An Integrative, Evidence-Informed Approach

Move beyond symptom management with a comprehensive framework that integrates the biological realities of perimenopause and menopause with Internal Family Systems (IFS), trauma-informed care, attachment theory, and current women's mental health research.

Practical Clinical Application

Develop confidence in assessing complex presentations, creating thoughtful case formulations, and implementing IFS-informed treatment strategies through realistic clinical examples, case studies, and immediately applicable interventions.

Designed for Today's Mental Health Professional

Gain the knowledge and clinical tools to better understand, support, and empower women navigating one of life's most significant developmental transitions while providing ethical, compassionate, and evidence-informed care.

About the course

This course explores the menopausal transition through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS). Participants will learn how hormonal changes interact with protectors, exiles, burdens, and Self-energy while developing practical interventions to support clients navigating this season of life. Through case studies, clinical examples, experiential reflection, and evidence-informed discussion, participants will gain skills to conceptualize menopause-related concerns using an IFS framework while remaining within their scope of practice as mental health clinicians. Overall Course Learning Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to: -Describe the biological, hormonal, cognitive, emotional, and developmental changes commonly associated with perimenopause and menopause and explain how these changes may influence psychological functioning. -Apply the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model to understand the interaction of protective parts, vulnerable parts, and Self-energy in women navigating the menopausal transition. -Integrate attachment theory, trauma-informed principles, developmental psychology, and women's mental health research into comprehensive case conceptualization and treatment planning. -Differentiate common menopausal presentations from mental health disorders requiring further assessment while recognizing the importance of a biopsychosocial approach to diagnosis and formulation. -Develop evidence-informed, IFS-oriented treatment plans that prioritize collaboration with protective parts, strengthen Self-leadership, and support safe progression toward deeper therapeutic work. -Implement clinically appropriate interventions that address the emotional, relational, developmental, and physiological aspects of perimenopause and menopause while remaining within the therapist's professional scope of practice. -Collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary healthcare professionals to support comprehensive, client-centered care while maintaining ethical standards, professional boundaries, and appropriate documentation. -Synthesize current research, clinical reasoning, and Internal Family Systems principles into an integrated framework for providing compassionate, evidence-informed psychotherapy to women navigating perimenopause and menopause. This course offers 9 NBCC CEs after the completion of a course quiz and evaluation. *this is a self-paced, text course, designed for you to complete at your own pace, anytime*

Britni Higginbotham, LPC, NCC

Hello, seasoned therapist and woman in perimenopause here! Licensed Professional Counselor and Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level II-trained therapist who specializes in helping adults heal from trauma, attachment wounds, and life's most significant transitions. Throughout my clinical work, I've seen firsthand how often women entering perimenopause struggle to find mental health professionals who truly understand the intersection of hormonal changes, emotional well-being, trauma, and identity. This course is especially meaningful to me because I'm not only a clinician supporting women through this transition—I'm also navigating perimenopause myself. That dual perspective has deepened both my professional understanding and my personal appreciation for the complexity of this season of life. My goal is to provide fellow therapists with practical, evidence-informed knowledge and an IFS-informed framework that helps women feel seen, understood, and supported as they move through one of the most transformative stages of adulthood. Britni Higginbotham has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 8072. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Britni Higginbotham is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Curriculum

9 Chapters · 44 Lessons

  1. 1
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module Overview

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      Section One: Why Are So Many Women Entering Therapy Saying, “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore?”

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      Section Two: Why Does Peri/Menopause Create Significant Emotional Distress for Some Women but Not Others?

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      Section Three: What Are Women Actually Describing When They Say, “I Don’t Feel Like Myself Anymore?”

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      Section Four: Why Do Traditional Diagnostic Frameworks Often Fail to Fully Explain What Women Experience During Peri/Menopause?

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      Section Five: If Symptoms Are Not the Whole Story, What Should Therapists Be Paying Attention To?

  2. 2
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      Module Overview

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      Section One: Why Does Peri/Menopause Activate Our Internal Systems?

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      Section Two: Understanding Protective Parts During Peri/Menopause

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      Section Three: When Protective Strategies Stop Working

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      Section Four: Firefighters and Emotional Overwhelm During Peri/Menopause

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      Section Five: Exiles, Vulnerability, and the Return of Old Wounds During Peri/Menopause

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      Section Six: Understanding Self-Energy During Times of Transition

  3. 3
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      Module Overview

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      Section One: Why Does Trauma Often Resurface During Peri/Menopause?

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      Section Two: Attachment Wounds and Midlife Relationships

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      Section Three: The Burden of Self-Sacrifice: Caretaking, Responsibility, and the Cost of Being Everything for Everyone

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      Section Four: Shame, Worthiness, and Aging: Understanding Cultural Burdens Through an IFS Lens

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      Section Five: Grief as a Central Clinical Theme During Peri/Menopause

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      Section Six: From Symptom Emergence to Psychological Transformation: Integrating Trauma, Attachment, and Midlife Change

  4. 4
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      Module Overview

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      Section One: Moving Beyond Symptoms: Understanding What the Client Is Really Bringing Into the Room

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      Section Two: Identifying Parts During Assessment: Learning to Hear the Internal System

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      Section Three: Building an IFS-Informed Case Conceptualization

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      Section Four: Differential Assessment: Hormonal Change, Trauma Activation, or Both?

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      Section Five: Common Clinical Presentations During Peri/Menopause

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      Section Six: Integrating Assessment Into a Coherent Treatment Formulation

  5. 5
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      Module Overview

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      Section One: Treatment Planning Through an IFS Lens: Knowing Where to Begin

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      Section Two: Building Safety and Trust with Protective Parts

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      Section Three: Working with Managers and Firefighters During Midlife

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      Section Four: Preparing for Exile Work

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      Section Five: Helping Clients Increase Access to Self-Energy

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      Section Six: Maintaining Clinical Flexibility Throughout Treatment

  6. 6
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module Overview

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      Section One: Working with Complex Clinical Presentations

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      Section Two: Integrating Women's Health Into Treatment

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      Section Three: Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Caring for the Whole Woman

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      Section Four: Ethical Considerations and Scope of Practice

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      Section Five: A Comprehensive Case Study: From Intake to Treatment

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      Section Six: Clinical Pearls, Common Pitfalls, and Final Integration

  7. 7
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      Course Bibliography

  8. 8
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      Course Quiz

  9. 9
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      Course Evaluation

Ready to help other women navigate this new phase of life?

Enroll now to access guidance, practical insight and comprehensive resources to support woman throughout their perimenopause and menopause journey. This course offers 9 NBCC CEs after the completion of a course quiz and evaluation.

$129.99

Enroll now