Who Are You Trusting With Your Health?
Why qualified menopause support matters more than ever
We are living in a time where women’s health is finally getting the attention it deserves, and I genuinely love seeing it.
More women are speaking openly about perimenopause and menopause. We’re naming symptoms that were dismissed for decades. We’re advocating for ourselves, asking better questions, and demanding better care.
But alongside this rise in awareness, there’s another trend I feel strongly about addressing, respectfully, but honestly:
There has been an explosion of “menopause coaches” and self-proclaimed women’s health experts offering advice online without recognised health qualifications, regulated clinical training, or professional accountability.
And while many of these people may mean well, good intentions are not the same as safe, evidence-based healthcare.
Because the reality is… menopause is not a wellness trend.
It is a major biological transition, and the advice you follow during this time can have serious consequences.
Menopause is complex and it’s never “one-size-fits-all”
Perimenopause and menopause can impact almost every system in the body. I see women every week who are dealing with symptoms such as:
fatigue and disrupted sleep
anxiety, mood changes, low motivation or depression
hot flushes and night sweats
weight and body composition changes
insulin resistance and stubborn inflammation
gut issues and food intolerance flare-ups
brain fog and reduced concentration
reduced libido, discomfort, dryness or pain
increased risk of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease
And here’s the important part:
Many symptoms that women assume are “just menopause” may actually be connected to other underlying factors such as thyroid dysfunction, iron deficiency, insulin resistance, autoimmune activity, chronic stress overload, poor sleep physiology, gut dysfunction, medication interactions or a combination of the above.
This is why qualified support matters. Because your health deserves more than generic advice.
The uncomfortable truth: not all advice is safe
One of the most concerning parts of the wellness industry is that it often isn’t regulated the way health professions are.
That means someone can complete a short course (sometimes just a few weeks), call themselves a menopause coach, and start selling protocols and supplements — without clinical training, and without accountability if things go wrong.
This isn’t about judgement. It’s about safety.
Some of the risks I see include:
missing serious medical conditions, because everything is blamed on menopause
unsafe supplement use, particularly alongside medications or hormone therapy
overly restrictive diets, leading to nutrient depletion, increased cortisol, poor muscle retention, and metabolic stress
fear-based messaging, designed to sell programs rather than support women
expensive protocols that ignore the basics and don’t address root causes
Health advice is powerful — which means it must be responsible.
What makes a qualified health professional different?
When you work with a registered and degree-qualified health professional, you are receiving guidance grounded in:
✅ evidence-based education
✅ clinical reasoning
✅ ethical practice standards
✅ professional accountability
✅ clear scope of practice and referral pathways
As a Certified Practising Nutritionist, I work within an evidence-based framework that considers the whole picture, not just symptoms, but your full health history, lifestyle, stress load, sleep patterns, training demands, gut health, medications and test results.
And importantly, I don’t work in isolation.
One of the biggest advantages of seeking care from a qualified health professional is access to safe, collaborative healthcare. Over the years, I have built a trusted referral network of GPs, physiotherapists, psychologists, and other menopause-informed practitioners who understand women’s health and can provide the right support in their area of expertise.
This means my patients are not just getting nutrition advice, they are getting access to the right care at the right time, with appropriate clinical oversight, investigation when needed, and support across all areas of health: physical, emotional, hormonal, and lifestyle.
That integrated approach is where true transformation happens, and where women finally feel heard, validated, and properly supported.
Questions every woman should ask before paying for health advice
If someone is giving you advice about hormones, supplements, weight loss, fatigue, libido, or menopause symptoms, I encourage you to ask these questions before you invest your money:
What are your qualifications? Is it a recognised health degree from a University?
Are you registered with a professional association?
Do you hold professional indemnity insurance?
Do you work within a defined scope of practice?
Is your advice evidence-based or based on anecdotes and trends?
If the answers are unclear, vague, or defensive, that’s worth paying attention to.
Choosing qualified support is not gatekeeping — it’s empowerment
I want women to have access to support, information and tools, but I also want women protected from misinformation and unsafe practices.
The menopause transition can be deeply vulnerable. Women are often exhausted, burnt out, confused, and desperate to feel like themselves again.
That’s not the time for fads, quick fixes or fear-based marketing.
It’s a time for clarity.
It’s a time for safety.
It’s a time for evidence-based care that supports your body and your life.
A gentle reminder, your health is worth protecting
If you’re navigating perimenopause or menopause and feeling overwhelmed by mixed advice online, please know this:
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
And you do not need to tolerate symptoms that are impacting your quality of life.
Support should feel empowering, personalised, and grounded in real science — not pressure, confusion or shame.
Ready for personalised support?
If you’d like guidance that is tailored to your body, your symptoms, and your real life, I’d love to support you.
At Defining Health, I work with women in perimenopause and menopause to:
reduce inflammation and metabolic stress
optimise protein, muscle retention and body composition
stabilise energy, appetite and mood
support gut health and hormonal balance
improve sleep and reduce overwhelm
create simple strategies you can actually sustain
📍 Clinic appointments available in Brisbane + online consultations available Australia-wide.