86 | Psychedelics, Menopause & Mental Health: What Midlife Women Need to Know with Ashley Turner

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:InstagramWork with Ashley! CONNECT WITH GABRIELLA ESPINOSA:InstagramLinkedInWork with Gabriella! Resources Mentioned:Mycelio-Pause: Using Mushrooms in the Menopausal TransitionThe Psilocybin Guidebook for Women by Jennifer ChesakAndrew Huberman's podcast on psilocybin and neuroscienceGolden Rule (female-owned psilocybin microdosing company based in Colorado)UK study on microdosing and menopauseBrian Johnson's live-streamed psilocybin macro dose journeyFull 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.