Our Top 10 Books for Menstrual Cycle Coaching and Group Facilitation

At the Menstrual Coach Academy, we believe in grounding our work in powerful resources that nourish body literacy, nervous system wisdom, and transformative facilitation. Whether you're a menstruality coach, space-holder, or simply deepening your own understanding, the right books can be powerful allies.

Here are 10 essential books that shape our work and philosophy:

1. Wild Power by Alexandra Pope & Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer

This is the foundational text for anyone stepping into the world of menstruality. It reclaims the cyclical nature of menstruation as a source of power, creativity, and inner leadership. A must-read for menstrual cycle educators, coaches, and facilitators.

2. Polyvagal Theory in Therapy by Deb Dana

To work with the menstrual cycle is to work with the nervous system. Deb Dana brings the science of safety and connection into clinical and coaching spaces, offering practical tools to regulate and co-regulate. A beautiful companion for those supporting others through emotional and embodied processes.

3. Teaching to Transgress by bell hooks

A seminal book on liberatory education and embodied pedagogy. For facilitators holding group spaces, hooks offers a vision of learning as a deeply human, inclusive, and radical act. A powerful reminder of the social context of cycle work.

4. The Zen of Groups by Dale Hunter, Anne Bailey & Bill Taylor

Group facilitation is an art. This slim but potent book is full of insights for holding presence, tracking group energy, and navigating dynamics. Indispensable for menstrual coaches who lead circles, retreats, or group programs.

5. WomanCode by Alisa Vitti

A practical guide to hormonal health, especially for those navigating irregular cycles, PCOS, or hormonal imbalances. Vitti’s approach is both clinical and lifestyle-focused, making it useful for coaches who want to blend biology with lived experience.

6. Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to Menopause by Kate Codrington

Menstrual coaching doesn’t stop with menstruation. Codrington offers a wise, compassionate lens on the menopause transition, emphasizing rest, creativity, and cyclical living beyond the bleed. An essential read for inclusive, whole-life coaching. Here at the Academy, Kate is one of our guest teachers on menopause and perimenopause.

7. Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine

Trauma lives in the body—and so does healing. Levine’s work on somatic experiencing is core for menstrual coaches working with stored trauma, chronic stress, and dysregulation in the cycle. Deeply influential for trauma-informed practice.

8. The Coaching Relationship in Practice by Ho Law, Steve Palmer & David Gallwey

This book explores the ethical, relational, and reflective foundations of coaching. It brings a psychological depth that is especially useful for coaches navigating intimate, identity-rooted work like menstruality.

9. Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden

Clear, accessible, and evidence-based, this book is a bible for menstrual health. Briden combines naturopathic wisdom with solid science, making it a key resource for coaches supporting clients with hormonal conditions or period challenges.

10. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

A landmark work on trauma and the body. This book underscores why menstrual coaching must be trauma-informed. It helps coaches understand the long-term impact of trauma and opens the door to somatic pathways for healing.

Ready to Go Deeper?

These books weave together menstrual health, somatic trauma work, pedagogy, group facilitation, and coaching theory. Together, they form a rich tapestry for any practitioner supporting others through menstruality transitions.

But as you probably already know, it takes more than reading a book to become a confident and effective menstrual cycle coach. That’s why we created our 6-month accredited training programme.

In this immersive training, you’ll go far beyond theory. You’ll learn how to apply these frameworks in real-world coaching, facilitation, and group work. You’ll receive guided practice, feedback, and mentorship along the way. This isn’t just about knowledge. It’s about embodiment, presence, and skillful leadership in cyclical spaces.

By the end of the programme, you’ll be qualified and accredited to work as a menstrual cycle coach, equipped with the tools, confidence, and support network to lead this work in your own way.

Join our waitlist to take the next step in your journey.