Upcoming Events
Free, friendly community talks on midlife women’s health.
Come sip something you enjoy, learn evidence-based info, and ask your real questions.
The Intentional Pause A Small-Group Midlife Experience
The Intentional Pause
A Small-Group Midlife Experience
Midlife can feel confusing, intense, and isolating — even when things look “fine” on the outside.
Hormonal shifts, changing roles, parenting stress, evolving relationships, and a growing sense that something needs to change often collide all at once. Many women feel exhausted, disconnected from their bodies, and unsure how to move forward — without wanting another program focused on fixing, optimizing, or pushing harder.
The Intentional Pause is a small-group experience designed to offer something different.
What this is
The Intentional Pause is a five-week, small-group program created and facilitated by Dr. Chrissy Chard, a coach and educator known for her evidence-informed, nervous-system–aware approach to midlife and family support.
The program is designed for women navigating midlife and perimenopause who want:
space to slow down
greater body literacy and self-trust
support making values-aligned changes
a grounded, practical container that doesn’t add more “to-dos”
This is not therapy and it is not medical care.
It’s a supportive, reflective experience meant to complement both.
What we’ll focus on
Over five weeks, the group will explore:
nervous system regulation and resilience
understanding signals from the body instead of overriding them
values clarification and boundary-setting
navigating identity shifts in midlife
moving forward with intention rather than urgency
The emphasis is on integration, not perfection.
My role
I’ll be participating in the program alongside the group and helping to facilitate from the medical side, offering:
education about hormones and midlife physiology
context around what is common vs. concerning
guidance on how to have clearer, more confident conversations with healthcare providers
My role is to support understanding — not to provide individual medical care within the program.
Who this may be a good fit for
This experience may be especially helpful if you:
are navigating perimenopause or midlife transitions
feel chronically overwhelmed or depleted
want support that honors both biology and real life
are seeking clarity, not quick fixes
value small-group connection and thoughtful guidance
Chrissy also does meaningful work supporting parents and families, so her approach often resonates with women in seasons where parenting stress is front and center.
Learn more / registration
For full details, dates, and registration information, visit:
👉 https://www.courageousparents.com/intentional-pause
Menopause Workshop
Menopause Matters! How to Thrive After 45
Menopause doesn’t have to be confusing, frustrating, or something you navigate alone. This 2-hour educational workshop is designed to help women better understand what’s happening in their bodies during perimenopause and menopause — and what actually helps.
Join local menopause experts Dr. Jordan Mendoza, MD, MSCP and Dr. Andrea Nied, PT, DPT for an evidence-based, myth-busting discussion on hormones, weight changes, bladder leakage, joint pain, and other common menopause symptoms. You’ll leave with practical strategies, clearer next steps, and answers to the questions you’ve been afraid to ask.
Held at Colorado Tap House in Arvada, this relaxed, community-focused event includes time for Q&A — and your first drink is on us.
Hot Flashes & Cold Drinks: Ask Me Anything — Midlife, Menopause & Small Shifts for the New Year
This December, we’re keeping it light, open, and real.
Instead of a formal lecture, this evening will be a relaxed, open-format Ask Me Anything focused on:
Perimenopause & menopause
Hormones, sleep, mood, weight & brain fog
Libido & sexual health
What actually helps (and what doesn’t)
Plus a few gentle, low-pressure health shifts as we head into the new year
There will be no deep dive slides (don’t worry, I’ll nerd it out again come the new year!) and no pressure to stay the whole time — come and go as your schedule allows, grab a drink, ask questions, listen, or just connect.
I’ll also share a few brief updates about my practice for anyone curious about direct care gynecology & menopause care, but the heart of the night is open conversation and community.
Questions, Food & Guests
You’re welcome to email questions ahead of time if you’d like to stay anonymous — and this also helps me do a little research beforehand so I can give the most thoughtful answers possible.
Light bar food will be available for purchase, but feel free to bring your own snacks or dinner.
Bring a friend! Partners are absolutely welcome too (please help save my husband and brother-in-law from being the only men in the room 😄).
And just for fun — if someone with a Y chromosome comes to learn and support their partner, wife, sister, or loved one and asks a question, one free drink is on me. 🍻
Date: December 15
Format: Open Q&A + short seasonal discussion
Who it’s for: Anyone in midlife, perimenopause, menopause — or simply curious
Age requirement:21+
Important: This is general education only and not individualized medical advice.
We’d love to see you there.
Wellness on Tap
Join us for our next FREE Wellness on Tap Speaker Series: Menopause 101 on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 5:30 - 7 p.m. at Prost Brewing Company in the Northglenn Marketplace off of I-25 and 104th.
Navigating Menopause and perimenopause doesn't have to be a struggle. Join us for an empowering, evidence-based information session led by a certified OB/GYN and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. Learn about symptoms, treatment options, and strategies to thrive in midlife while debunking myths and gaming practical tools for a healthy, vibrant future.
Food will not be provided but patrons are welcome to purchase their food of choice.
Registration is required. Register at www.tinyurl.com/selfconfidenceworkshop
Hot Flashes & Cold Drinks
Hot Flashes & Cold Drinks — Satire Brewing, September 2025
We hosted an in-depth talk on genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM), followed by an open Q&A. Two brave men joined the group (not counting Dr. Ben Mendoza, previously the lone Y chromosome in attendance!).
The conversation covered:
Whether lab testing is really needed
The role of hormone pellets
Recommended lubricants
Weight management in midlife (with insights from Drs. Gray and Mendoza)
The value of the direct care model
And much more!
I also shared my upcoming departure from Kaiser and what the transition will look like for patients who wish to follow me to Elevated Menopause Care.
Hot Flashes & Cold Drinks - Trial Run
Hot Flashes & Cold Drinks — Handlebar Factory, August 2025
Our very first trial run of the series was held at Handlebar Factory in Erie, and what a lively group it was! We kicked things off with an overview of menopause hormone therapy (MHT), followed by pre-submitted audience questions and then an open Q&A.
Highlights of the discussion included:
Sleep challenges and strategies (with help from the more handsome Dr. Mendoza)
Whether MHT should be used for osteopenia in the absence of symptoms
Nutrition in midlife and weight management
Night sweats and practical tips to combat them
Supplements that may support arousal
The risks and benefits of MHT in breast cancer, including questions about DCIS
The audience was such a special mix — EMC patients, KP patients, colleagues, friends, and even my mom. It was fun, engaging, and energizing — I truly could have talked for hours! Special thanks to my amazing brother for heroically manning the bar (and tolerating talk of night sweats and libido) while the group enjoyed delicious cider.
Wellness on Tap - Menopause 101
Our spring Wellness on Tap event brought the community together for an open and lively conversation on midlife health. We started with a short talk, then moved into extended Q&A — covering everything from perimenopause symptoms to sleep, libido, and weight changes.
Highlights of the discussion included:
How to recognize and manage early menopause symptoms
Treatment options beyond hormone therapy
The role of exercise, nutrition, and stress management in midlife health
When (and when not) lab testing is truly needed
How the direct care model can create space for more personalized care
Events like this remind me why these community gatherings matter — they bring together education, connection, and support in a way that feels approachable and fun.