Medical Gaslighting & Self-Advocacy in Menopause

How to Stop Dismissal and Build Trust

Speaker:: Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C
Duration:: 1 Hour 25 Minutes
Format:: Audio and Video
Copyright:: Oct 13, 2025
Product Code:: POS065690
Media Type:: Digital Seminar

Price
$129.99 - Standard

“It’s just menopause.”

How many times have patients heard that line — or something like it — when they bring up fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, or pain? Too often, their concerns are brushed off as “normal,” when in reality, dismissal leads to missed diagnoses, worse outcomes, and a complete breakdown of trust.

This powerful session gives you the tools to break that cycle. You’ll learn how to spot the subtle differences between typical menopause symptoms and dangerous mimics like thyroid disease, autoimmune flares, and cardiovascular issues. You’ll practice using language that validates patient concerns without overpromising, and you’ll get simple scripts to replace dismissal with confidence and clarity.

But we won’t stop at the exam room. You’ll also discover how to guide patients in building self-advocacy skills — from symptom tracking to asking the right questions — so they become active partners in their care. And you’ll walk away with documentation strategies that protect both your patient and your practice when tough visits get recorded in the chart.

Walk away ready to differentiate red flags from routine, validate patients without feeding misinformation, and equip them with the tools they need to finally feel seen, supported, and safe in your care.

Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C Related seminars and products

Tara Harding, DNP, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner who specializes in women’s health, operating Simply You Wellness Clinic with patients worldwide. Dr. Harding’s expertise includes treatment for PMDD/PMS, endometriosis, miscarriage, infertility, PCOS, and more. She empowers her patients to become partners in their health journey, supporting them as they navigate the path to optimal health and well-being.

Additionally, Dr. Harding has drawn from her own personal women’s health challenges to leverage her knowledge to help patients. As a result, her unique and successful approach to healthcare is the foundation for the podcast that she hosts, Hopeful Hints: An Infertility Podcast.

Dr. Harding received her master’s and doctorate degree from George Washington University and has received an additional certification through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Tara Harding is the owner of Simply You Wellness and has employment relationships with South Central Health and Ashley Medical Center. Tara Harding receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Tara Harding is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the North Dakota Nurse Practitioners Association, the American Nurses Association and North Dakota Nurses Association, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)

Access never expires for this product.

For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepepesi.com

Recognize patterns of medical gaslighting and implicit bias that contribute to symptom dismissal in menopausal patients.
Demonstrate patient-centered communication strategies—including active listening, reflective responses, and validation techniques—that build trust and reduce perceived dismissal.
Integrate self-advocacy tools, including symptom tracking templates and communication scripts, into patient education to support effective healthcare encounters.
Apply documentation language that objectively records patient concerns, avoids judgmental terminology, and supports appropriate referrals.

Understanding the Problem

Why this matters: Statistics on women's healthcare disparities
Survey results on patient dismissal experiences
Challenges women face in healthcare

Recognizing Medical Gaslighting

Definition and importance of addressing gaslighting
Dismissal tactics and psychological attribution
Vulnerability factors: ageism and gender bias
Patient impacts and consequences
System-level costs (individual, healthcare, societal)
Implicit bias in healthcare

Provider Strategies for Better Care

Creating a comfortable environment
Effective communication strategies (active listening, reflective responses, validation)
Body language cues
Comprehensive patient assessment and history taking
Evidence-based treatment and shared decision-making
Documentation tips for validating patient experiences

Patient Self-Advocacy Tools

Symptom tracking strategies
Communication during visits
Follow-up actions
Effective communication scripts
Building support networks
Teaching patients to recognize gaslighting

Case Studies

Case 1: The Dismissed Executive
Case 2: The Persistent Advocate

Creating Change

System-level changes providers can make
Action plan (immediate, short-term, long-term)
Key takeaways

Chiropractors
Nurse Practitioners
Nurses,
Physical Therapists
Physician Assistants
Physicians
Other healthcare professionals

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