An Exploration of Therapists' Experiences of the Interplay Between Menstruation and its Symptoms and their Professional Practice

Aim of Research

This qualitative study is looking to understand if and how your menstrual cycle informs your therapeutic practice. There is a growing body of research acknowledging that working with our clients menstrual cycle can benefit their experience and how menstruation can affect one's experience in the workplace. There is limited research exploring how the menstrual cycle affects the experiences of therapists as they navigate their practice and their ongoing and unique experiences with menstruation. The exploration of this subject could help us become more present and embodied practitioners who are comfortable acknowledging and navigating this part of our lives for ourselves and our colleges.

- The aim of this research is to explore the relationship between how therapists engage with their practice whilst living with menstruation and its symptoms and offer a space to explore the lived experiences of people telling stories that have not been addressed in research

- This exploration hopes to glean understanding of the lived experiences of therapists in practice while experiencing the interplay between practice and symptoms.

Data Collection Methods

Data collection will happen through an interview over a secure Teams call. This interview will be recorded and transcribed. This data will be used to develop themes that will be explored through the methodology of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

Participant Criteria

You have been working as a therapist in any modality for at least three years.

You have experienced menstruation during that period of time.

You are a member of a therapeutic professional body such as the BACP

This study is open to cis, transgender and non-binary individuals with no age requirements.

How participants can register their interest

If you are interested please contact Rebecca Silk at 215062@student.bacoll.ac.uk Interviews will begin late September

You can view the advert and participant information sheet here.