Menopause & Perimenopause Care at Ardent Counseling Center
Do you feel like you’re just not yourself lately? Maybe you’re more anxious or short-tempered. Maybe you can’t sleep, or your mind feels foggy. If you’re in your 40s or 50s, hormone changes could be part of the reason. You don’t have to push through it alone.
At Ardent, Elizabeth Kelly, NP, MSCP, treats both the mood side and the hormone side of menopause, in one place. We see patients in Oak Brook and Hoffman Estates, and by telehealth anywhere in Illinois.
What Is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the time before menopause when your hormones start to change. It often starts in your 40s and can last several years. Menopause is when you’ve gone 12 months in a row without a period.
Estrogen doesn’t just affect your periods. It works all through your body, including your brain. That’s why this time of life can change your mood, your sleep, and how clearly you think.
Signs to Watch For
- Feeling anxious, on edge, or panicky
- Getting angry or irritable more easily
- Mood swings, or crying more than usual
- Feeling down or losing interest in things you enjoy
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- “Brain fog”: forgetting things or losing your words
If you’ve had depression before, or bad mood changes before your period or after having a baby, you may be more likely to feel this way now.
What Our Patients Tell Us
Women often come to us saying, “I don’t feel like myself,” or “What worked for me before isn’t working anymore.”
Many have been told they can’t use hormone therapy. Maybe they still have periods, get migraines, or have breast cancer in the family. Those things matter. But they don’t always mean no. We look at your whole history and talk through your real options.
How We Help
Elizabeth is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. That means she has special training in menopause care. She manages both mental health medicines and hormone therapy, so you don’t have to bounce between offices.
Hormone therapy
Mood changes during menopause aren’t always best treated with an antidepressant. Often, the answer is treating the hormone change behind them. For many women, hormone therapy helps with mood, sleep, and hot flashes all at once. Hormone therapy is usually started within 10 years of your last period.
Hormone therapy comes in many forms, so we can find what fits you:
- Estrogen pills (estradiol or conjugated estrogens)
- Estrogen patches, gels, and sprays
- Progesterone capsules. If you still have your uterus, progesterone is added to protect it.
- Testosterone cream, when it’s right for you
Other medicines
If hormone therapy isn’t right for you, there are other options. The FDA has approved non-hormone medicines for hot flashes, including low-dose paroxetine, fezolinetant, and elinzanetant. Some other medicines can also help with sleep or anxiety. When depression is part of the picture, an antidepressant may help too.
Counseling
Ardent’s therapists can help you cope with stress, sleep problems, and the big life changes that often come at this age. Therapy works well alongside medicine.
Lab work and your other doctors
We can order lab work, like a thyroid test, since thyroid problems can feel a lot like menopause. When you need a procedure, like an ultrasound or an IUD, we work with your OB/GYN.
Who We See
We care for women ages 40 to 62 who are going through perimenopause or menopause. If your periods stopped before age 40, we’ll help you see a specialist to find out why.
Your First Visit
Your first visit is a one-hour appointment with Elizabeth, in person or by telehealth. We’ll listen to your story, ask about your symptoms and health history, and may order lab work. Then we’ll make a plan together.
Book an Appointment
Ready to feel like yourself again? We’d love to help.
- Oak Brook: Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oak Brook Office Pavilion, 2603 W. 22nd St., Suite 23, Oak Brook, IL 60523
- Hoffman Estates: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2500 W. Higgins Road, Suite 105, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
- Telehealth: available anywhere in Illinois
- Payment: We accept insurance for menopause care. We also offer a direct-care option with a flat-rate, out-of-pocket fee.
Call Us to Book an Appointment
Common Questions
Can perimenopause cause anxiety even if I've never had it before?
Yes. Many women feel anxious for the first time during perimenopause. It’s common, and it can be treated.
Is it a hot flash or a panic attack?
It can be hard to tell. Both can cause a racing heart, sweating, and fast breathing. We can help you figure out what’s going on.
Can I take hormone therapy if I still get my period?
Yes. You can absolutely take hormone therapy if you still get your period.
Will hormone therapy raise my risk of breast cancer?
No. Estrogen does not cause breast cancer. We’ll go over your own health history and family history with you before you start.
Why did doctors stop prescribing hormones? Wasn't there a study?
In 2002, early results from a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were shared with the public. The news said hormone therapy raised breast cancer risk by 25%. The results were poorly explained and taken out of context, but the damage was already done. Many women and doctors stopped using hormones, and many still worry today.
Is brain fog permanent?
Usually not. For most women, it’s mild and gets better after menopause. Treating sleep, mood, and hormone changes can help.
My doctor never asked about my mood. Should I bring it up?
Yes. Many women are never asked. You can bring it up with your doctor, or call us directly.
Meet Elizabeth Kelly, NP, MSCP
Elizabeth is a board-certified nurse practitioner and a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. She has cared for Ardent patients since 2022. She also spent 13 years caring for patients with complex medical and mental health needs with Sinai Chicago. Earlier in her career, she spent 10 years as an ICU and emergency room nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She has also worked with Doctors Without Borders in Ethiopia and Malawi.
Sources
- The Menopause Society. 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement. Link
- The Menopause Society. 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement. Link
- Guidelines for the Evaluation and Treatment of Perimenopausal Depression. Journal of Women’s Health. 2019. Link
- Brown L, et al. Promoting Good Mental Health Over the Menopause Transition. Lancet. 2024. Link
- Gordon JL, et al. Transdermal Estradiol and Micronized Progesterone in the Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in the Menopause Transition. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018. Link
- Greendale GA, et al. The Menopause Transition and Cognition. JAMA. 2020. Link
- FDA approval of Lynkuet (elinzanetant). 2025. Link
(888) 870-1775
(847) 349-1619
2500 West Higgins Road, Suite 105, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60169-7220
Get In Touch…
Ardent provides counselors near me in IL, IA, NE and IA. If you have insurance, most of the cost of your session may be covered by your insurance. If you don’t have insurance, we provide a sliding scale of fees depending on which therapist you see and your financial situation. We provide face to face counseling if you live in Chicagoland and counseling anywhere via online counseling.
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