindfulness and self-compassion, it can create deep, lasting transformation.

At Inner Ocean Therapy in Portland, I work with clients who are ready to approach their healing with gentleness, curiosity, and presence. Whether you’re navigating relational trauma, complicated grief, or the emotional weight of life transitions, integrating EMDR with mindfulness and self-compassion offers a holistic path toward freedom and resilience.

Menopause is often discussed in terms of physical symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and fatigue. These experiences are real, disruptive, and deserve attention. Yet what many women are not prepared for, and what is rarely spoken about, is the emotional weight of menopause. Beneath the surface of changing hormones lies another profound reality: the grief of menopause.

This grief can catch women off guard. It is not only about the end of menstruation or fertility, but also about identity, relationships, and how we experience ourselves in a culture that prizes youth and productivity. Menopause is both a biological milestone and a deeply personal life transition. By acknowledging its complexity, we can begin to move through it with compassion rather than self-judgment.

Perimenopause is a natural part of life, but for many women it can feel anything but natural. Hot flashes, disrupted sleep, mood swings, and changes in energy can leave you feeling like a stranger in your own body. Beyond the physical symptoms, perimenopause often brings emotional and relational challenges. You may find yourself asking, Who am I now? or Why do I feel so different?

Life has a way of surprising us. Sometimes transitions are welcome, like starting a new relationship, becoming a parent, or landing a dream job. Other times, change can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you, such as divorce, the loss of a loved one, or an unexpected health diagnosis. Even when a transition is positive, it often brings uncertainty, stress, or a sense of identity loss.