Menopause can shake a woman’s sense of self, yet support is often hard to find. With the new Menopause Café in Maidenhead opening space for honest conversation, more women are exploring how compassionate, person‑centred therapy can help them navigate the emotional and identity shifts of this transition.

Many people come to therapy wanting to understand the emotional patterns they’ve carried from childhood. Exploring our parents or caregivers can gently reveal where these responses began — not to blame, but to understand ourselves with more clarity, compassion, and choice.

Retroactive jealousy can appear when a partner’s past feels uncomfortably present, stirring comparison, insecurity, or old fears. It’s a deeply human experience that can place strain on relationships, but with space to explore what sits underneath these feelings, therapy can help people reconnect with the present rather than feeling pulled into the past.

Many older adults experience emotional challenges, yet they’re under‑represented in therapy. In my practice, I’ve noticed how practical barriers, generational attitudes and unfamiliarity with counselling can all play a role. This article explores those factors with curiosity, and gently invites support at any age.