Working Psychodynamically with the Menstrual Cycle
Book ticketsOrganised by:
Manor House Centre for Psychotherapy and Counselling
Description
An online workshop with Letticia Banton
Saturday 10th May 2025
10am-1pm
Each month, for over three decades of life, female hormonal fluctuations result in a range of physiological, physical, and psychological changes that can impact a woman’s intrapsychic and interpersonal worlds in a profound way. Yet, many people don’t openly discuss the menstrual cycle in western mainstream culture, and it is followed by a pervasive shadow of shame, as well as a long history of misogyny. Menstruation has been silenced and this is evident in psychodynamic theory, research and practice, where there is a ‘silent’ gap in knowledge
As psychotherapists, how can we more openly, sensitively, and insightfully think and talk about what menstruation may mean? To explore this question, Letticia will draw on relevant psychodynamic literature and share findings from her doctoral research, which explored how female clients experienced their menstruality during psychotherapy with a male therapist. The training will include interactive exercises to help participants reflect on the ideas being shared.
While the content of the session will primarily be about women’s experience, we recognise not all women have periods and not all people who have periods identify as women. We intend this to be an inclusive event that recognises subjectivity. We welcome women, men, and gender non-conforming therapists to join us to think about how the menstrual cycle may impact clients and therapists of all genders in a variety of ways.
Letticia Banton is a UKCP qualified integrative psychotherapist and BPS accredited Counselling Psychologist. Psychodynamic and existential-phenomenological theory and research informs her practice and she holds a doctorate in psychology and psychotherapy from the Metanoia Institute, London. She currently works in private practice and consults for Tavistock Relationships CPD programme.
