Are you doing all the "right things" for your menopause symptoms—hormone therapy, nutrition, exercise, stress management—but still not feeling like yourself?

In this episode of Pleasure in the Pause, host Gabriela Espinosa welcomes back licensed psychotherapist Ashley Turner for a groundbreaking conversation about psychedelic-assisted therapy and microdosing as complementary support during the menopause transition.

Ashley Turner is a licensed marriage and family psychotherapist, yoga/meditation teacher, and founder of Yoga Psyche Soul, specializing in integrating Eastern spiritual practices with Western psychology (depth, shadow, and somatic psychology, women's mental health) for 25 years. After her own intense menopausal mental health struggles (depression, anxiety, confidence loss, cognitive issues), Ashley explored psychedelic-assisted therapy and psilocybin microdosing. She is completing her psychedelic-assisted therapy certification through the Integrated Psychiatry Institute in Boulder, focusing on psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA. Ashley created the six-month Metamorphosis program for menopause and recently launched The Portal, a 12-week microdosing and menopause group therapy program with Golden Rule.

Highlights from our discussion include:

• Menopause is a developmental phase, not just a medical event.
• Mental health symptoms during menopause can persist even with optimal lifestyle interventions.
• Psilocybin microdosing creates neuroplasticity and can act as a natural mood stabilizer.
• Psychedelic-assisted therapy is different from microdosing on your own.
• "No pills without skills" applies to all interventions, including psychedelics.

This week, get curious: educate yourself by watching Ashley's masterclass on Microdosing and Menopause, read one of the books she mentioned (Mycelio-Pause or The Psilocybin Guidebook for Women), or simply journal about what you're experiencing emotionally and psychologically beyond the physical symptoms. Remember, you deserve all the tools available to thrive—not just survive—this transition.

CONNECT WITH ASHLEY TURNER:

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Resources Mentioned:

• Mycelio-Pause: Using Mushrooms in the Menopausal Transition
• The Psilocybin Guidebook for Women by Jennifer Chesak
• Andrew Huberman's podcast on psilocybin and neuroscience
• Golden Rule (female-owned psilocybin microdosing company based in Colorado)
• UK study on microdosing and menopause
• Brian Johnson's live-streamed psilocybin macro dose journey

Go to https://www.gabriellaespinosa.com/ to book a call.

Full episodes on YouTube.

The information shared on Pleasure in the Pause is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health or treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or Pleasure in the Pause.

Are you experiencing low libido, loss of sexual desire, or intimacy challenges during perimenopause or menopause? In this episode of Pleasure in the Pause, host Gabriela Espinosa joins Dr. Anna Cabeca on The Girlfriend Doctor Show to share her deeply personal story of sexual awakening during midlife.

Together, they address one of the most common yet rarely discussed symptoms of perimenopause: the complete loss of sexual desire. Gabriela opens up about how her libido plummeted overnight, leaving her without the language to describe what was happening—and the transformative journey that led her to become a sexual wellness coach.

Dr. Anna Cabeca is a board-certified gynecologist, women's health expert, and hormone specialist known as "The Girlfriend Doctor." She is passionate about empowering women to reclaim their health, hormones, and vitality during midlife and beyond. Dr. Anna specializes in sexual health, intimacy, and menopause care, helping women address the "three Ds" that affect intimacy: desire, disconnect, and discomfort. She is the creator of innovative vulvar health products designed to support women's sexual wellness during hormonal transitions. Through her podcast, online communities, and clinical work, Dr. Anna provides practical, compassionate guidance for women navigating perimenopause and menopause.

Key Takeaways

• Loss of libido during perimenopause is biological, not personal failure.
• Most women don't know their own pleasure anatomy.
• Arousal in midlife requires time, presence, and communication.
• The three Ds affect intimacy (desire, disconnect, discomfort), but the three Ps restore it.
• Unpacking shame and inherited narratives is essential work.

Your body isn't broken, and menopause isn't the end of pleasure—it's an invitation to discover yourself in new ways.

Subscribe to Pleasure in the Pause for more honest conversations about female sexuality, menopause, and reclaiming your power in midlife.

CONNECT WITH DR ANNA CABECA:

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CONNECT WITH GABRIELLA ESPINOSA:

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Work with Gabriella!

Go to https://www.gabriellaespinosa.com/ to book a call.

Full episodes on YouTube.

The information shared on Pleasure in the Pause is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health or treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or Pleasure in the Pause.

Are you feeling the weight of another year passing while navigating the changes of perimenopause and menopause? Do you struggle to make sense of midlife transitions—the shifting hormones, changing body, evolving desires, and the pressure to have it all figured out? In this intimate end-of-year solo episode of Pleasure In The Pause, host Gabriela Espinosa guides you through a reflective journey to release what no longer serves you and reclaim what matters most as you step into 2026.

Whether you're grappling with metabolic changes, declining desire, or simply feeling invisible in a youth-obsessed culture, this episode offers evidence-based insights on the future of midlife health, sexual wellness, and longevity—plus powerful journaling prompts to help you transition into the new year with clarity, confidence, and self-trust.

Highlights from our discussion include:

• Midlife health is entering the mainstream
• Sexual wellness is finally recognized as healthcare
• Policy victories matter for your care
• New podcast segments to support your journey
• Reflection is an act of self-care

As you close out 2025 and step into the new year, remember this truth: your pleasure has no expiration date. Your body, your desires, and your wisdom matter exactly as they are right now.

Take time this week to work through the journaling prompts shared in this episode—ask yourself what you're ready to carry forward and what you're ready to leave behind.

Then, submit your questions for the new "Ask Me Anything" segment anonymously to hello@pleasureinthepause.com No question is too personal or too awkward—this is your shame-free space.

Subscribe to Pleasure In The Pause so you don't miss the exciting new conversations coming in 2026, and share this episode with a woman in your life who needs permission to prioritize her pleasure and step into her next chapter with confidence.

LINKS MENTIONED:

Let’s Talk Menopause

Midlife Private Parts

Hot Document

CONNECT WITH GABRIELLA ESPINOSA:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Work with Gabriella!

Go to https://www.gabriellaespinosa.com/ to book a call.

Full episodes on YouTube.

The information shared on Pleasure in the Pause is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health or treatment. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the host or Pleasure in the Pause.