Perimenopause & Menopause Care

You're in your late 30s or 40s and something feels off. Your mood shifts without warning, sleep is harder to come by, and you're more anxious or irritable than you used to be. Maybe you've written it off as stress or aging, but the symptoms keep building. For many women, this is perimenopause, and it can start years before your period actually stops.

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Hormonal shifts during perimenopause and menopause can affect mood, energy, sleep, focus, and motivation. Because these symptoms overlap with anxiety and depression, they're often misdiagnosed or dismissed. You may feel unlike yourself without a clear explanation, and unsure where to turn for answers.

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At Waypoint, our Women's Health Nurse Practitioner provides both mental health care and hormone therapy in a single visit. Rather than coordinating between separate providers for psychiatric medication and hormonal treatment, you receive integrated care from one provider who evaluates the full picture. Your first appointment is a comprehensive evaluation that may include a clinical assessment, lab work, and hormone testing. From there, we build a personalized treatment plan that may include hormone replacement therapy, psychiatric medication, lifestyle recommendations, or a combination.

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Our goal is to help you understand what's driving your symptoms and treat them directly, so you can feel more like yourself again.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Can I get hormone therapy and mental health care in the same appointment? Yes. Rachel VanBree, our Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, provides both psychiatric care and hormone management in a single visit. Your treatment plan addresses the full picture from the start, with no need to coordinate between separate providers.

 

Do I need a referral? No. You can request an appointment directly through our website or by calling 919-275-1405.

 

Is this available virtually? Yes. Perimenopause and menopause care is available both in person at our Durham and Raleigh offices and virtually throughout North Carolina.

 

What symptoms does perimenopause care treat? Common symptoms include mood swings, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, brain fog, hot flashes, fatigue, irritability, and changes in weight or motivation. Many women experience these for years before connecting them to hormonal changes.

 

Does the NP provide counseling, or is that separate? Rachel VanBree is a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, not a therapist. Her focus is clinical evaluation and medical management. If counseling is part of your care plan, Waypoint's licensed therapists are available and can coordinate directly with Rachel, but therapy sessions are scheduled separately.

 

Do I have to be in perimenopause or menopause to be seen? No. If you are noticing changes in your mood, energy, sleep, or cycle and wondering whether hormones might be a factor, that is a valid reason to book. You do not need a diagnosis or confirmation before coming in. Rachel can help you figure out what is going on.

 

Can Rachel prescribe hormone replacement therapy and psychiatric medications? Yes. Rachel is licensed to prescribe both HRT and psychiatric medications. If your evaluation indicates that hormone therapy, a psychiatric medication, or both are appropriate, she can prescribe and manage them directly as part of your care.

 

How often will I need to come in? Visit frequency depends on your symptoms, treatment plan, and how you respond to any medication adjustments. Rachel will work with you to determine a schedule that fits your care.