Can You Be a Menstrual Cycle Coach If You Still Struggle with Your Own Cycle?
One of the most common questions we get at the Menstrual Coach Academy is:
"Can I really train to be a menstrual coach if I’m still struggling with my own menstrual health?"
It’s an important and valid question, especially for those of us who feel passionate about the work but worry about being "qualified" while still dealing with our own symptoms. For many, the fear of being seen as an imposter can be overwhelming, leading to doubts about whether you’re ready to support others in their menstrual health journey.
If you feel this way, you’re not alone.
Lisa’s Personal Journey
I came into this field for personal reasons too. For years, I dealt with debilitating menstrual pain that felt unmanageable. I spent so much time searching for answers, and while I eventually found some relief, my healing journey was far from linear. Even after I began working with clients and teaching this work, I still struggled with my own symptoms.
But here’s the truth: You don’t need to be "fully healed" to be a powerful and effective coach or practicionner.
In fact, your personal experience can become a deeply valuable part of your professional practice. Here at the Menstrual Coach Academy, we focus on teaching you how to hold space for your own personal growth while providing exceptional support for your clients. It’s about learning how to manage your inner critic, embrace your humanity, and understand that no one needs to be perfect to guide others. Because this is what we want for your clients too!
Why Imposter Syndrome Shows Up in Menstrual Coaching
Imposter syndrome often stems from the pressure to have everything figured out before we feel "qualified" to help others. This is especially true in the wellness industry, where there’s often a societal push to present a flawless image of health.
But the reality is that menstrual health—and health in general—is complex and non-linear. The idea that we need to have the "perfect cycle" or be free of all symptoms in order to coach others is not only unrealistic, but it also sets up harmful expectations for ourselves and our clients.
In fact, living with the ups and downs of your own cycle can actually make you a more compassionate, insightful coach. Your personal challenges can offer valuable lessons that enrich your work, allowing you to connect with clients in an authentic and empathetic way.
How to Separate Your Personal Journey from Your Client Work
At the Menstrual Coach Academy, we teach a "Cycle Coaching Framework" that empowers practicionners to work through these challenges with confidence and clarity. One of the key components is learning how to create healthy boundaries between your personal menstrual journey and your client work.
Here are some of the foundational skills you’ll learn in our training:
Establishing Boundaries: We guide you on how to create strong boundaries between your personal experiences and the support you offer clients. This ensures that you can show up fully for them, without letting your own challenges interfere.
Avoiding the Comparison Trap: It's easy to fall into comparing yourself to other professionals in this space, but we’ll teach you how to recognise and avoid this trap so you can focus on what makes your work unique.
Leveraging Your Personal Experience: Your lived experience is a powerful tool. We’ll show you how to use your story in a way that serves your clients without promoting the idea of a "Cinderella story" or perfection.
Embracing the "Good-Enough-Coach" Method: You don’t have to be a perfect coach to make progress with your clients. In our programme, you’ll learn how to focus on your clients and quiet that inner critic that tells you otherwise.
The "Good-Enough-Coach" Method
The pressure to have everything perfectly figured out often leads to burnout and feelings of inadequacy. That’s why at the Menstrual Coach Academy, we embrace the "Good-Enough-Coach" Method.
This method encourages coaches to focus on being present with their clients, offering compassionate and knowledgeable support, without the unrealistic expectation of being flawless. In fact, the more we embrace our imperfections and humanity, the better we can support others in their own messy, non-linear journeys.
Why Society Promotes the Myth of the "Perfect Cycle"
Imposter syndrome and the pressure to "have it all together" don’t just come from within. They’re largely the product of societal norms that only value certainty, perfection, and rigid definitions of wellness. This black-and-white approach leaves little room for the complexities of being human and navigating the fluctuations of the menstrual cycle.
The wellness industry often reinforces these pressures by promoting images of a perfectly balanced life and a flawless cycle, leading many to feel they’re falling short if they experience discomfort or irregularity. At the Menstrual Coach Academy, we push back against this narrative. Instead, we focus on embracing the true, imperfect nature of the menstrual cycle and what it means to be human. And often, this leads to huge relief and a sense of freedom.
What You’ll Learn at the Menstrual Coach Academy
At the Menstrual Coach Academy, we do things differently. Our training will teach you:
How to hold radical compassion for your own journey while maintaining strong boundaries with your clients.
How to use nervous system tools specific to the menstrual cycle to soothe pain and anxiety, so you can show up more fully for your clients.
How to turn your lived experience into a unique asset in your coaching practice and marketing efforts.
The "Self-Client-Business" framework, helping you navigate when to share personal experiences in your work—and when it’s best not to.
By the end of the programme, you’ll feel confident in your ability to offer empowering support, without feeling the need to have everything figured out in your own life.
Ready to Embrace The Journey?
If you’re ready to step into the work of menstrual coaching, knowing that your personal journey is a strength rather than a limitation, the Menstrual Coach Academy is here for you.
Join our waitlist below to be first to hear when doors open.