Fee assured
Verified account
Specialises in
- Behavioural Activation (BA)
- Counselling
- Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness based CBT
- Motivational Enhancement Therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy
- Trauma focused CBT
About me
I work with women in midlife who are going through the emotional ups and downs that often emerge during this stage of life. The 40s and 50s can be a time of change, internally and externally. You may be balancing career demands, shifting family roles, ageing parents, physical changes, or simply waking up one day feeling like you've lost your spark.
It's not uncommon to feel:
� Anxious for no clear reason, especially in the early hours
� Emotionally flat or not feeling like yourself
� Forgetful, tired or low in motivation
� Self-critical, uncertain, or questioning who you are now, at this stage of life
� Less confident in your body and appearance
These feelings are valid and incredibly common, and sometimes they're linked to hormonal changes, even if you're not fully aware of it. But they can also come from years of holding things together and suddenly wondering, �What now?�
How I Can Help:
I offer a compassionate and practical approach to explore what's going on beneath the surface. Together, we'll look at how your body, mind and lifestyle factors factors might be affecting your emotional, psychological and mental wellbeing. The we'll create a plan that helps you get back control and feel more like yourself again.
My approach includes:
- Listening to your experiences and identifying the core issues
- Clarifying what matters most and what needs to change
- Tailoring a practical, manageable plan to support your goals
- Teaching tools to manage emotions, stress, and rebuild confidence
- Supporting you to apply these tools in real life, so you feel strong and resilient again.
What Informs My Work:
My work is shaped by years of experience supporting women through anxiety, low mood, identity shifts, life transitions, burnout, and self-esteem issues, as well as the less talked-about effects of midlife hormonal changes.
I draw on a blend of evidence-based approaches including:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Neuroscience-informed strategies
- Mindfulness & Compassion-Focused approaches
- Lifestyle and behavioural interventions for better physical and emotional balance
I also developed the EMBERS� framework, which integrates these methods to support women through the complexities of midlife and beyond.
I am committed to evidence-based, effective care, continually updating my knowledge with the latest research and professional training.
Next Steps:
If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or not like yourself, let's talk. You don't have to go through this alone - there is a way forward, and I'm here to help.
Areas of interest
Midlife emotional wellbeing; identity and confidence in women 40+; anxiety; low mood; burnout; life transitions; relationship and career changes; psychological and mental health impact of hormonal shifts; grief and loss; stress management; lifestyle-based support for mental health; menopause-informed psychological care.
About me
External resources
Awards received
PG Certificate in Addictions - Birmingham University 2001
PG Certificate in Clinical Supervision - Leicester University 2006
Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional - British Society of Lifestyle Medicine 2023
Partnership and Integration Award for leading on a project between Worcestershire Healthy Minds and Community First - Worcestershire Health and Care Trust Staff Awards 2016
(Additional) Languages spoken
Publications
Featured on:
The Dr Louise Newson Podcast: E140
Addressing the emotional challenges of perimenopause and menopause with Simona Stokes, on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-dr-louise-newson-podcast/id1459614845?i=1000551854819
The Middling Along Podcast: E92
Simona Stokes explains how CBT can help with perimenopause symptoms. Podcast hosted by Emma Thomas, on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5YZM7tzAvxuqgsNW1DIsmU
Courses offered to GPs
Beyond my clinical work, I am committed to raising the standard of menopause-informed psychological care. I have been actively training and mentoring health professionals, including psychologists, therapists, and other mental health practitioners, to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to provide specialised, evidence-based support for midlife women going through menopause.
Please get in touch if you are interested in arranging a talk or training for your team.
About my work
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My qualifications & training
Qualifications
- PG Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
University of Birmingham 2014
- MA Ed. Psychology (Integrated Education)
Babes-Bolyai University; Cluj-Napoca; Romania 1997
- BPhil Counselling
University of Birmingham 2002
- BSc Psychology (Special Needs)
Babes-Bolyai University; Cluj-Napoca; Romania 1996
Additional training
- Neuroscience Coaching Network
Neuroscience Academy 2023
- Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional
British Society of Lifestyle Medicine 2023
- Nutrigenomics
Lifecode GX 2024
- Women's Brain Health
Neuroscience Academy 2022
- PG Certificate in Clinical Supervision
Leicester University 2006
- Brain Coach Bootcamp
Neuroscience Academy 2022
- PG Certificate in Addiction
University of Birmingham 2001
Details of entry to specialist register
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) - Counselling Psychologist
, 2011
- British Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapies (BABCP) - Accredited CBT Therapist
, 2015
- British Society of Lifestyle Medicine
, 2023
Affiliations / memberships
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
British Psychological Society (BPS)
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM)
My private practice
Practice hours
Practice
Day
Hours
Appt Bookings
- 17 School RoadHall GreenBirminghamB28 8JG
- Monday
- 09:30
- 18:30
- 07939 239697
- 17 School RoadHall GreenBirminghamB28 8JG
- Tuesday
- 09:30
- 18:30
- 07939 239697
- 17 School RoadHall GreenBirminghamB28 8JG
- Wednesday
- 09:30
- 18:30
- 07939 239697
- 17 School RoadHall GreenBirminghamB28 8JG
- Thursday
- 09:30
- 18:30
- 07939 239697
Post treatment communication
Following treatment of a Bupa member, I will communicate with GPs
in line with Department of Health, GMC and appropriate professional bodies
guidelines.