Navigating the Intersection of Perimenopause, Adolescent Development, and Marital Erosion
Tracks
Ballroom 1
| Tuesday, September 1, 2026 |
| 11:20 AM - 11:40 AM |
| JW Grand Ballroom |
Overview
Camelia Wilkinson & Stefanie Hagger Laurreta, CW Psychological Services
Speaker
Ms Stefanie Hagger Lauretta
Founder
Stress Therapy Australia
Navigating the Intersection of Perimenopause, Adolescent Development, and Marital Erosion
Abstract
In clinical practice, we are witnessing a perfect storm that remains largely invisible to traditional diagnostic frameworks. It occurs at the high stake’s intersection of three simultaneous life events: a mother navigating the neurobiological upheaval of perimenopause, a child navigating the hormonal rewiring of adolescence, and a marriage buckling under the weight of these dual transitions.
While these are often treated as isolated issues, hormonal regulation for the mother, behavioural support for the teen, or couples therapy for the marriage, they are, in reality, a singular, systemic event. The thinned emotional margin of the perimenopausal brain meets the impulsive, boundary-testing brain of the teenager, creating a friction that often leads to relational erosion.
This conversation explores why we are seeing a significant spike in mid-life divorce during this window and how the invisible labour of holding a family together while undergoing a physiological identity crisis contributes to a profound mental health emergency for women.
This presentation moves beyond single-issue advocacy by centering the woman’s lived experience at a critical life juncture. It challenges the siloed approach to care by discussing how biological changes are inseparable from the social and relational context of a woman’s life. We aim to provide clinicians with a gender-responsive roadmap for navigating the "storm" with depth, integrity, and a focus on long-term systemic repair.
While these are often treated as isolated issues, hormonal regulation for the mother, behavioural support for the teen, or couples therapy for the marriage, they are, in reality, a singular, systemic event. The thinned emotional margin of the perimenopausal brain meets the impulsive, boundary-testing brain of the teenager, creating a friction that often leads to relational erosion.
This conversation explores why we are seeing a significant spike in mid-life divorce during this window and how the invisible labour of holding a family together while undergoing a physiological identity crisis contributes to a profound mental health emergency for women.
This presentation moves beyond single-issue advocacy by centering the woman’s lived experience at a critical life juncture. It challenges the siloed approach to care by discussing how biological changes are inseparable from the social and relational context of a woman’s life. We aim to provide clinicians with a gender-responsive roadmap for navigating the "storm" with depth, integrity, and a focus on long-term systemic repair.
Biography
Ms Camelia Wilkinson
Direct Past Chair Of College Of Educational And Developmental Psychologists & Director Of Cwps
CW Psychological Services
Navigating the Intersection of Perimenopause, Adolescent Development, and Marital Erosion
Abstract
In clinical practice, we are witnessing a perfect storm that remains largely invisible to traditional diagnostic frameworks. It occurs at the high stake’s intersection of three simultaneous life events: a mother navigating the neurobiological upheaval of perimenopause, a child navigating the hormonal rewiring of adolescence, and a marriage buckling under the weight of these dual transitions.
While these are often treated as isolated issues, hormonal regulation for the mother, behavioural support for the teen, or couples therapy for the marriage, they are, in reality, a singular, systemic event. The thinned emotional margin of the perimenopausal brain meets the impulsive, boundary-testing brain of the teenager, creating a friction that often leads to relational erosion.
This conversation explores why we are seeing a significant spike in mid-life divorce during this window and how the invisible labour of holding a family together while undergoing a physiological identity crisis contributes to a profound mental health emergency for women.
This presentation moves beyond single-issue advocacy by centering the woman’s lived experience at a critical life juncture. It challenges the siloed approach to care by discussing how biological changes are inseparable from the social and relational context of a woman’s life. We aim to provide clinicians with a gender-responsive roadmap for navigating the "storm" with depth, integrity, and a focus on long-term systemic repair.
While these are often treated as isolated issues, hormonal regulation for the mother, behavioural support for the teen, or couples therapy for the marriage, they are, in reality, a singular, systemic event. The thinned emotional margin of the perimenopausal brain meets the impulsive, boundary-testing brain of the teenager, creating a friction that often leads to relational erosion.
This conversation explores why we are seeing a significant spike in mid-life divorce during this window and how the invisible labour of holding a family together while undergoing a physiological identity crisis contributes to a profound mental health emergency for women.
This presentation moves beyond single-issue advocacy by centering the woman’s lived experience at a critical life juncture. It challenges the siloed approach to care by discussing how biological changes are inseparable from the social and relational context of a woman’s life. We aim to provide clinicians with a gender-responsive roadmap for navigating the "storm" with depth, integrity, and a focus on long-term systemic repair.
Biography
Camelia Wilkinson, FAPS FCEDP, an endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist with over two decades of experience supporting individuals across the lifespan. Director and Principal Psychologist at CWPS, brings extensive expertise in mental health and life transitions. Camelia completing PhD at Swinburne University, bridging research and practice. She recently served as Chair of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychology and presented at national and international conferences. An endorsed supervisor, she mentors psychologists. Camelia has taught at the University of Melbourne and Australian Catholic University and published on educational psychology practice. She is dedicated to creating inclusive, collaborative therapeutic relationships.
