Connecting the Dots Between Hormones and Mental Health: Our Journey Toward Better PMDD Support

April is Premenstrual Disorder (PMD) Awareness Month, and if you’ve been following our work at The Path Wellness Center, you know this is something we care about deeply, both personally and professionally.

We’ve spent years in the trenches with PMDD, living it, treating it, and trying to make sense of something that, for too long, has flown under the radar of both the medical and mental health worlds.

That’s why we’re honored to be presenting at the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Annual Conference this year. Our workshop, titled “Premenstrual Disorders: Connecting the Dots Between Hormones and Mental Health”, will be held in San Francisco on May 3, 2025. And honestly? It feels like a full-circle moment.

Because this work didn’t just come from textbooks or research studies (though we love those too). It came from real life. From sitting across from clients who felt broken and misunderstood. From our own stories of trying to figure out why things felt so unmanageable for two weeks out of every month. From navigating a system that often told us it was all in our heads.

How We Built Our Approach

Over the past decade, we've listened closely, to our clients, to our bodies, to the science, and created a wellness approach that’s both research-based and deeply compassionate. One that takes into account the whole person, not just the symptoms.

Here’s a glimpse into the process we walk through with clients experiencing PMDD, PME, or severe PMS:

• Psychoeducation + Cycle Awareness
  We start by helping clients understand what’s happening inside their bodies. Hormonal shifts can impact everything from mood and energy to self-worth and relationships. Mapping these changes helps normalize the experience and reduce shame.

• Acceptance + Meaning-Making
  This isn’t about “fixing” you—it’s about making space for what’s hard, honoring your pain, and understanding the deeper emotional stories that get stirred up each cycle.

• Parts Work + Identity Repair
  We explore how symptoms can feel like they hijack who you are, and we work with those parts (often using tools like IFS or inner child work) to restore a sense of self.

• Nervous System Healing
  PMDD doesn’t just live in the mind. It activates the whole system. We bring in somatic tools, polyvagal techniques, and trauma-informed practices to help clients regulate, soothe, and feel safe again in their bodies.

• Relational Repair
  So many people with PMDD feel isolated or misunderstood in their relationships. We incorporate couples work, communication tools, and boundary-setting strategies to help reconnect and rebuild trust.

• Cycle-Informed Living
  We tailor treatment to the rhythm of your cycle, helping clients develop luteal phase plans, symptom tracking tools, and agreements with loved ones to get through the harder weeks with more grace and support.
  

Why This Work Matters

For too many, PMDD is a silent struggle. It's misdiagnosed, minimized, and often met with confusion, even by professionals. But we're changing that.

This month’s presentation at CAMFT is a step in that direction. It's our way of giving back to the field and bringing more therapists into the conversation, so fewer people have to walk this path alone.

We believe healing is possible when we connect the dots, listen to lived experience, and create space for the full complexity of what it means to live in a cyclical body.

If you or someone you love is struggling with the emotional toll of PMDD or other premenstrual disorders, we see you. And we’re here to help.

Join Us at CAMFT 2025

If you’re a clinician looking to deepen your understanding of hormonal health and its impact on mental health, we’d love for you to join us at the CAMFT 2025 Annual Conference in San Francisco.

Where: Hilton San Francisco Union Square
When: May 2–3, 2025
CEUs: Earn up to 20 Continuing Education Units

We’ll be presenting our workshop, “Premenstrual Disorders: Connecting the Dots Between Hormones and Mental Health”, on Saturday, May 3rd, and we would be thrilled to see you there.

Whether you're brand new to this topic or looking to expand your clinical toolkit, this conversation will be informative, accessible, and rooted in real-world experience.

✨ Click here for workshop info and registration

We can’t wait to connect with you in community, share stories, and continue this important conversation together.

- Kimberly + Jen