This week, I’m joined by Venita Maciel, a licensed mental health counselor and coach, the first and only clinician certified in EMBERS Menopause-Informed CBT in the US.

A Learning and Integration Facilitator at the Menopause CBT Clinic, and founder of The Empowered Mind she is here to demystify menopause for us and educate us on the journey from perimenopause to post menopause and everywhere in between.

We talk about the physical symptoms, but also the mental, emotional, and relational shifts that come with this phase of life and how often women are left trying to figure it out on their own.

Hear what’s happening to you hormonally, why so many women feel unsupported in traditional medical settings, and what it looks like to approach this season with better information, stronger advocacy, and real support.

This is a conversation about understanding what’s changing, taking yourself seriously, and having better tools to move through it.

3 Things You’ll Take Away:

A clearer understanding of what’s happening in your body and mind
So you can make sense of the changes you’re experiencing and respond to them more effectively.
How to advocate for yourself and find the right support
What to track, what to ask, and how to identify providers who are actually informed. Ps. She’s giving us handouts!
Practical ways to support yourself through this transition
From lifestyle shifts to mindset and community, you’ll walk away with options that make a real difference.

⏰ Timestamps

(00:00) Women’s Midlife Mental Health

(11:03) Menopause Misconceptions and Frustration

(18:28) Breaking Stigma, Building Connections

(22:35) Menopause Awareness and Healthcare Gaps

(29:40) Hormones, Insurance, and Menopause

(32:27) Women’s Hormonal Health Education

(41:02) Workplace Challenges for Women

(42:15) Postmenopause: Health and Identity Challenges

(51:52) Finding Menopause-Informed Care

(56:12) HRT, Therapy, and Lifestyle Insights

(59:39) Hormonal Macros Trifecta Insights

(01:06:10) Stress, Memory, and Menopause

(01:10:45) Embrace Wisdom, Know Yourself

(01:15:25) Community, Intuition, and Support

(01:23:41) Health Essentials to Test For

(01:27:07) Normalizing Women’s Experiences

🔗 Connect with Robyn Ivy

🌿 Instagram – @robynivy

🧠 Website – www.robynivy.com

🎧 The Robyn Ivy Podcast – Listen on Apple | Spotify

💌 Email – robyn@robynivy.com

MORE ABOUT VENITA MACIEL:

Venita Maciel is a licensed mental health counselor and coach, the first and only U.S.-based clinician certified in EMBERS® Menopause-Informed CBT, a Learning and Integration Facilitator at the Menopause CBT Clinic®, and the founder of The Empowered Mind with Venita. Her work is centered on helping women navigate life transitions with compassion, clarity, and empowerment-especially during the often-overlooked stages of perimenopause and menopause.

Drawing from both professional training and lived experience, Venita uses a holistic and integrative approach that blends evidence-based modalities including CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and person-centered therapy. She supports women dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, identity shifts, and the emotional impact of hormonal changes, helping them build resilience and reconnect with their strengths.

Venita is deeply committed to normalizing conversations around midlife mental health and providing women with practical tools and psychoeducation so they can feel informed, empowered, and supported—not alone—during this transformative phase.

🌿 Instagram – @empoweredmindwithvenita

🧠 Website – https://www.empoweredmindwithvenita.com/