Menopause: Clinical Strategies to Improve Health and Wellbeing in Women

Presenter: Helen L. Coons, PhD, ABPP

1 Continuing Education Credit

Program Description: Menopause presents a range of physical, psychosocial, cognitive, relational, sexual and professional changes, opportunities and challenges. This workshop will review biopsychosocial and sexual aspects of midlife, sociocultural aspects of menopause, the care of patients who experience early menopause related physical conditions, and assessment, prevention and treatment interventions to improve health and well-being in women experiencing menopause.

Program Learning Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1. List biopsychosocial, cognitive, and sociocultural factors impacting midlife and menopause health, mental health and wellness. 
2. Describe at least three clinical assessment, treatment and prevention strategies to improve midlife and menopause health and wellness. 
3. Summarize two approaches to cultural humility with persons of color as they navigate midlife and menopause. 
4. List two approaches to improve communication and collaboration with women’s health providers to enhance the clinical care of persons experiencing perimenopause and menopause. 

Helen L. Coons, Ph.D., ABPP is President and Clinical Director, Women’s Mental Health Associates and Health Psychology Solutions. Prior to her current position, she was Clinical Professor, Director of Psychology, and inaugural Clinical Director, Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Services, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine. A board-certified clinical health psychologist, Dr. Coons specializes in women’s health and mental health and integrated care in women’s health settings. Throughout her career, she has focused on perinatal mental health, pregnancy complications and loss, infertility, midlife and menopause, sexual health, chronic physical conditions, early and advanced breast and gynecologic cancers and medical trauma. Known as a dynamic speaker on a range of women’s health and mental health issues, she provides skills-focused training for interprofessional teams in primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, pelvic pain, oncology and behavioral health. Dr. Coons also enjoys bringing women’s health and mental health education to corporate and community groups. At the national level, she consults and serves on advisory groups on women’s health and mental health - especially maternal mental health and breast cancer. Dr. Coons was also an invited speaker at the 2021 NAMS Translational Science Symposium on Charting the Path to Health in Midlife and Beyond: The Biology and Practice of Wellness, was an initial co-chair of the 2025 APA Presidential Taskforce on Midlife and Menopause Health and Well-Being, and a panelist for two different 2025 Rocky Mountain PBS programs on menopause. Dr. Coons received her PhD in Psychology (Clinical) from Temple University after completing her internship in medical psychology at Duke University School of Medicine. She also completed the DHHS Healthcare Policy Fellowship. A fellow of APA, Dr. Coons has held a long list of elected and appointed leadership roles in the Association and was the founding chair of the LIWP.