Episode 20 - Queering Internal Family Systems (IFS) - Queering Menstrual Cycle Awareness in Therapy
Queering Menstrual Cycle Awareness in Therapy, with Dr Charlie Ingham and Nancy Bancroft
What happens when you bring the cyclical body into the therapy room, without the binaries, the "divine feminine", or the blue liquid?
In this episode, Jude and Alessio are joined by clinical psychologists and IFS therapists Dr Charlie Ingham (she/they) and Dr Nancy Bancroft (she/her), who are about to run a training on menstrual cycle awareness for therapists. Together they explore how knowing your cycle can bring more Self-energy, more clarity and more compassion to your inner system, and how to talk about it in a way that includes everyone for whom it's relevant: women, trans and non-binary people with periods, intersex people, and anyone curious about the cycles moving through their body.
In this episode:
Hormonal literacy, not gender: moving menstrual cycle awareness away from gender essentialism and patronising, feminised language
Why therapists might hesitate, and the history of female bodies being dismissed as "hormonal" and left out of research
A biology lesson: circadian and infradian rhythms, oestrogen and progesterone, and why we are all cyclical beings
Multiplicity of cycles and multiplicity of parts: what menstrual cycle awareness and IFS have in common
Premenstrual pain, anger and exhaustion as communication, and as trailheads to what still needs healing
Neurodivergence, PMDD and misdiagnosis
Capitalism, patriarchy and colonialism in the models therapists were trained in
Ancient wisdom that has been lost, not newly discovered
How to invite clients into cycle tracking without invalidating their experience
A starting point from Charlie: before you begin tracking, drop in and notice which parts show up when you think about this.
Guests
Dr Charlie Ingham (she/they): Instagram @drcharlieingham
Dr Nancy Bancroft (she/her): Instagram @thebodyinmind
Website and booking:
Resources mentioned
Her Blood Is Gold by Dr Lara Owen
Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer
Red School and The Menstruality Podcast
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Disclaimer
This podcast is hosted by qualified therapists who share personal reflections and professional insights into therapy and mental health. The views expressed are those of the individual speakers or guests and are personal to them.
While we talk about therapy, this podcast is not therapy. It's for information, reflection, and conversation only, and should never be considered a substitute for professional mental health support, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening to this podcast does not create a therapist-client relationship.
Some episodes may touch on sensitive topics, so please take care while listening. If you're struggling, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified therapist or mental health professional in your area.
Guest opinions are their own and don't necessarily reflect those of the hosts.
Contacts
Alessio Rizzo (He/They) is a Certified IFS psychotherapist, IFS Trainer with the IFS Institute, and Approved Clinical Consultant (ACC): www.therapywithalessio.com
Jude Carn (She/They) is a Certified IFS psychotherapist and Approved Clinical Consultant (ACC): www.anchoredinself.co.uk | Instagram @anchored_in_self
Sound editing by Forbes Coleman
