ABSTRACT
Intergenerational women's psychotherapy groups provide an environment where women see themselves as automatically 'first class' without needing to struggle with an impulse to subvert themselves to the men who are around them. These groups also provide a safe place for women to explore their feelings about the milestones of the female life cycle that they would find difficult to discuss in front of men: menstruation; fertility concerns and disappointments; pregnancy; new motherhood; nursing a baby; peri-menopause; menopause; and, dealing with aging and loss of parents. The stresses on women during these highly demanding life passages are rarely discussed in mixed-gender groups; intergenerational women's groups provide the opportunity to explore feelings about these stresses with other women who may have already experienced similar concerns. In addition, many women will discuss sexuality concerns other women when they would not bring these issues up if men were in the room.
