In this deeply moving episode of Women of a Certain Stage, host Lauren Turin speaks with Valeria Sardenberg, a Brazilian psychologist and supervisor now living in Greece. Valeria shares her powerful journey from a difficult childhood through devastating loss to finding purpose in supporting women through perimenopause and menopause.

After losing her first son to cancer and navigating her own divorce during perimenopause, Valeria discovered that many of her physical symptoms—joint pain, brain fog, and fatigue—were being misdiagnosed as dementia or work-related stress. Her story illuminates the critical gap in medical knowledge around menopause and the transformative power of proper education and support.

Key Timestamps

[00:02:00] Valeria's journey from Brazil to Greece through modeling and immigration

[00:04:00] Turning personal tragedy into healing work as a psychologist

[00:05:00] Experiencing perimenopause symptoms and medical misdiagnosis

[00:07:00] The deficit in menopause awareness and education

[00:09:00] Finding the Women of a Certain Stage training program

[00:12:00] Discovering coaching versus traditional therapy approaches

[00:15:00] Making lifestyle changes: hydration, nutrition, and movement

[00:18:00] The power of decluttering during life transitions

[00:20:00] Integrating menopause support into therapeutic practice

[00:23:00] Women losing connection and the burden of multitasking

[00:26:00] Embracing womanhood and educating men about menopause

[00:29:00] Setting boundaries and learning to say no

[00:32:00] Pioneering menopause work in Greece

[00:36:00] Creating community and authentic connection

Key Takeaways

• Medical professionals often misdiagnose perimenopause symptoms, highlighting the urgent need for better education
• Menopause can serve as a wake-up call to prioritize self-care and establish boundaries
• Over a billion women globally experience menopause, yet many feel isolated and alone
• Small lifestyle changes in hydration, nutrition, and movement can significantly impact wellbeing
• Creating community and sharing knowledge helps normalize the menopause experience
• Menopause represents an evolutionary advantage, freeing women to share wisdom and support their communities

Take Action!

Connect with Valeria Sardenberg: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-sardenberg-mafra-19b3a221/

Transform your career in women's health:

• Visit https://www.womenofacertainstage.com/ to enroll in the CPD Certified Menopause Coach Diploma
• Book workplace strategy workshops & keynote talks
• Download menopause toolkits
• Build your Menopause Champion network
• Schedule your free strategy call at https://bookme.name/womenofacertainstage/pod