By Tristan Schneck, LCSW, QMHP / Outpatient Therapist | May 5, 2026
If you’ve ever sat in your car a few minutes longer than necessary just to catch your breath, or felt like your moods were a rollercoaster you didn’t sign up for, I want you to know something: I see you. As we move through May—Mental Health Awareness Month—it feels especially important to pull back the curtain on women’s mental health and the silent struggles many women face. While the world glows green this month to promote awareness, for many of us, the struggle is deeply personal and often hidden behind a brave face.
As a clinician, I am entrusted with the stories that don’t always make it into the brunch conversations or the polished social media feeds. I see the reality of the cyclical struggle of PMDD that makes you feel like a stranger in your own body for two weeks out of every month. I hear the quiet exhaustion of perimenopause, where the “brain fog” feels less like a minor inconvenience and more like a thick wall between you and the person you used to be. I also recognize the invisible hurdles of ADHD in women, the devastating heartbreak of perinatal loss, and the complex relationship many of us have with our bodies, food, and sexuality.
For too long, women have been told that our pain and our transitions are “just part of the deal.” We’ve been conditioned to minimize our experiences, dismissing deep emotional distress as being “just hormonal.” But here is the truth: just because a transition is “natural” doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult, and it certainly doesn’t mean you have to navigate it alone.
Reclaiming Your Agency
At Ensō Mental Health, we believe that therapy is a space where you can finally stop apologizing for your reality. We don’t look at your mental health in a vacuum; we look at the whole picture. Your well-being is inextricably linked to your biology, your history, and the societal pressures to “do it all”. Women’s mental health matters.
To help you navigate these complexities, we utilize evidence-based tools that offer both immediate relief and long-term change:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This is often our “grounding wire.” CBT helps us identify and rewire the negative thought patterns that often spiral during life transitions or ADHD-related overwhelm. It’s about catching those “I’m failing” thoughts and replacing them with a more balanced, realistic perspective.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): We use this to find your “Wise Mind” during emotional storms, providing tangible skills for distress tolerance and emotional regulation when hormones make everything feel intensified.
- Trauma-Informed Care: A vital framework for processing the heavy layers of intimate partner violence or birth trauma, ensuring your healing journey feels safe and paced for you.
I often share this affirmation with my clients when the path forward feels steep:
“I am allowed to take up space. My needs are not a burden, and my healing is a priority, not an afterthought.”
Resources for your Journey
Healing rarely happens in a one-hour session alone. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, and women’s mental health, here are a few resources I personally trust and often recommend to my clients to help bridge the gap between sessions:
- To Watch: “BALANCED: A Perimenopause Journey” (Amazon Prime). This documentary is a vital watch for any woman over 35. It pulls back the curtain on the often-ignored transition of perimenopause, offering both validation and a roadmap for the physical and mental shifts that come with it.
- To Listen: “The ADHD for Smart Ass Women Podcast” with Tracy Otsuka. It’s a wonderful resource for women who were diagnosed late in life or who feel like their “busy brain” has always been a liability rather than a strength.
- To Read: “The Body Is Not an Apology” by Sonya Renee Taylor. This book is foundational for anyone navigating disordered eating, the physical changes of PCOS, or a general sense of disconnection from their body.
- For Grief: “It’s OK That You’re Not OK” by Megan Devine. A compassionate guide for those sitting with the heavy weight of perinatal loss or the “identity grief” that accompanies major life shifts.
Taking the First Step
You don’t have to wait for a “crisis” to deserve support. You don’t have to wait until you’ve checked every item off your to-do list to prioritize your mind. Whether you are navigating a difficult diagnosis, a loss, or just the overwhelming “noise” of being a woman today, we are here to walk with you.
At Ensō, we’ve prioritized accessibility because we know that when you finally reach the point of reaching out, you shouldn’t have to face a waitlist.
You are worth the investment. If you’re ready to begin, call or text us at (605) 519-5850 to schedule your first appointment. Let’s find your footing together.
