Mental Health, Hormones, And Midlife – An Integrative Approach To Perimenopause And Beyond

23 Jul 2026, 9:30 am – 11:00 am NZST Have you found yourself feeling more anxious, overwhelmed, irritable, emotional, forgetful, or simply not like yourself lately? For many women, the years leading up to menopause can bring significant changes in mood, energy, focus, sleep, and emotional wellbeing. Yet these experiences are often misunderstood, dismissed.. or just blamed on stress and the demands of everyday life. In this empowering online workshop, Dr Marissa will explore the powerful connection between hormones, mental health, and overall wellbeing during perimenopause and menopause. Taking an integrative, whole-person approach, she will also talk about the important links between perimenopause, PMS, PMDD, and ADHD, helping participants understand why symptoms can emerge, worsen, or change during times of hormonal transition. Drawing on the latest evidence and a lifestyle medicine framework, Dr Marissa will unpack the different factors that influence mental wellbeing in midlife, and translate complex science into practical, real-world strategies that can help support your mood, resilience, focus, sleep, energy, and quality of life. Whether you’re navigating your own hormonal journey, supporting someone you care about, working with women in midlife, or simply wanting to better understand the changes that can occur during this stage of life, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of what is happening in your body and mind—and practical tools to help you feel more informed, empowered, and in control. About Dr Marissa Dr Marissa is a New Zealand-trained General Practitioner and Fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners with advanced training in menopause care, lifestyle medicine, nutritional and metabolic health, personalised medicine, and environmental medicine. She is currently completing Fellowship with the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. Her work bridges conventional primary care and evidence-based integrative medicine, with a particular focus on women’s health and hormonal wellbeing. Passionate about making complex health information accessible and actionable, Dr Marissa helps women understand the many factors that influence their physical and mental health, empowering them to make meaningful and sustainable changes. Based in beautiful Mohua/Golden Bay, she works with patients throughout Aotearoa via her telehealth clinic and is dedicated tohelping women regain confidence, clarity, and a sense of control over their health so they can thrive through midlife and beyond.