About Louise
My menopause journey
My name is Louise Griffiths and I have over 25 years’ experience in supporting, listening and empowering individuals to succeed in their personal life and workplace.
I have a background in Human Resources with extensive experience in senior HR management roles in various industries including financial services, telecommunications, healthcare and research.
My menopause journey started in late 2019 when I started experiencing debilitating anxiety and panic attacks. I initially didn’t associate these symptoms with the perimenopause, in fact my knowledge of the menopause was extremely limited and thought it was all about hot flushes… I wasn’t experiencing hot flushes and to this day I’ve never had one. I didn’t realise then that every woman’s menopause is totally different and thought I couldn’t be menopausal as I’ve never had a hot flush. It had a huge effect on my at work and felt:
→ I had to be seen like I was in control… I wasn’t.
→ I always had to be seen as smiling and confident… I wasn’t.
→ I wasn’t ok and hoped it would pass… it didn’t.
How my life changed
I went to see my GP with my symptoms who asked how old I was (I was 45) and was told I was ‘a bit young to be perimenopausal’. I was prescribed antidepressants… I never took them. Everywhere I looked for help, I hit a brick wall and didn’t know how to move forwards. I felt bewildered, alone, lost, a huge loss of personal identity and didn’t know where or who to go for support.
Of course, it doesn’t only affect the workplace and my world became very small where I was fearful of everything, which got to the point where I didn’t feel safe being on my own at home due to the panic attacks. I went back to the doctor in early 2022 (in hindsight I wish I had gone sooner) and thankfully the same doctor who had 18 months told me I was ‘a bit young’ this time listened and prescribed me with HRT, which has thankfully given me back my independence.
I retrained as a coach in 2022 and attained a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Coaching. I’m actively working towards my ACC accreditation with the ICF.
Outside of my coaching work, I love spending time with my young family alongside long country walks with our dog in the Cotswold hills and catching up with family and friends.
Qualifications
I have a Certificate in Coaching, awarded by the Centre for Coaching which is part of the International Academy for Professional Development and is a course approved by the British Psychological Society for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and recognised by the International Society for Coaching Psychology.
I also have a Masters Degree in Personnel and Development from the University of Westminster (which incorporated the CIPD qualification) and a Degree in Business Administration from the University of Huddersfield.
As well as holding Chartered Fellow Membership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), I also hold memberships with the Association for Coaching, International Society for Coaching Psychology and The Institute of Leadership and Management.
I retrained as a coach in 2022 and attained a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Coaching. I’m actively working towards my ACC accreditation with the ICF.
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