Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) - An Integrated OT Approach
Are you working with women or people assigned female at birth who experience emotional, physical or cognitive changes in a cyclical pattern – but not sure what’s going on or how to help?
PMDD is a severe, often misunderstood condition that can significantly impact occupational performance, relationships and mental health. This session unpacks what PMDD is, how it shows up in daily life and how OTs can offer meaningful, evidence-informed support.
You’ll explore practical tools and a multidisciplinary approach grounded in emotional regulation theory and tailored to the unique fluctuations of the menstrual cycle.Â
Access workshop now
Date:Â Monday 27 October 2025
Time:Â 12:00pm - 1:30pm AEST
Duration:Â 1.5 hours
What will you learn?
- What PMDD is, how it differs from PMS and the functional impact it has across occupational domains
- How to recognise and track patterns in mood, cognition and sensory tolerance that align with the menstrual cycle
- How to apply emotional regulation theory in the context of PMDD, including tools for interoceptive awareness and sensory modulation
- Practical strategies to support clients with planning, pacing, communication and self-advocacy through their cycle
- How to work collaboratively with GPs, psychologists and other health professionals to create consistent and compassionate care
- Real-world examples and case discussions to help you integrate strategies into your own practice
Who is this workshop for?
- Occupational Therapists supporting teens or adults who experience emotional and cognitive dysregulation
- Clinicians working in mental health, women’s health, community or private practice settings
- OTs who want a more holistic and evidence-informed understanding of how cycle-based conditions affect function
Why attend?
- Build foundational knowledge of a condition that is often under-recognised and misdiagnosed
- Learn how to support clients in daily life – not just symptom management
- Gain confidence to address PMDD within the OT scope and work collaboratively across disciplines
- Walk away with tools, language and strategies to enhance quality of life and occupational engagement for those navigating PMDD
Â
About the Presenter
Emma Ketley is a UK-born, late-diagnosed Neurodivergent professional who brings radical honesty and lived experience to her work. Currently navigating perimenopause and chronic pain, Emma embraces her ADHD-ish nature, including frequent hair changes, which she kindly flags ahead of sessions for those who prefer predictability.
Proudly described as a “rebel” and a “disruptor,” Emma no longer tries to fit in. She knows exactly where she belongs. She is an openly Neurodivergent dual-qualified practitioner, working as both a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) informed and Medicare-endorsed Mental Health Occupational Therapist, and as an International Coaching Federation (ICF) accredited ADHD Coach.
Emma has been running her solo practice "Enriched by Experience" since 2019 and works exclusively with adults. Her approach is trauma-informed and grounded in respect for the fierce sensitivity, doubt and insight that often accompany lived experiences of trauma, Borderline Personality Disorder and Neurodivergence. She holds space for challenge, change and compassion, all at once.
