ABOUT SISTAH PAUSE
I Built the Practice I Needed — Because It Didn't Exist.
If you're in your late 30s or 40s and something feels off—you're exhausted, moody, gaining weight for no reason, or just not feeling yourself—there's a reason. And there's help.
This Isn't "Just Aging"
Most women come to us after being told everything's fine—or that what they're feeling is just stress, or aging, or in their head.
Here's the truth: your hormones are changing. Your metabolism is shifting. Your body is going through perimenopause or menopause, and most doctors either don't know how to treat it or don't take it seriously—especially for Black women.
At Sistah Pause™, we do things differently. We run the right labs, we listen to what you're actually experiencing, and we create a plan based on what your body needs—not what's "normal" on a chart.
Meet Your Provider
Mariama-Seray Barrie
FNP-BC, MSCP & FOUNDER
I built this practice because I needed it — and it didn't exist.
When I went through my own hormonal shift, I experienced something I didn't expect: invisibility. I had 15 years of clinical experience. I knew the labs, the patterns, what perimenopause looked like. And I still felt dismissed — by a system I worked inside every day. Fatigue that sleep didn't touch. Weight that moved without explanation. A mood that didn't feel like mine. And the particular exhaustion of knowing something was wrong while being told I was fine.
That experience didn't make me a better clinician because I read more about perimenopause. It made me a better clinician because I know what it costs a woman to keep showing up and leaving without answers.
I built Sistah Pause because Black women deserve more than that. They enter perimenopause earlier, experience it more severely, and receive less clinical attention for it — not because the signs aren't there, but because the right person hasn't looked. I wanted to be that person.
I'm a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and one of a small number of clinicians in the country holding the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP) credential. I've spent over 15 years in primary care, oncology, urology, and women's health. This practice is the only thing I do — because it's the thing that needs to exist.
When you work with me, I'm not just reading your labs. I'm reading your full picture. And I'm not going to tell you everything is fine when it clearly isn't.
Does Any of This Sound Like You?
WHO WE WORK WITH
You might be dealing with:
Hot flashes, night sweats, or temperature swings
Weight gain that won't budge no matter what you do
Exhaustion, brain fog, or feeling like you can't think straight
Mood swings, anxiety, or feeling irritable all the time
Trouble sleeping, low libido, or thinning hair
If you're in NY, CT, MA, or FL and you're ready to actually get help (not just another doctor telling you you're fine), we can work together.
our approach
We Actually Figure Out What's Wrong
We Run the Right Labs
Most doctors run a basic panel and call it a day. We run precision labs for—hormones, metabolism, thyroid, inflammation, nutrient levels—so we actually know what's going on.
We Listen to You
Your symptoms matter. Brain fog, weight gain, mood swings, exhaustion—they're not "just stress." They're signs your body needs support, and we take them seriously.
We Treat the Root Cause
We're not just managing symptoms. We're balancing your hormones, supporting your metabolism, fixing nutrient deficiencies, and giving your body what it needs to function again.
We Adjust as You Go
Your body changes. Your plan should too. We check in regularly, adjust your treatment, and make sure you're actually getting results—not stuck on a plan that isn't working.
We Offer Flexible Options
Not everyone needs or wants hormone therapy. We offer supplement protocols, nutrition plans, peptide therapy, and lifestyle modifications as standalone treatments or in combination—based on what YOU want.
FROM OUR patients
Real Stories, Real Results
Why Trust Sistah Pause
Fair Question.
Here's the Honest Answer.
The MSCP credential is one of the most rigorous in hormonal medicine. Perimenopause and menopause care for Black women is not a service I added to a general practice — it is the only thing Sistah Pause does.
Because I specialize in exactly this.
I run comprehensive labs and read them the way they need to be read for a Black woman in perimenopause — not what's "normal" on a reference chart, but what's optimal for your body, your age, your biology.
Because I don't guess.
Black women enter perimenopause earlier, experience it more severely, and receive less clinical attention for it. I've seen this firsthand for 15 years — and in my own experience. I built this practice to fill that gap.
Because I understand what you've been carrying.
You're not getting a prescription and a "good luck." Your plan adjusts as your body changes, through every phase of this transition.
Because I stay with you.
Ready to Actually Get Help?
Book a Discovery Session. We'll run labs, review your results, and create a plan that actually works.
free guide
Download “A Guide for Black Women: Perimenopause, Menopause, & Post-Menopause”
It’s time to reclaim your health and thrive through every stage of menopause. This free guide is designed for Black women, offering practical tools, expert insights, and the encouragement you need to feel empowered and supported on your journey.