Empowering Women Through Menopause: Julie Cosgrove’s Journey from Theatre Nurse to Menopause Coach

How do you turn decades of medical experience into a mission to transform lives through menopause?

In this episode of Women of a Certain Stage, I’m joined by Julie Cosgrove, a veteran nurse, complementary therapist, and now certified menopause coach, whose journey across continents - and careers - has empowered countless women to reclaim clarity, confidence, and control during perimenopause and beyond.

From Operating Theatres to Holistic Wellness

Julie began her nursing career in the UK in the late 1980s, spending over 27 years in operating theatres. But her real transformation started when she relocated to New Zealand and began exploring complementary therapies like reflexology and aromatherapy.

It wasn’t long before she noticed something missing in the conversations she was having with clients:

• Women were describing anxiety, fatigue, poor sleep, and brain fog, but no one was connecting it to menopause.

That disconnect lit a fire. Julie knew she needed to understand more, not just for herself but to serve the women whose lives and health stories were being overlooked.

Becoming a Menopause Champion: Learning, Leading, and Listening

Julie joined the very first cohort of the Menopause Champion Training and later completed the Menopause Coach Diploma, turning insight into advocacy and expertise into impact.

One of the most powerful outcomes? Clients reporting a drop in anxiety levels from 6 to 1 in just 7 weeks; proof that small, strategic changes can deliver big results.

Why Menopause Deserves the Mental Health Treatment

Julie makes a powerful comparison:

“Menopause support today is where mental health was 15 years ago.”

Her mission is to shift that by building visibility, breaking taboos, and encouraging early education. She believes everyone needs to understand menopause, not just those going through it, but partners, colleagues, managers, and families.

Julie’s coaching is backed by both clinical credibility and human compassion, and she's not afraid to challenge outdated norms with practical, accessible solutions.

Coaching with Compassion and Complementary Tools

Julie’s unique approach blends:

Evidence-based coaching from the Menopause Plan Holistic practices from her therapy training a commitment to making menopause education available to all ages and sectors

She’s now a trusted voice in workplaces and communities alike, bringing menopause out of the shadows and into open conversation.

Empowering Women Through Menopause

Why You Should Listen

This episode is for:

Healthcare professionals exploring the next chapter in their career Women navigating perimenopause with more questions than answers Employers looking to make their organisation menopause-inclusive Coaches and therapists seeking to integrate a menopause specialism

Julie’s story is proof that professional reinvention and personal passion can align beautifully — and that menopause coaching is both needed and deeply rewarding.

 Listen to her full story here: [https://podfollow.com/women-of-a-certain-stage]