Perimenopause & Menopause Psychiatrist Serving Women Across California
Alexis Anderson, DO, provides hormone-informed psychiatric care by telehealth for women throughout California experiencing emotional, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms during perimenopause and menopause. Care integrates psychotherapy and psychiatric medication management within one ongoing physician relationship, while considering how hormonal changes, sleep, medical history, relationships, and life circumstances may interact.
Dr. Anderson does not prescribe menopause hormone therapy (MHT). When appropriate, she coordinates with each patient’s OB/GYN, primary care physician, or menopause specialist so psychiatric and hormonal care can be considered together.
WHO I HELP
Perimenopause can coincide with new psychiatric symptoms or changes in conditions that were previously manageable. I work with women experiencing concerns such as:
Depression or a loss of interest and motivation
Anxiety, overwhelm, or panic
Irritability and mood instability
Insomnia and disrupted sleep
Brain fog and cognitive concerns
Changes in attention or ADHD symptoms
Recurrence or worsening of previous psychiatric symptoms
Difficulty understanding whether symptoms may be psychiatric, hormonal, situational, or interconnected
A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation helps clarify the full picture and determine an appropriate treatment plan. Not every symptom during midlife is caused by hormones, and hormone-informed care does not assume that hormones are the only explanation.
What treatment includes
My practice is designed for women seeking more than brief medication-management visits. Care may include:
Comprehensive psychiatric assessment
Individual psychotherapy, including psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy
Thoughtful psychiatric medication management
Evaluation of sleep, stress, lifestyle, medical history, and reproductive stage
Consideration of existing MHT and other treatments prescribed by outside clinicians
Coordination with an OB/GYN, primary care physician, therapist, or menopause specialist when appropriate
Fifty-minute appointments and continuity with one physician
Treatment recommendations are individualized and depend on each patient’s symptoms, history, medical circumstances, preferences, and goals.
DEPRESSION DURING PERIMENOPAUSE
Depression during perimenopause may appear as persistent sadness, loss of interest, irritability, reduced motivation, disrupted sleep, difficulty concentrating, or a sense of no longer feeling like yourself. For some women, these symptoms are new. For others, the menopausal transition may coincide with the return or worsening of a previous mood disorder.
A psychiatric evaluation considers hormonal changes alongside other possible contributors, including prior psychiatric history, medications, sleep disruption, medical conditions, relationships, and current stress. Treatment may involve psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, collaboration with other physicians, or a combination tailored to the individual patient.
TELEHEALTH PSYCHIATRY THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA
Appointments are provided by telehealth to eligible patients located in California at the time of care. The practice serves women across the state, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is hormone-informed psychiatry?
Hormone-informed psychiatry considers reproductive stage and hormonal changes as part of a comprehensive psychiatric assessment. It does not assume that every symptom is hormonal. Psychiatric history, sleep, medical conditions, medications, relationships, stress, and other contributors remain important.
Do you prescribe menopause hormone therapy?
No. I prescribe and manage psychiatric medications but do not prescribe menopause hormone therapy. When appropriate and with the patient’s permission, I coordinate care with her OB/GYN or menopause specialist.
Can I work with you if I already have an OB/GYN?
Yes. Psychiatric care can be coordinated with your existing OB/GYN, primary care physician, or menopause specialist when appropriate.
Do you provide medication-only appointments?
No. My practice integrates psychotherapy and psychiatric care within an ongoing therapeutic relationship. I do not provide isolated medication-management visits.
Do you accept insurance?
The practice is not contracted with insurance plans. Care is provided through a monthly concierge fee rather than a traditional fee-for-service model. Patients may request documentation to submit for potential out-of-network reimbursement, depending on their individual insurance plan.
Learn more about Dr. Alexis Anderson’s approach to concierge psychiatry for women in midlife.