I help women understand what’s happening in menopause and know what to do next
I know what it feels like when your body stops responding the way it used to.
When the things that used to work - the way you ate, the way you exercised, the way you managed stress - suddenly don’t. When you’re tired in a way that doesn’t respond to rest. When your mood shifts in ways you don’t fully recognise. When you feel, in some quiet but persistent way, that you’re not quite yourself.
I’m Phillipa Jacobs-Smith. I’m a UKIHCA-accredited Certified Nutrition and Health Coach specialising in perimenopause and menopause - and I built this practice because I’ve experienced many of the same frustrations myself, and because I couldn’t find the kind of support I needed when I was there.
Why I do this work
I went through perimenopause while working full-time, trying to hold everything together and trying - quite hard - to figure out what was happening to me.
I had done the reading. I had attended the appointments. I had, in theory, quite a good understanding of what perimenopause was and why my body was changing. And yet I still found myself standing in the kitchen at 7pm, exhausted, with no idea what to eat that would actually help.
I knew sleep disruption was common. I didn't know how to sleep better. I knew nutrition mattered. I didn't know what that meant on a practical, daily basis - in my actual life, with my actual schedule.
And here is the thing that frustrated me most: the information was everywhere. But nobody had helped me turn it into something I could actually do. There was a significant gap between knowing and doing - between understanding menopause and being able to live well through it.
That gap is what I now call the Menopause Action Gap™. And it is where, I have come to understand, most women get stuck. Not because they haven't tried. Not because they aren't intelligent or motivated. But because they have never had the right kind of support to close it.
That's what I trained to provide. And it's why this work matters to me in a way that goes beyond professional interest.
If you want to understand the Menopause Action Gap™ in more depth - and how coaching specifically addresses it - there's a full explanation on the Coaching page.
I don’t lecture. I don’t hand you a generic plan. I don’t just tell you what to do.
When I work with a woman, the first thing I do is listen. Properly. Not a ten-minute conversation before handing over a protocol - a genuine attempt to understand your specific situation: your history, your symptoms, your life, what you've already tried, and what matters most to you.
Because here is something I have come to believe strongly: the women who come to me are not short of information. Most of them have read widely, researched carefully, and tried multiple things. What they are short of is a personalised approach that actually accounts for their specific life - and someone who will hold them accountable to it while also being honest when things need to change. Often what's really missing is permission -permission to make their own health matter as much as everyone else's.
I don't hand you a meal plan and disappear. I don't give you a list of twenty things to change and leave you to work out which ones matter most. I don't tell you that everything is fixable with the right smoothie or a positive mindset.
What I do is work with you to build something specific, practical, and realistic - and then stay alongside you while you actually implement it. Adjusting when life gets in the way, which it always does. Being honest when something isn't working and helping you understand why. Noticing when you've made genuine progress and making sure you notice it too.
The coaching follows the structured MHC Method™ - a five-pillar approach covering nourishing nutrition, gut and hormonal health, strength and movement, sustainable habit change, and sleep and stress regulation. You can learn more about my coaching approach on the Coaching page.
If you'd like to explore the MHC Method™ at your own pace, Menopause Essentials introduces all five pillars through a structured self-paced programme.
If you want personalised support to apply the approach to your own circumstances, 1:1 menopause coaching provides that next level of guidance and accountability.
The experience behind my coaching
My approach to menopause coaching has been shaped by more than qualifications alone. Before specialising in menopause health coaching, I spent over two decades working in sport and wellbeing within higher education, including 15 years as Deputy Head of Sport & Leisure at a London University.
Earlier in my career I worked in personal fitness, developing a lasting appreciation of the role movement and strength play in long-term health. Combined with my professional training in health coaching, these experiences continue to influence the practical, evidence-informed approach I bring to supporting women through menopause.
Qualifications and practice
“I truly cannot imagine a more empathetic, knowledgeable, and engaging speaker. Her presentation was clear, thoughtful, comprehensive, and accessible, while also addressing the topic with great sensitivity and care. She helped normalize many of the experiences our members are navigating and created a supportive, reassuring space for learning and connection.”
Jodi Epstein, Director of Member Engagement, Single Mothers by Choice® NYC.
Talks and guest speaking
I deliver evidence-informed talks and workshops on perimenopause and menopause for workplaces, charities, community organisations and women's groups.
Every session is tailored to the audience, combining clear education with practical strategies women can apply in everyday life.
If you're looking for a speaker for your organisation or community group, I'd be happy to discuss a tailored session.
Evidence-informed practice
I am careful about the claims I make. Menopause is an area with an extraordinary amount of noise - bold promises, extreme protocols and products marketed with more confidence than the evidence supports.
My practice is grounded in current research and clinical guidance, with particular reference to guidance from the British Menopause Society and NICE in the UK. Where evidence is limited or contested, I say so - and I do not dress up uncertainty as confidence just because it sounds more reassuring.
I work within my UKIHCA Scope of Practice. I do not prescribe, diagnose, or replace medical care. When something is outside my scope, I say that clearly and help you find the right support.
Inclusive support
Menopause is not a uniform experience. It varies considerably by individual, by ethnicity, by health history, by circumstance and by the way someone identifies and experiences their gender
Surgical and medically-induced menopause - including menopause following cancer treatment - brings its own specific and often acute considerations. Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) affects women much earlier than natural menopause and requires a different understanding and approach. Menopause experience also differs significantly across ethnic backgrounds, in ways that are increasingly - though still insufficiently - documented in the research.
While most of the people I support identify as women, I welcome anyone experiencing perimenopause or menopause, including trans men and non-binary people. My approach is always centred on the individual in front of me, their health, their circumstances and the support they need.
I work with people across a wide range of backgrounds, circumstances, and health histories. If your situation is complex, or if you're not sure whether it falls within the scope of what coaching can offer, please don't assume it doesn't. The Clarity Call is the right place to ask.
I am also experienced in supporting people who are managing menopause in a professional environment - including those in roles where disclosure feels complicated or where symptoms are significantly affecting their working life.
For organisations looking for workplace menopause education and support, the Workplace Support page covers what's available.
What working together looks like
Book your free Clarity Call
A 30-minute conversation - no obligation, no pressure. A chance to ask whatever is on your mind, understand your options, and find out whether working together makes sense.
If it's not the right fit, I'll tell you honestly - and point you towards something that might help more.
Ready to take the next step?
Find out how coaching can help you turn understanding into practical, lasting change.