Perimenopause Assessment: How We Identify What’s Hormonal, What’s NotPerimenopause symptoms often overlap with anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma responses, and nervous system dysregulation, which is why thoughtful assessment matters so much.In this episode of Her Body in Mind, Dr. Ciera Fox, Naturopathic Doctor, and Amanda Sarich, Clinical Counsellor, walk through how clinicians approach assessment during perimenopause and how we begin to understand which symptoms are connected to hormonal changes and which may be coming from other sources.We talk about:Why perimenopause is often misdiagnosed or minimizedHow hormone changes can intensify existing mental health patterns. The role of stress, trauma history, and nervous system regulation. What assessment actually looks like in real life, not just lab work. Why “it’s just hormones” is often an incomplete explanation.This episode is designed to help you make sense of your symptoms, ask more informed questions, and feel more confident advocating for yourself in medical and mental health settings.Disclaimer:This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric care. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.Content Note:Discussion includes hormone changes, mental health symptoms, trauma, and assessment processes.Clarity matters; understanding what’s contributing to your symptoms can change the path forward.

Perimenopause, Explained: What’s Actually Happening in Your Body.

Perimenopause can feel confusing, frustrating, and, honestly, a little scary, especially when no one ever explained what it actually is. In this episode of Her Body in Mind, best friends Dr. Ciera Fox, Naturopathic Doctor, and Amanda Sarich, Clinical Counsellor, break down what perimenopause really means, what’s happening hormonally in your body, and why so many women feel dismissed or misunderstood during this stage of life. We talk about: What perimenopause actually is, and what it’s notCommon symptoms, emotional, mental, and physicalWhy mood changes, anxiety, rage, sleep issues, and brain fog are so commonHow hormones, the nervous system, and mental health are deeply connectedWhy women are so often told “everything looks normal” when it doesn’t feel that wayThis conversation is educational, validating, and grounded in both clinical experience and lived reality. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this perimenopause… or am I just losing it?” this episode is for you.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, psychological, or psychiatric care. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.

Content Note: Discussion includes hormone changes, mood symptoms, anxiety, and mental health.

You’re not broken, your body is changing, and understanding it matters.

Welcome to the very first episode of Her Body in Mind.

In this opening conversation, we introduce ourselves, Ciera Fox, Naturopathic Doctor, and Amanda Sarich, Clinical Counsellor, and share the story behind why we created this podcast.

We have been best friends for 27 years, and over the years we have worked together and separately in clinical settings, combining naturopathic medicine, hormone health, and physical health care with trauma-informed counselling and mental health support. Through this work, we found ourselves having the same conversations with women again and again, about hormones, stress, nervous systems, mental health, and the gaps within the healthcare system, conversations we wished more women had access to.

Her Body in Mind was created to bring those conversations beyond the therapy room and clinic walls.

This podcast is a space for honest, accessible conversations about women’s health, hormones, mental health, trauma, nervous system regulation, and the ways women are often missed, dismissed, or misunderstood within the healthcare system. We blend clinical expertise, lived experience, and real-life stories to help women better understand the connection between their bodies and minds, and to feel less alone in their experiences.

This episode sets the foundation for what’s to come and why this work matters so deeply to us.

Topics Covered
Women’s health, hormone health, mental health, trauma, nervous system, anxiety, counselling, naturopathic medicine, integrative healthcare, women’s wellness, mind-body connection, healthcare system.

Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, psychological, or mental health care.

Thank you for being here, and we can’t wait for the episodes ahead.

Her Body in Mind is where a naturopathic doctor and clinical counsellor come together to help women understand their bodies, their minds, and everything in between. Weekly honest conversations about women’s health, the symptoms you’ve been told to ignore, and the body-mind connection.