Perimenopause and CFT

Women in Quiet Thought

Perimenopause can feel like a quiet unraveling — or sometimes a very loud one. Many women describe it as a season where their body no longer feels familiar. Sleep becomes elusive. Emotions feel closer to the surface. Joints ache, headaches appear, digestion changes, and stress feels harder to shake. And often, women are told, “This is just part of it.”

But “normal” doesn’t have to mean unsupported.

At its core, perimenopause is a period of profound transition. Hormones are shifting, yes — but so is the nervous system, the connective tissue, and the way the body processes stress. This is where gentle, whole-body approaches like craniosacral fascial therapy can offer meaningful support.

Craniosacral fascial therapy is a hands-on, gentle approach that works with the body’s fascial system — the connective tissue that wraps around muscles, organs, nerves, and bones — as well as the craniosacral system, which includes the membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Fascia is incredibly sensitive. It responds to physical strain, emotional stress, hormonal changes, inflammation, and even past experiences. Over time, it can become restricted or tense, subtly affecting how the body moves, rests, and regulates itself.

Craniosacral fascial therapy uses light, intentional touch to release these restrictions, support circulation and fluid movement, and encourage the body’s innate capacity for balance and healing. Rather than forcing change, this work listens — allowing the body to soften and reorganize at its own pace.

During perimenopause, fluctuating estrogen and progesterone influence far more than menstrual cycles. These hormones interact closely with the nervous system, sleep and circadian rhythms, muscle and joint health, pain perception, emotional regulation, and the body’s stress response. Many women notice headaches or migraines, neck, jaw, or pelvic tension, increased anxiety or irritability, fatigue that doesn’t resolve with rest, heightened sensitivity to stress, or a sense of being constantly “on edge.” From a fascial and nervous system perspective, this makes sense. The body is adapting to new internal signals while often carrying the same external demands — work, caregiving, relationships, and expectations to keep pushing through.

Craniosacral fascial therapy doesn’t aim to fix perimenopause. Instead, it supports the body through the transition. By gently calming the nervous system, this work can help shift the body out of fight-or-flight and into a state where rest, repair, and regulation are possible. Gentle fascial release around the head, spine, and jaw may ease long-held patterns of tension and discomfort that become more noticeable during hormonal shifts. Many women report feeling more grounded and more at home in their bodies after sessions, even as other changes continue.

By supporting nervous system balance and fluid movement, craniosacral fascial therapy may also help the body access deeper, more restorative rest. And because so much of perimenopause involves emotional processing, this work offers support without requiring words — meeting the body where it is, without judgment or pressure.

What makes craniosacral fascial therapy especially meaningful during perimenopause is its respect for the individual experience. No two women move through this transition the same way. There is no timeline to follow and no symptom checklist to conquer. Instead, the body is listened to. The pace is slow. The work is collaborative. For many women, this kind of care feels like a rare exhale — a space where they don’t have to explain, perform, or push through discomfort.

Perimenopause is not a problem to solve. It is a chapter of change — one that deserves compassion, curiosity, and support. Craniosacral fascial therapy can be a gentle companion during this time, helping women feel steadier, more regulated, and more connected to their bodies as they move forward.

You are not imagining what you’re feeling. You are not alone in it. And you deserve support as your body transitions into this next, magical phase of life.

Dr. Rebecca Turkel is the Owner of Warm Heart Wellness located in Natick, MA.  She is a Craniosacral Fascial Therapist, Licensed Pediatric Physical Therapist, Certified Early Intervention Specialist, Certified Educator of Infant Massage, Certified in Neonatal Behavior Observation, Certified Tummy Time Method Practitioner and Integrative Breastfeeding Educator. 

Dr. Turkel has over 19 years’ experience working with families in an Early Intervention setting as a Developmental Specialist and Physical Therapist as well as 15 years’ experience working at Boston Children's Hospital as a Physical Therapist.