Menopause is a significant transition, yet for many women, it can feel like a lonely and overwhelming experience. Beyond the well-known physical symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats, there’s often an emotional toll. This can include increased anxiety, sleep disruption and the feeling that your body is no longer your own.
At Priory Wellbeing Centre Southampton, we recognise that while menopause is a biological process, the way we experience it is deeply linked to our stress levels and thought patterns. Our specialist 6-week menopause course uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help you regain control and improve your quality of life.
Why use CBT for menopause?
It’s a common misconception that CBT is only for mental health conditions. In reality, CBT for menopause symptoms is a highly effective, evidence-based tool for managing physical discomfort.
Research shows that symptoms like hot flushes can feel significantly worse during periods of high stress. CBT teaches you paced breathing and relaxation techniques that physically calm the nervous system, making these episodes feel less intense and easier to live with. By changing how you think about and respond to your symptoms, you can reduce their impact on your day-to-day wellbeing.
CBT for menopause symptoms can support:
- Targeted symptom management: A six-session course focusing specifically on managing hot flushes, night sweats and related symptoms
- A practical toolkit: You’ll learn evidence-based tools such as paced breathing, relaxation techniques and cognitive coping strategies
- Stress reduction: By reducing the impact of stress, the programme helps to improve your day-to-day wellbeing and emotional resilience
- Holistic support: We address both the physical symptoms and the emotional changes that often accompany menopause
- Flexible care: This approach is suitable as a standalone strategy or can be used alongside existing medications
- Shared experience: The supportive group setting provides reassurance and a shared understanding that you’re not alone in this transition
Join our expert psychiatrist, Priory's Dr Sheetal Sirohi, as she discusses the link between menopause and mental health.
What to expect: the six-session programme
The course takes place in a small group of up to 10 women who are all experiencing menopause and facing similar challenges. It’s held in a calm, supportive environment at our Southampton Wellbeing Centre. Over six 90-minute sessions, we move through a structured curriculum led by two experienced female facilitators.
- Session 1: Introduction to CBT and a clinical look at menopause symptoms
- Session 2: Stress management techniques and prioritising your wellbeing
- Session 3: Mastering relaxed breathing to manage hot flushes ’in the moment’
- Sessions 4 and 5: Deep-diving into night sweats and strategies for improving sleep quality
- Session 6: Progress review and building a toolkit for your future
As a final step, we offer an individual follow-up session to reflect on your progress and ensure you have a clear plan moving forward.
Who can benefit from menopause group therapy?
This programme is designed for biologically female women experiencing perimenopause or menopause. It’s particularly effective if you:
- Find hot flushes and night sweats difficult to manage in professional or social settings
- Are navigating mood swings, increased stress or a sense of isolation
- Want to complement your current medical treatment with practical, evidence-based coping skills
- Would benefit from connecting with a small group of women (up to 10) who truly understand your experience
Specialist care in Southampton
What sets this course apart is the calibre of expertise behind it. Our facilitators include a qualified CBT therapist and an integrative therapist, ensuring a holistic approach to your care.
Critically, one of our facilitators is also accredited by the British Menopause Society (BMS). This accreditation is the gold standard in the UK, ensuring that the support you receive is based on the latest clinical research and best practice menopause care.
Choosing a local, in-person group in Hampshire allows for genuine connection. Many women find that the ‘power of the group’ is just as healing as the therapy itself, providing a space where you can speak openly and feel truly heard.
How to join
We aim to make our specialist support as accessible as possible for women across the South Coast.
- Cost: The course is £85 per session for self-funding participants, or you can access it through private medical insurance (PMI). If you plan to use PMI, outpatient group rates will apply and you will need to secure authorisation from your insurer before starting the course.
- Location: Priory Wellbeing Centre Southampton, located conveniently for those in Southampton, Eastleigh and the surrounding Hampshire area.
Take control of your menopause journey
You don’t have to ‘just get on with’ distressing symptoms. Whether you’re looking for menopause support in Southampton as a standalone treatment or to work alongside your current medication, our 6-week programme offers a practical, compassionate path forward.
