Transforming Midlife

Karen Dugdale

Life coaching

Step into your strongest chapter yet.

Menopause isn’t a crisis, it’s a turning point, and it can be the most powerful chapter of a woman’s life.

Who I help

Women in perimenopause, menopause and midlife who feel overwhelmed, foggy or no longer quite like themselves, and who are ready to work out who they are now and what comes next. I work online with women in New Zealand and around the world, and I also partner with workplaces and health practitioners to support women through this stage of life.

The problem I solve

Menopause is often framed as purely hormonal, but for many women it’s also a shift in identity. Sleepless nights, anxiety, brain fog and a quiet loss of confidence can leave them feeling stuck, even when they’re doing all the right things. Using mindset coaching, NLP and clinical hypnotherapy, I help women make sense of the chaos, let go of old patterns that no longer fit, and find calm and confidence again, so they can step into their strongest chapter yet.

My point of difference

I’ve been through it myself, so I understand what it feels like to not recognise yourself in midlife. I’m one of the few practitioners combining mindset coaching, NLP and clinical hypnotherapy specifically for perimenopause and menopause. Every client receives a bespoke hypnotherapy audio created just for them, so the work continues long after our sessions. I look beyond hormones to the identity shift many women experience, and I work alongside health practitioners to complement the care women receive.

My niche market

Women in perimenopause, menopause and midlife, typically in their 40s and 50s, who feel overwhelmed, anxious, exhausted or no longer like themselves. I also work with workplaces that want to support midlife women in their teams, and with health practitioners looking for complementary support for their clients.

Key benefits

Women who work with me feel calmer, sleep better and think more clearly. They rebuild their confidence, quieten the overthinking and reconnect with who they are now. They also leave with clarity about what they want next. Because each client receives a bespoke hypnotherapy audio, the change continues between sessions and lasts beyond them.

Problems my clients avoid

Struggling on alone for years, feeling unheard, or wondering whether it’s “just them”. Endless sleepless nights, burnout and exhaustion from holding everything together. Going round in circles, trying book after book and habit after habit with nothing changing. Losing confidence at work and at home or stepping back from opportunities and relationships because they no longer feel like themselves.

About

Karen is a Midlife Mindset Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist, NLP Practitioner and author, and the creator of The Transforming Midlife Method™. Through Transforming Midlife, she supports women in perimenopause, menopause and midlife who feel overwhelmed, foggy or no longer like themselves. Having been through it herself, Karen understands that this stage isn’t only about hormones but also a shift in identity. She helps women find calm, rebuild confidence and step into their strongest chapter yet. Based in New Zealand, Karen works online with women worldwide, and partners with workplaces and health practitioners to support women through this stage of life.

Products and services

I offer online coaching and clinical hypnotherapy for women navigating perimenopause, menopause and midlife, using The Transforming Midlife Method™: - The Midlife Session: a 90-minute personalised session, a bespoke hypnotherapy audio and a two-week check-in - Three-Session Support: a deeper programme over six to eight weeks, with a bespoke audio and personalised meditation - 1:1 Coaching Journeys: ongoing three- or six-month support combining coaching, NLP and hypnotherapy - Hypnotherapy Audio Library: ready-made audios for sleep, anxiety, confidence and overwhelm - Midlife Sleep Reset: a self-paced programme for women struggling with sleep - Workplace Programmes: helping organisations support their midlife staff - Health Practitioner Partnerships: complementary support for clients

Why I am a member

I joined NZ Businesswomen because I believe the best businesses grow through genuine relationships, collaboration and women supporting one another. I’m looking forward to connecting with like-minded women who inspire, challenge and encourage each other. I’d also love to support members who are navigating midlife themselves, whether personally or as leaders of teams. I'm passionate about helping women navigate perimenopause, menopause and midlife with greater confidence, clarity and self-belief by changing the subconscious patterns that often keep them feeling stuck. I also value collaboration and enjoy partnering with other businesses where we can share expertise, create meaningful opportunities, and make a positive difference in the lives of the women we support.

An offer for you

Skills

Anxiety
Burnout
Confidence
Menopause
Mindset
One-on-one coaching
Sleep
Stress
Team & culture
Workplace wellbeing

Qualifications

Diploma in Clinical & Advanced HypnosisVerified
NZ School of Professional Hypnotherapy, 2024
Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic ProgrammingVerified
NZ School of Professional Hypnotherapy, 2024
Diploma in Life CoachingVerified
NZ Institute of Business Studies, 2022
Breakthrough Life CoachingVerified
New Zealand Life Coaching, 2025

An invitation

Book a free 20-minute “Let’s Chat” call at transformingmidlife.com. If you know a woman who’s finding midlife tough, a workplace that wants to support its midlife staff, or a health practitioner looking for complementary support for clients, I’d love an introduction.

Testimonials

A few of the testimonials I've received: Sleep Reset Programme This program really works! I tried the sleep programme and it has completely changed my sleep, meaning I can now sleep through the night without waking up. Thank You! Caroline, North Canterbury Kia ora. I've been so grateful for the opportunity to work with Karen. Her deep listening, insightful questions and unflappable support have supported meaningful shifts in my self-talk and sense of calm. Weirdly, I am feeling both more chill AND more productive. Thank you, Karen, for being so generous with your skills and self. MM, North Canterbury My experience with Karen was truly transformative. I felt safe, understood, and completely at ease. Karen's calming presence, expertise and compassionate approach made a significant impact on me. The positive changes I've experienced have been life-changing. Karen has a remarkable gift for guiding women toward healing and personal growth. I highly recommend Karen to anyone seeking effective and supportive transformation. Thank you, Karen, for your kindness, professionalism and life-changing work! Bernie, Otago Karen was really helpful. She went the extra mile to understand the unique sleeping issues I was experiencing. With kindness, compassion and patience she set about providing solutions unique to me. I now have a ritual and toolbox that I can use every night, and I do. I enjoy the ritual, it is not work, it is fun and has made such a difference. I now go to sleep within minutes and if I wake I gently drift back to sleep. I highly recommend Karen. If you want to make positive changes for you and ultimately your whānau too, then Karen can help you. You won't look back...because you will be too busy sleeping and honouring your beautiful self. Arohanui Karen, thanks for your amazing work to help us women get the sleep we need and deserve. Lou, Wellington I found Karen's voice to be incredibly soothing, and the guided hypnotherapy session was instrumental in helping me sleep during a period of chronic pain. The session played a significant role in my recovery process, aiding my ability to rest and heal. Thanks so much, Karen!' Liz, Christchurch I must admit to being very anxious about trying hypnotherapy, but from the moment I contacted Karen, I felt reassured and at ease. She has a wonderful calming presence and the whole experience was both relaxing and empowering. I came out of my first session feeling refreshed and energised and with a renewed sense of confidence in dealing with life’s challenges. I am excited to see where my next sessions will take me. I strongly recommend Karen to anyone looking for a compassionate and skilled professional to guide them on a transformative journey.' Lou, Christchurch I had such a wonderful experience working with Karen as my coach. She helped me with goal setting and planning in a way that felt supportive and empowering. Karen holds a beautiful, gentle space, she is soft, kind, and truly listens, which made me feel comfortable and understood throughout the process. I came away with more clarity, direction, and confidence to take the next steps in my journey. I highly recommend working with her if you’re looking for a compassionate and skilled coach. Milinda, Marlborough I can't thank Karen enough for the incredible support I received in the lead-up to my wedding! I was really struggling with anxiety around public speaking, especially since I wanted to give a speech at my reception and of course speaking during the ceremony. I didn’t want to let that worry overshadow what should have been the happiest day of my life. Karen worked with me beforehand to ensure that the hypnotherapy audio was tailored specifically to my needs and anxieties. She took the time to really understand my concerns and created a session that felt personal and spot-on for me. After receiving the coaching and listening to the 30-minute hypnotherapy audio in the weeks leading up to the wedding, I immediately felt calmer and more confident. It wasn’t just about calming my nerves for the big day, though. A bonus was I slept like a baby after each session—something I had really struggled with during this busy time. I’m happy to say I had some of the most restful nights of sleep I’ve had in ages (I was used to the usual 3am menopause wake-up!). On the day of the wedding, everything went smoothly. I gave my speech with ease, and my nerves were virtually nonexistent. It was a wonderful, stress-free day, and I can confidently say that the hypnotherapy played a huge role in that. If you're dealing with any form of anxiety—whether wedding-related or otherwise. I highly recommend this service. Karen truly took the time to understand my needs, and it worked wonders for me! Vicky, Christchurch.