Supporting Women with Learning Disabilities Through the Menopause

Michelle McCarthy, reader in learning disabilities, Tizard Centre, University of KentMichelle McCarthy has worked with people with learning disabilities throughout her career. She worked first in residential care, then trained as a social worker. Her work in the area of sexuality began with David Thompson, working on a specialist sex education service. Since 1993, she has worked at the Tizard Centre, University of Kent, where she is a reader in learning disabilities. Her academic and practice-based work involves all matters relating to sexuality and relationships, but she has a particular interest in working with women with learning disabilities. Michelle has conducted research on the reproductive health of women with learning disabilities, focusing on contraception and on the menopause. She has published widely in these fields. This includes a number of resource packs with Pavilion Publishing, but also in books, academic and professional journals.https://www.kent.ac.uk/tizard/staff/acadstaff/michelle_mccarthy.htmlLorraine Millard, psychotherapist, supervisor, trainer and mindfulness teacherLorraine Millard is a UKCP registered psychotherapist, approved supervisor and a drama therapist. She is also a trainer and tutor in counselling and psychotherapy. One of her specialist areas is sexuality, abuse and working with women with learning disabilities, and she has been involved in making several videos with and about people with learning disabilities. For the past eight years she has been a mindfulness teacher and recently co-wrote a book on mindfulness and stress for Sheldon Press.