Services
PMDD Counselling
for the weeks that take everything
Specialist PMDD therapists across England — online nationwide and face-to-face. Supporting individuals and couples who are living with the emotional impact of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
NCPS Organisational Member
Professionally registered therapists
Free 15-minute consultation
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“For years I thought I was the problem. Finding a therapist who understood PMDD — and didn’t treat it as something I was imagining — was a relief I had not expected.”
Client who sought support for PMDD
5,000+
People supported
90+
Qualified therapists
5 ★
Website Testimonials
20+
Counties across England
What PMDD counselling involves
PMDD counselling is not about treating the hormonal cycle — that sits with your GP or specialist. What it addresses is the significant psychological weight that PMDD places on people who live with it month after month: the grief, the shame, the identity questions, the relational damage, and the way old emotional patterns tend to surface in the weeks when everything already feels harder.
Many people with PMDD find that the luteal phase activates deep-rooted responses — a heightened sensitivity to perceived rejection, a collapse in self-worth, fears of being abandoned or of being too much. These reactions often have roots that go back much further than PMDD itself. Counselling can help you understand where those responses come from and begin to relate to them differently, so they carry less weight when your cycle is at its most intense.
For those whose relationships are affected — and the data is clear that PMDD does affect relationships significantly — working with a therapist creates a space to understand the pattern rather than remain trapped inside it. That might mean individual sessions, couples sessions, or a combination of both.
Sessions are confidential. There are limited circumstances where this may change — for example where there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else — and your therapist will explain these clearly before you begin.
Who We Support
Who comes to us for PMDD counselling
PMDD affects people differently. Our service is for anyone whose experience fits one of these situations.
You are living with PMDD
You want support with the emotional and psychological impact of the luteal phase — the mood shifts, the low self-worth, the way you lose yourself for part of every month. Individual sessions give you a confidential space to understand your pattern and build resources around it.
PMDD is affecting your relationship
You and your partner feel caught in a pattern you cannot seem to get ahead of. Couples counselling creates shared understanding of the cycle’s impact and helps both of you move from reactive to prepared — without blame.
You are supporting someone with PMDD
You are a partner, family member, or friend trying to understand what happens and how to help. Sessions can provide a space to make sense of the experience and find ways to offer support that actually works — for both of you.
Our Approach
How we work with PMDD
We offer several evidence-informed approaches. Your therapist will draw on what feels most suited to your situation.
PMDD & Perimenopause
For those navigating PMDD alongside perimenopause — when symptoms can intensify and overlap — we offer specialist support that recognises the distinct challenges this brings. Our therapists understand both conditions and how they interact.
Learn more about PMDD & perimenopause counselling →
PMDD Uncovered
Understanding the Storm Within
Written by Ian Stockbridge, founder of Hope Therapy & Counselling Services
This guide offers clear explanations of PMDD, practical coping strategies, CBT and mindfulness tools, and personal stories from people living with the condition. A useful companion to therapy, or a first step before reaching out.
What our clients say
Real experiences
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
For the first time I felt like someone actually understood what I was describing — not just the symptoms, but the grief of losing two weeks of every month. My therapist helped me make sense of the pattern and stop blaming myself for it.
Rachel, who sought support for PMDD
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
My partner and I did a few sessions together after my diagnosis. It changed the way we both talked about the hard weeks. We stopped seeing it as a relationship problem and started managing it together.
Nadia, who attended couples counselling for PMDD
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Being able to do sessions online meant I could get support even during the worst days when leaving the house wasn’t realistic. I’d recommend Hope Therapy to anyone struggling with PMDD.
Jo, who accessed PMDD counselling online
Client experiences are unique. Results vary between individuals.
Getting Started
What to expect
Taking the first step can feel daunting — here is how the process works.
1
Free consultation
A brief, relaxed 15-minute conversation with a member of our booking team. We listen to what is going on, explore whether counselling could help, and answer any questions you have. No pressure and no obligation.
2
Matched with a PMDD-experienced therapist
Based on your needs and preferences, we carefully match you with one of our qualified therapists with relevant PMDD experience. If the fit doesn’t feel right, we will find someone else — at no extra cost.
3
Your first session
Your therapist will take time to understand your situation, your cycle’s pattern, and what you are hoping to work on. There is no rush and nothing you have to share before you are ready.
Most clients hear back from us the same working day, and typically begin sessions within a week of the free consultation — depending on your preferences and therapist availability.
Standards you can trust
How we match you with the right PMDD therapist
Choosing a therapist for PMDD is a personal decision. We take time to get the match right.
A careful match, not a long list
Therapist availability changes from week to week, so rather than asking you to choose from a directory, we take time during your free 15-minute consultation to understand what you are looking for — and then match you with a therapist suited to your needs.
During the consultation, we will ask about:
- What you would like the work to focus on — for example the luteal phase’s emotional impact, relationship patterns, or specific coping strategies
- Whether individual counselling, couples sessions, or a combination would suit you best
- Any preferences around therapy approach (counselling, CBT, EMDR, mindfulness, ACT, compassion-focused therapy and others)
- Day and time availability that works around your cycle and your life
- Any specialist experience that matters to you — for example LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, neurodiversity-affirming support, or shared lived experience
- Practical preferences — therapist gender, age range, or other personal factors
All therapists we work with are qualified and registered with appropriate UK professional bodies, and we will confirm the most suitable options with you before any sessions begin.
Professional standards across our team
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services has been operating since 2014, and we hold Organisational Membership with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). We work in line with the NCPS Code of Ethics and BACP Good Practice, and our wider clinical standards include:
- Qualified, professionally registered therapists across the team — registrations vary per therapist and are confirmed before matching
- Ongoing clinical supervision in line with professional body requirements
- Continuing professional development to maintain and develop practice
- Clear confidentiality standards, with limits explained before sessions begin
- Client-centred, non-judgemental and inclusive practice across all areas of identity and experience
- Founder-led clinical oversight from Ian Stockbridge — MBACP (Senior Accredited) – who continues to lead the practice and oversee its standards
Whether you choose face-to-face counselling near you or online therapy from anywhere in the UK, you can expect to be matched with a therapist who is appropriately qualified and suited to the support you are looking for.
Transparent Pricing
Our fees
No hidden costs. Your therapist and fees are discussed during your free consultation.
Counselling
From £65
per 50-minute session
- Person-centred or integrative approach
- Individual or couples available
- Online via Zoom or telephone
- Face-to-face where available
CBT
From £85
per 50-minute session
- Structured, goal-focused approach
- Practical tools for the luteal phase
- Online or face-to-face
- NICE-recommended approach
Couples Counselling
From £85
per 50-minute session
- For couples navigating PMDD together
- Joint or individual sessions available
- Online or face-to-face
- Reduces blame, builds connection
EMDR
From £95
per session
- Trained EMDR practitioners
- Online via Zoom or telephone
- Face-to-face where available
- Sessions typically 60–90 minutes
Looking for a more affordable option? We may be able to offer sessions at a reduced rate — just ask during your free consultation.
London clients: Location-adjusted rates may apply. Please ask during your free consultation and we will confirm the exact fee before you commit to anything.
A printable overview of our counselling service for PMDD — useful to keep or share.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is PMDD counselling?
PMDD counselling is talking therapy tailored to the psychological and relational impact of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It does not treat the hormonal dimension of PMDD — that is a matter for your GP or specialist — but it does help you understand the emotional patterns that arise during the luteal phase, build coping strategies, and navigate the effect PMDD has on your relationships and sense of self.
Do your therapists have specific experience of PMDD?
Yes. Hope Therapy has a specialist PMDD service with clinical oversight from Ian Stockbridge, founder and MBACP Senior Accredited counsellor — who is also the published author of PMDD Uncovered. We carefully match clients with therapists who have relevant experience of PMDD and the emotional patterns associated with it, working alongside any medical treatment you are already receiving.
Can counselling help alongside medical treatment for PMDD?
Yes. Counselling works alongside medical treatment — such as SSRIs or hormonal therapies — rather than as an alternative. Many people find that understanding the emotional and relational impact of PMDD, and developing coping strategies, is valuable alongside whatever medical support they are receiving. Your therapist will not advise on medication but can complement your existing care.
Is PMDD counselling available online?
Yes. All our therapists offer sessions online via Zoom or telephone, available to anyone across the UK. Many people find online sessions easier to access — particularly during the luteal phase when leaving the house can feel difficult. Face-to-face sessions are also available in locations across England. Both options are discussed during the free consultation.
Can my partner attend sessions too?
Yes. We offer both individual counselling and couples counselling for people affected by PMDD. Many couples find joint sessions helpful — they create shared understanding of the cycle’s impact and a space to develop communication strategies for the harder weeks. You can start individually and bring your partner in later if that feels right.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies. Some people benefit from a short, focused course — perhaps six to eight sessions — aimed at building coping strategies for the luteal phase. Others find longer-term work more useful, particularly where PMDD connects to underlying anxiety, trauma, or relationship patterns. There is no fixed number — your therapist will review progress with you as you go.
Still have questions? The free consultation is the easiest way to ask them — no pressure to book sessions.
Related Support
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From Our Blog
Articles about PMDD
PMDD vs Perimenopause – Understanding What Your Body Is Really Telling You
There’s a quiet kind of confusion that many women carry for months, sometimes years, before they begin to…
PMDD and Relationships: Why It Affects Love & What Helps
If you live with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, you may already recognise the emotional intensity it brings. What many…
“I’m struggling with severe low moods and anxiety, and I believe they’re linked to my menstrual cycle.”
I’ve always had some emotional ups and downs, but since coming off the pill, something has shifted dramatically.…
Meet Our Founder
Built by someone who saw the need from the inside
★
SCoPEd Band C
MBACP & SNCPS Senior Accredited
“Having worked for more than 25 years in senior management, I saw the same thing repeatedly — people struggling with mental health and relationship challenges, and so often struggling to access the right support when it was needed. It was out of this recognition of human need that Hope was born.”
Ian Stockbridge founded Hope Therapy after 25+ years leading large commercial teams – watching colleagues carry stress, anxiety, and personal difficulty with nowhere to turn. He retrained rigorously, now holding Senior Accredited status with both the BACP and NCPS, alongside SCoPEd Band C — the highest independent competence verification in the UK counselling profession.
He remains a practising therapist, clinical supervisor, published author of PMDD Uncovered, and co-presenter of The Talk Room Podcast. Hope Therapy was built on the things he saw were most broken – and designed, from the ground up, to do better.
MBACP (Senior Accredited)
SNCPS (Acc)
SCoPEd Band C
BSc (Hons) CBT
PGCert Supervision L7
Quality Award 2024 — 95%+
You do not have to keep weathering this on your own
A free, no-obligation 15-minute conversation. No pressure, no script — just a chance to be heard, ask questions, and see whether we feel like the right fit.
Get in Touch
Start your enquiry
Not sure where to start? Send us a message and a member of our team will get back to you. All enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“From the very first phone call, I felt heard. They didn’t rush me — they helped me work out what I needed.”
Hope Therapy enquiry feedback
NCPS Organisational Member
Est 2014
90+ Qualified Therapists
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies
Individual registrations vary per therapist. Last reviewed: May 2026.