PMDD therapy onlineEvery month doesn’t have to feel like this.
Every month, for a week or two, you may feel like someone else: quicker to anger, close to tears, flattened by despair or anxiety you cannot explain. Then your period starts and, within days, the fog lifts, leaving you to repair the damage and wonder why no one seems to take it seriously.
Online in English, with a therapist from our team, wherever you live · Sessions in Greek are with Matina Ladikou.
Each session lasts 45 minutes and costs 70 €. All fees
At Art of Mind, a centre founded by psychotherapist Matina LadikouAt a glance
- Format
- Online by video on Google Meet, 45-minute sessions.
- Who you work with
- A therapist from our team, in English. In Greek, Matina Ladikou.
- Getting started
- Send an enquiry; we reply within 24 hours.
There is help
You don’t have to face this on your own
If this rhythm sounds familiar, you may be living with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD.
At Art of Mind, a psychotherapy centre founded in Patras, Greece in 2019, we offer psychological support for PMDD in English, online by video, with a therapist from our centre. We see this as one part of your care: PMDD needs medical assessment, and therapy works alongside what your doctor provides.
Not "just PMS"
Premenstrual changes are common, and many people experience mild mood or physical symptoms before a period. PMDD is different in its intensity. The NHS describes it as a more severe form of PMS, in which symptoms such as intense anxiety, anger or depression, headaches, sleep problems and overeating can affect everyday life far more (NHS). The US Office on Women's Health lists severe irritability or anger, sadness or despair, tension, panic attacks, mood swings, lack of interest in daily life, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, food cravings and physical symptoms such as cramps and bloating (womenshealth.gov).
The defining feature is timing. Symptoms appear in the week or two before a period and usually ease within two or three days of it starting (womenshealth.gov). PMDD has been recognised as a distinct diagnosis since the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's diagnostic manual, after a review concluded that the evidence on its diagnosis and treatment had matured enough to justify it; that review estimated it affects around 2% to 5% of premenopausal women (Epperson et al., 2012).
The cause is not fully understood. The NHS notes it has been linked to a high sensitivity to normal hormonal changes and to inherited factors (NHS). In other words, PMDD is not a sign of weakness or of overreacting. It is a real condition, and it deserves proper care.
Your doctor's role, and ours
Because PMDD sits between gynaecology and mental health, good care usually involves both. A doctor diagnoses PMDD by reviewing your health history, examining you and looking at a diary of your symptoms over time (womenshealth.gov). They can also check for other conditions that may look similar and discuss medical options. Treatments described by health authorities include certain antidepressants, some hormonal contraceptives, pain relief for physical symptoms, and lifestyle and stress-management measures (womenshealth.gov; NHS).
Our part is psychological support. We work alongside your doctor or gynaecologist, not instead of them, and we will encourage you to see one if you have not yet done so. If you already have a medical plan, therapy can help you live with PMDD more steadily while that plan does its work.
What psychological support can offer
It is important to be honest about the evidence. A systematic review of cognitive behavioural therapy for PMS and PMDD found only seven published studies, of which three were randomised controlled trials, and concluded that evidence for statistically significant effects was scarce, calling for better research (Lustyk et al., 2009). The NHS nonetheless lists CBT among the options a GP may suggest (NHS). Psychological support, in short, is a reasonable and widely used part of care, but not a stand-alone treatment for the hormonal sensitivity at the root of PMDD.
Within those limits, our therapists work in an evidence-informed, integrative way, drawing on CBT techniques where helpful. Therapy can help with:
Mapping your cycle
Tracking symptoms daily over at least two cycles, which helps your doctor and helps you predict and plan for difficult days.
Planning the hard weeks
Adjusting workload, commitments and self-care in advance, rather than being caught off guard each month.
Handling intense emotions
Practising ways to notice rising anger, anxiety or despair and respond before they escalate.
Repairing relationships
Talking with partners, family or colleagues about PMDD, and dealing with the guilt and conflict that can follow difficult days.
The rest of the month
Working on self-criticism, stress or low mood that may persist beyond the premenstrual phase, and on what the condition has meant for your sense of yourself.
We do not promise that therapy will remove PMDD symptoms, and experiences vary. Many people find, though, that understanding the pattern and having support make the condition feel less overwhelming and less isolating.
Online, by video
How online therapy with us works
Send a brief enquiry.
Use our enquiry form to let us know what you are looking for, your time zone and when you are free. Please do not include detailed health information. We reply within 24 hours.
Sessions by video.
Sessions in English are with a therapist from our centre, online on Google Meet, Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 21:00 Athens time. Online sessions can be easier to keep during weeks when leaving the house feels hard.
The first session.
Your therapist will ask about your history, your cycle, how symptoms affect you and any medical care you have had so far. Together you agree an initial plan, including whether to speak to a doctor.
Ongoing work.
Sessions last 45 minutes and cost 70 €. Some people find it helpful to time certain sessions around the premenstrual phase. See pricing.
Video therapy is supported by research: a meta-analysis found live psychotherapy by video improved outcomes substantially and differed negligibly from in-person treatment, particularly for depression and anxiety (Fernandez et al., 2021). See our online therapy page for more.
Is it time?
When to seek help
Speak to a doctor if premenstrual symptoms affect your daily life, or if lifestyle changes have not helped (NHS). Consider psychological support if:
- you dread the same weeks every month;
- PMDD is straining your relationships, work or study;
- you feel guilt or shame about how you behave during difficult days;
- low mood or anxiety continues outside the premenstrual phase.
The Office on Women's Health lists thoughts of suicide among possible PMDD symptoms (womenshealth.gov). If you are thinking about hurting yourself, please seek help immediately, even if you expect the feeling to pass. Online therapy is not an emergency service.
If you need urgent help. In an emergency call 112. In Greece you can also call 1018 (suicide prevention) or 10306 (mental-health support). For helplines in your country, see findahelpline.com.
If you need urgent help
In an emergency call 112. In Greece you can also call 1018 (suicide prevention) or 10306 (mental-health support). For helplines in your country, see findahelpline.com.
Our founder
Art of Mind, founded by Matina Ladikou
A centre where you can talk without fear of judgement, at your own pace.
Matina Ladikou, psychotherapist and founder of Art of Mind, set up the centre in Patras, Greece, in 2019. Sessions in English are with a therapist from our team; sessions in Greek are with Matina, and you can book Greek sessions directly.
We don’t promise a “guaranteed” or “instant” result; we offer a space of trust and work at your own pace.
Trained in Biothymic Psychotherapy and Clinical Hypnosis, in Mental Health Counselling and in NLP, with an MSc in Criminology from Panteion University.
About Matina and the centreNext step
Enquire about a session
You do not have to keep losing a week or two of every month on your own. Send us a short message and we will reply within 24 hours.
Related pages: depression therapy · anxiety therapy · online therapy · pricing
Before you start
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between PMS and PMDD?
Many people notice some changes before their period. PMDD is a more severe condition in which emotional symptoms such as intense irritability, anxiety, low mood or despair appear in the week or two before a period and ease within a few days of it starting, and are strong enough to disrupt work, relationships or daily life.
Can therapy treat PMDD on its own?
PMDD involves sensitivity to hormonal changes, so medical assessment and treatment by a doctor are important, and options such as certain antidepressants or hormonal treatments may be discussed with them. Psychological support works alongside this, helping with coping, stress, relationships and the impact on your life. Research on talking therapy specifically for PMDD is still limited, and we are honest about that.
Do I need a diagnosis before contacting you?
No. If you suspect PMDD, we recommend speaking to a doctor or gynaecologist, who can assess you and rule out other causes. You are welcome to start sessions with us in the meantime, and tracking your symptoms over two cycles can be useful for both conversations.
Why does tracking symptoms help?
PMDD is diagnosed partly by the timing of symptoms, so a daily diary over at least two cycles helps a doctor see the pattern. It also helps in therapy, because knowing when difficult days are likely means you can plan for them.
What if I have thoughts of suicide before my period?
Please take them seriously and seek help straight away, even if you expect them to pass when your period starts. In an emergency call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department.