Meeting Menopause

Many of us find ourselves challenged and bewildered by both the psychological and physical changes that arrive with the approach of the menopause. We have a feeling that we don’t quite “fit” in our own skin anymore. And with a cultural backdrop that seems to have only negative things to say about the menopause this can be a lonely place.  

  

And yet menopause is a completely normal and healthy process of transition that affects every woman many of us. It can be a dynamic gateway to exciting change and to you authoring your own story: feeling empowered to bring a fuller version of yourself to this stage of life. The programme aims to support you in seeing beyond ‘symptoms’ and connecting with the possibilities that menopause can bring to envision the purpose, meaning and wisdom you want to bring to your life. It’s an opportunity to reclaim and remember parts of ourselves, our stories and our bodily experiences that may have been silenced and to engage with our relationship to masculine and feminine energy within ourselves.

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It is not just for those of us who are experiencing symptoms, but for anyone in the perimenopause, menopause, or post menopause phase or simply wanting to know more. Much of the research, and nearly all of the media coverage is dominated by the experience of white, middle class, cis gender, heterosexual, able bodied, neuro typical women, and when we see images of menopause in the mainstream it tends to be older white women with grey hair. We know that anyone with a uterus, and or identifying as a woman may experience menopause and we don’t believe in a one size fits all approach, but rather that everyone experiences menopause in their own individual and personal way. Our experience of menopause may be very different according to life experiences, our personal history, physical health and lifestyle. There is a huge diversity of experience, and while acknowledging our own internalised biases and lack of information, we are passionate about learning and widening our understanding of how menopause is experienced. We welcome everyone wanting to explore or experiencing this transition and aim to create a safe space for all. 

 

We will use a process of personal Enquiry that we will work with individually and collectively, to provide a framework for the programme and so that the exploration journey is always relevant and pertinent for your particular experience of this life transition.

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Meeting Menopause Programme

You can either do a full 6 month programme which includes 6 individual counselling sessions (to be scheduled  with you directly) plus a weekend retreat with 10-15 other women. Or, you can opt for the weekend package which includes the weekend retreat plus one individual counselling session. 

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Weekend Retreat 

16th - 18th May 2025, Surrey

At Claridge House Retreat Centre, Dormans Rd, Dormansland, Lingfield RH7 6QH 

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This weekend experience offers women time to process, prepare for, or integrate the changes and challenges of menopause.  

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We will use a powerful combination of simple physical practices and meditation (drawing on yoga and qi gong), the story Seal Skin Soul Skin from Clarissa Pinkola Estes book “Women Who Run with The Wolves" (as a map to the unconscious), time in nature, group processes such as shadow and archetype work and creativity techniques. We use these different ways of knowing to explore our inner world and what messages from the unconscious may be waiting to bring us insights.  

It is an opportunity to sit in circle with other women, share stories and tap into the collective intelligence and the field created by a group of wise women.

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Online Counselling Sessions (to be scheduled individually)

Individual sessions with a qualified counsellor allows for time to really focus on ourselves and our specific issues and provides ongoing structure and support. 

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Pricing 

Full 6 month programme which includes weekend retreat (residential with accommodation and food included) at Claridge House plus 6 individual counselling sessions £920. 

 

Weekend retreat only (residential) £590 which includes £290 for weekend with two facilitators + pre weekend

1-1 counselling session and £300 for food and accommodation - single occupancy. 

Further 1-1 counselling sessions can be added at a later date at £75 per session.

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If you feel drawn to this work but price is an obstacle, we will be offering subsidised non residential courses in London. So please sign up or get in touch.

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Practicalities 

Simple bedrooms, single occupancy but opportunity to share.

Healthy vegetarian meals provided to be eaten together, family style.