Endometriosis and painful periods are influenced in part by stress patterns around your cycle, past unprocessed trauma, and the way the body holds protective patterns over time. With somatic therapy, we work to de-armor the physical soft tissue and the stored emotional trauma. This work supports your nervous system in softening chronic tension and reducing stress responses, so your period can become more easeful over time.

Unprocessed trauma is held in the body, and for many women this may be stored in the pelvis. Many women have, at some point, experienced sexual trauma in their personal lives, and some research in epigenetics suggests that stress patterns in the pelvis may also be influenced by our female ancestors. Historically, gynecological care has not always been gentle or safe, and women’s menstruation and sexuality have often been shaped by oppression and shame. There can be a number of emotional, biological, historical, and societal factors that influence what the body holds and how pain is experienced. Additionally, we live in a world that is often structured around men's 24 hour hormonal rhythm rather than women's monthly hormonal rhythm of the menstrual cycle. For this reason, many women are overextended, under-rested, and not supported in meeting the regulation and recovery their nervous systems need. In our sessions, we work together to understand your pain and support your cycle toward greater regulation, safety, and ease.

Yes—heightened stress and unresolved trauma can contribute to increased period pain for some women. When the nervous system is in a state of ongoing stress or protection, the body can experience symptoms more intensely during the menstrual cycle. For some women, working through trauma and stress in mental health therapy heals their periods completely, after several years of intense and painful periods. However, this is not a promised outcome, and healing is a gradual process that takes time, support, and consistency.

You don’t need a diagnosis to know what you feel. If you are experiencing pain during your cycle, your body may be signalling that something in your system needs attention and support. This can relate to your relationship with your body, your emotional world, stress levels, or the way you are living and relating in your daily life. In our sessions, we focus on deepening awareness of your body’s pain signals and supporting you to build a greater sense of alignment, ease, and self-trust over time.