Jones Family Counseling Center, PLLC

06/21/2026

Last night I sat in my living room breaking green beans and listening to music.

It reminded me of sitting with my grandma and my sisters years ago doing the same thing.

As a therapist, I spend a lot of time talking about self-care, stress, and nervous system regulation. But it struck me that people have been doing things that calm their minds for generations without calling it anything special.

There was something relaxing about the repetitive rhythm of breaking beans. No pressure to accomplish anything else. No scrolling. Just being present for a little while.

It made me wonder what those activities are for other people.

Maybe it’s fishing. Maybe it’s gardening. Maybe it’s quilting, baking, walking, or sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee.

Sometimes the things that help us slow down aren’t complicated at all.

Sometimes they’re the same things our grandparents were doing all along.

06/14/2026

06/10/2026

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06/05/2026

Can we talk about the rage?

The way the smallest thing can flip a switch you didn’t know you had.

A noise.

A question.

A dish left in the sink.

And then the guilt that shows up right behind it.

“Why did I react like that? That’s not me.”

Here’s what I want you to hear.

A shorter fuse is very common during perimenopause. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad mom, a bad wife, or a bad friend.

It means your body is going through a real transition, and you’re probably running on empty.

You don’t have to shame yourself for struggling.

And you don’t have to navigate it alone.

— Lisa Jones, LPC-MHSP
Jones Family Counseling Center
Knoxville, TN
865-392-5225

06/05/2026

You walked into the kitchen with a purpose.

Now you’re just standing there, wondering what you came for.

If your brain has felt like it’s buffering lately, you are not getting old and you are not failing.

Losing words in the middle of a sentence. Reading the same paragraph three times. Forgetting why you walked into a room.

It’s one of the most common parts of perimenopause, and it can make smart, capable women feel like they’re slipping.

You’re not slipping. Your body is just working harder than you realize.

Be patient with yourself today. You’re doing better than you think.

Lisa Jones, LPC-MHSP
Jones Family Counseling Center

06/04/2026

Perimenopause is wild.
One minute you’re looking for your phone while talking on your phone.
The next minute you’re crying over a dog food commercial.
Then you’re awake at 3:00 a.m. wondering if you’re losing your mind.
You’re probably not.
Many women are surprised to learn that anxiety, irritability, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, sleep changes, and feeling emotionally overwhelmed can all show up during perimenopause.
The hard part is that nobody talks about it.
So if you’ve found yourself thinking, “I don’t feel like myself lately,” you’re not alone.
Today, give yourself a little extra grace.
And if you’re struggling, we’re here to help. You don’t have to navigate these changes on your own.
Lisa Jones, LPC-MHSP
Jones Family Counseling Center, Knoxville
Now offering in-person and telehealth appointments
865-392-5225
[email protected]