Why Women-Focused Therapy Matters in the UK (2025)
The WHO recognises good health as a fundamental human right. In simple words, it believes that everyone should be entitled to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. At a systemic level, this is underpinned by strong healthcare institutions that are made available to the general populace through a nation’s fiscal spending.
The NHS, or National Health Service, is the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK that is largely free at the point of use for UK residents. For all the criticism it often receives, I as an immigrant (from a country where I was once unceremoniously ushered out by an OBGYN for booking an appointment as an unmarried person), can attest that some, if not all, of that criticism may be a tad unwarranted.
For one, the UK is one of the few countries that recognises the full scope of good health to include mental health, something that’s becoming more and more important today. For many women seeking therapy in the UK, especially in cities like London where private therapy costs are higher, this recognition matters.
However, despite the NHS’ best intentions, women in the UK face an unprecedented crisis in accessing mental health support. This is why we created Circe — a women-first mental health platform designed to recognise the patterns conventional services often miss
Why Women Need a Different Approach to Mental Health Care in 2025
Around the UK, women face barriers that make accessing clinically informed, women-focused therapy more difficult, especially for those navigating NHS wait times or looking for UK-wide online women’s therapy.
Women are underserved by the current system due to rising demand and long NHS wait times for mental health services
According to The Independent, 1.7 million people in the UK are waiting for therapy. We’re also short of over 2,000 therapists nationwide. This is why some wait up to 18 months to access care, particularly in major UK regions like London, Manchester, and Birmingham, where demand for women’s therapy is highest, or end up paying hundreds of pounds out of pocket for private 1:1 therapy. With demand for mental healthcare services growing 8% every year, this is unlikely to change.
Within this, women are disproportionately affected, often carrying the dual burden of professional and caregiving responsibilities, with those who need support most often priced out of care, creating a vicious circle where poverty worsens mental health.
Women make up a larger share of mental health waiting lists in the UK: NHS England reports that 57% of patients on mental health waiting lists are women, and they are more likely than men to wait over 18 and 52 weeks for treatment, making timely access to women-focused therapy in the UK much more difficult. (NHS England)
NHS service lines affecting women are particularly strained: long waits in gynaecology and women’s health pathways can exacerbate mental health challenges, making timely support difficult for women experiencing stress, anxiety, or postpartum depression. This is why many women look for alternatives to NHS therapy, often through private or community services. (UK Parliament Committees)
Maternal mental health services face severe delays: women seeking perinatal mental health support may wait up to 26 weeks for assessment and up to 52 weeks for treatment, highlighting a critical gap in accessible care. This drives more women to seek local perinatal therapy options across the UK. (Maternal Mental Health Alliance)
Women experience mental health conditions differently
Women experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout, and often carry the dual burden of professional and caregiving responsibilities, with those who need support most often priced out of care, creating a vicious circle where poverty worsens mental health. This is reflected in rising demand for affordable therapy for women in the UK, particularly online options.
Women experience higher rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout: studies show women are 1.7–2 times more likely than men to develop anxiety disorders, with rumination and caregiving pressures contributing to prolonged symptoms. (PubMed)
Hormonal and life-stage transitions worsen mental health risk: menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause can all increase symptom severity, meaning women require care tailored to these periods. (PubMed)
Diagnostic criteria often fail to capture female-specific presentations: ADHD and depression symptoms in women may present differently than in men, leading to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment. For instance, women with ADHD are significantly more likely to experience provisional PMDD, complicating symptom recognition. (Cambridge University Press & Assessment)
Diagnostic standards for mental health often fail to reflect women’s symptom presentation
A 2021 BMJ study noted that “mental health models were created with minimal consideration of how conditions present differently in women,” while Frontiers in Global Women’s Health (2022) highlights that gender bias in psychiatric research has resulted in treatment models that prioritise male symptoms, leading to chronic under-diagnosis and misdiagnosis of women.
As studies in the BMJ and Frontiers in Global Women’s Health show, gender bias in psychiatric research means women are frequently under- or misdiagnosed, leaving their mental health needs overlooked and underserved.
ADHD research historically underrepresents women, causing delayed diagnosis and frequent misdiagnoses for females, leading many women to seek specialist ADHD assessments in the UK after years of misdiagnosis. (EurekAlert!)
Women with ADHD are more likely to experience provisional PMDD: one study found 31.4% of women with ADHD also had PMDD, compared to ~9.8% of women without ADHD, demonstrating a significant overlap that can complicate diagnosis. (PMC)
Female-specific symptom presentations are often missed: diagnostic criteria may fail to capture less overt hyperactivity or different anxiety patterns in women, leading to under-recognition and delayed treatment. (Cambridge University Press)
Gender bias extends across multiple mental health conditions: depression, anxiety, and trauma responses in women can present differently than in men, meaning standardised assessment tools may not flag symptoms accurately. (BMJ)
What Women Experience Most: The Conditions That Need Better Care
Anxiety & Burnout in Women
Women are more likely than men to experience chronic stress from balancing work, family, and social expectations. (BBC Worklife)
Physical manifestations such as sleep disturbance, headaches, and fatigue are common. (PubMed)
Workplace, caregiving, and social pressures compound anxiety and lead to burnout. (BBC Worklife)
Internalisation of stress often makes symptoms less visible to clinicians, delaying treatment.
Many women delay seeking help until symptoms interfere with daily functioning.
Pregnancy-Related & Postnatal Mental Health
Postpartum depression affects ~1 in 10 new mothers in the UK (NHS), with mood swings, anxiety, or depression during pregnancy or postpartum being common. (NHS)
Perinatal anxiety is common but underdiagnosed, leading to delays in care, leaving women feeling isolated or uncertain about whether their experience is normal.
Hormonal and physiological changes contribute to symptom severity and variability and increase susceptibility to mental health challenges, highlighting the need for tailored support.
Young adult stress & burnout in women
Academic pressure, social life, and future uncertainty can contribute to anxiety and depressive symptoms. (ONS)
Isolation or lack of support increases the risk of severe mental health issues.
Early intervention is crucial to prevent chronic depression or anxiety.
Major changes (moving cities, starting jobs, becoming a caregiver) can trigger anxiety or depression.
Pressures to “manage it all” often lead to burnout.
Limited support during transitions delays recovery and coping.
ADHD & neurodivergence in women
ADHD in women often presents as inattentiveness, executive dysfunction, and internalised hyperactivity. (PMC)
Underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis is common due to male-centric diagnostic criteria.
Symptoms overlap with anxiety, depression, and PMDD, complicating recognition and treatment.
Frequently misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression before ADHD is recognised.
Hormonal fluctuations can amplify attention and mood symptoms, complicating diagnosis.
Women with ADHD may struggle with focus, organisation, or memory despite no formal diagnosis. (PMC)
Depression & Mood Disorders in women
Persistent sadness, low motivation, or irritability impacts work, relationships, and daily life. (BMJ)
Women often present with rumination or withdrawal, differing from male presentations.
Female presentations are often under-recognised by male-normed diagnostic standards, delaying diagnosis and treatment. (BMJ)
Socioeconomic factors and caregiving responsibilities exacerbate depressive symptoms.
Domestic Abuse & Trauma-Related Mental Health
Women experiencing intimate partner violence or abuse are at high risk of PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
Trauma-informed care is critical but often unavailable or delayed.
Isolation and fear of stigma prevent many women from seeking support.
Chronic Illness & Comorbid Mental Health Challenges
Managing a chronic illness can increase anxiety and depression. (NIH)
Women often navigate healthcare systems alone, increasing stress.
These challenges are common, but they’re also deeply under-served in traditional care.
This is why platforms like Circe specialise in women’s mental health, recognising symptom patterns that often go unnoticed in general services
Benefits of Women-Only Therapy: Why Women-Only Therapy Works Better for Many Women
For many women in the UK, women-only therapy, whether delivered online or locally in cities like London, provides safer, more relatable support.
For most people, it’s easier to open up in a space they believe to be safe. For many women, this can often be when they are with a female therapist. At a surface level it’s easy to see why. It is easier to talk about things when there is less fear of being judged, dismissed or misunderstood. Especially when it comes to things one might consider personal or sensitive. It isn’t a stretch to assume that a female therapist will understand what you’re going through. Maybe they’ve gone through it themselves or faced what you’re facing. And you wouldn’t be far from the truth.
What the Research Says About Women-Only Spaces
Evidence from multiple studies highlights the unique benefits of women-only therapy groups, particularly for conditions like anxiety, depression, burnout, trauma, and life-stage-related mental health challenges.
Increased comfort and safety: Women report feeling safer and more comfortable discussing sensitive topics such as reproductive health, relationship issues, or workplace stress with other women or with therapists who understand female experiences—either in one-to-one sessions or in women-only groups. This reduced social anxiety allows women to disclose experiences more honestly, improving therapeutic outcomes. (APA)
Better understanding of gender-specific experiences: Therapists trained in women’s mental health can tailor interventions for life-stage transitions, postpartum challenges, or hormonal impacts. (Frontiers in Global Women’s Health)
Higher engagement and adherence: Women are more likely to complete therapy and follow treatment plans when the approach feels relevant to their lived experiences. (Journal of Clinical Psychology)
Validation of experiences: Therapy that acknowledges systemic pressures on women (caregiving, workplace inequality, social expectations) helps reduce feelings of isolation and self-blame. (British Journal of Psychiatry)
Tailored coping strategies: Women-focused therapy offers strategies for managing burnout, anxiety, and stress that reflect women’s typical stressors, such as juggling work and caregiving. (PubMed)
Safe space to discuss sensitive topics: Women-only settings, whether 1:1 or in groups, create an environment where women can discuss stigmatized topics (e.g., domestic abuse, trauma, reproductive health) without fear of judgment. (WHO)
Women-only therapy is not just a preference—it is a clinically supported approach that addresses systemic gaps in care, fosters meaningful connections, and helps women access mental health support in a way that feels safe, relevant, and effective. This is one reason platforms like Circe focus on women-only clinical group therapy, which can be just as effective, if not more than 1:1 therapy while being nearly 1/10th the cost of a similarly qualified therapist.
To learn more about clinical group therapy, click here.
How Women Can Choose the Right Format for Their Needs
When Women-Only Spaces Help Most
If you’ve felt dismissed or talked over in mixed-gender therapy, women-only spaces can increase emotional safety.
If your experiences involve gendered trauma, reproductive health, or caregiving burnout, women-only formats improve disclosure and engagement.
If you tend to mask, minimise, or caretake in mixed settings, women-only therapy reduces social pressure and improves outcomes.
When to Consider Group vs 1:1
If you need personalised support for complex trauma or diagnosis, 1:1 therapy may be best.
If cost or long NHS waits are a barrier, group therapy gives similar clinical outcomes at a lower cost.
If you benefit from hearing others’ experiences (normalisation), group therapy may reduce isolation faster than 1:1.
Questions to Ask Before Starting Therapy
If you’re unsure the therapist understands women’s mental health, ask about their experience with hormonal or life-stage issues.
If you have overlapping symptoms (e.g., anxiety + ADHD + PMDD), ask how they approach complex, multi-factor presentations.
If you lack time or childcare, ask whether the therapist offers flexible or hybrid sessions.
How to Spot a Good Fit
If you feel judged, rushed, or talked over, that’s a sign of poor fit.
If you feel understood, safe, and able to express difficult experiences, that’s a sign you’ve found the right therapist.
If your therapist validates female-specific symptoms (e.g., cycle changes, caregiving strain), they likely have gender-competent training.
Considerations when Choosing Therapy
1. If you’re stuck on an NHS waiting list, explore accredited alternatives while you wait
If you’ve already been waiting several months, especially if your referral is for anxiety, depression, or perinatal mental health, consider charity services, low-cost private options, or women-focused therapy platforms.
Why it works: these areas face some of the longest NHS delays, so parallel support prevents symptoms worsening.
2. If your symptoms don’t “fit the textbook,” choose a therapist trained in women’s mental health
If your difficulties overlap across anxiety, mood, overwhelm, or hormonal patterns, look for clinicians trained in female-specific presentations of ADHD, depression, or trauma.
Why it works: diagnostic tools were built around male symptom patterns, so experience with women reduces misdiagnosis.
3. If you feel dismissed or misunderstood in mixed therapy settings, consider women-only therapy
If you’ve held back sharing experiences linked to caregiving, hormonal health, relationships, or past trauma, women-only sessions (1:1 or group) may help you feel safer and more validated.
Why it works: evidence shows women disclose more, engage more consistently, and feel more emotionally safe in women-only environments.
4. If you’re pregnant, postpartum, or planning a pregnancy, seek perinatal-specific support early
If you notice anxiety, intrusive thoughts, low mood, or overwhelm during pregnancy or after birth, get support early, even before symptoms escalate.
Why it works: perinatal mental health services experience some of the UK’s longest delays, so early contact protects against deterioration.
5. If you think you may have ADHD, look for someone experienced in diagnosing women
If you relate more to overwhelm, emotional dysregulation, or inattentiveness than “hyperactivity,” seek clinicians who specialise in female ADHD profiles.
Why it works: women are more often misdiagnosed or diagnosed later because their presentations differ from the male research baseline.
6. If high therapy costs are a barrier, consider group therapy
If 1:1 therapy feels unaffordable, start with a structured group option, especially for anxiety, depression, trauma processing, or life-stage stress.
Why it works: group therapy offers clinical benefit comparable to individual therapy but at a lower cost.
7. If your mood, anxiety, or focus changes across your cycle, track symptoms alongside hormonal patterns
If you notice that symptoms spike premenstrually or during postpartum or perimenopause transitions, track patterns daily for one full cycle.
Why it works: hormonal shifts are a major factor in women’s mental health and help clinicians make more accurate diagnoses.
FAQs: Women’s Mental Health in the UK
1. Why is it harder for women to access mental health support in the UK?
Because NHS mental health demand is rising faster than capacity. Women make up the majority of those on waiting lists, and perinatal and women-specific pathways have some of the longest delays.
2. Why do women experience mental health conditions differently from men?
Hormonal cycles, pregnancy, postpartum changes, and perimenopause all influence mood, anxiety, and cognitive patterns, and diagnostic criteria have historically been based on male presentations.
3. Are women more likely to be misdiagnosed than men?
Yes. Research shows women are more often misdiagnosed or diagnosed later, especially for ADHD, anxiety, PMDD, and depression, because standard assessment tools don’t fully reflect female symptom profiles.
4. What makes women-only therapy effective?
Women report greater safety, comfort, and willingness to disclose sensitive experiences in women-only settings. Studies also show higher engagement, better validation, and more relevant coping strategies.
5. Is group therapy actually effective for women?
Yes. Group therapy is clinically supported for anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, postpartum mental health, and stress management. Women often benefit from shared experiences and reduced isolation.
6. How do hormonal changes affect mental health?
Hormonal fluctuations (menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause) impact emotional regulation, anxiety, attention, and mood, making women more vulnerable to certain conditions at specific life stages.
7. What if I can’t afford private therapy?
Charities, community organisations, women-only support services, and clinical group therapy platforms offer accessible alternatives while you remain on NHS waiting lists.
8. How do I know if I might have ADHD if symptoms are “different” in women?
Women often present with inattentiveness, overwhelm, emotional dysregulation, and rumination, symptoms frequently mislabelled as anxiety or depression. If this resonates, a women-focused assessment is recommended.
9. Is perinatal anxiety normal?
Common, yes. “Normal,” no. Perinatal anxiety affects many women but is often underdiagnosed. Early intervention leads to better outcomes.
10. Can therapy help if my mental health issues come from chronic illness or caregiving stress?
Absolutely. Women juggling chronic health conditions or caregiving responsibilities benefit significantly from tailored therapeutic tools and emotional support.
If you’d like support in a women-only setting designed around your experiences, Circe offers both group therapy with clinicians specialising in women’s mental health.
