Becoming a parent can be wonderful in many ways but it can also be overwhelming, uncertain and stressful. You may feel that you are not able to enjoy this journey as much as you hoped you would, or that the anxiety, guilt or thoughts about your birth experience are stopping you being able to be fully present with your child.
My goal is to give you a safe space to talk about the difficulties you are facing and to develop a better understanding of what is keeping you stuck. Together, we can explore alternative ways forward.
My approach is non-judgemental, and I aim to support you in parenting in the way that feels right for you and your family. I’m supportive of breastfeeding and co-sleeping and try to make sure treatment considers any neurodivergence (still developing my learning around this every day).
I believe it is never my job to tell you how to parent but to help you consider what may be acting as a barrier to feeling connected and confident in your parenting journey.
About Me
I have always been interested in the relationship between parents and children since I first learnt about attachment in A level Psychology and this interest has turned into my passion for supporting mums and parents at any stage of their journey. I love my job a as a therapist, getting to know and work alongside so many different people and see them thrive and build confidence when they are given the support and understanding they need.
I am a mum to three young (ish) children and know the chaos, exhaustion and joy that parenthood can bring. I try to work with families to consider how we apply therapy in a practical and realistic way that takes in to consideration this stage of life and the unpredictable nature of having kids.
Perinatal and Parenting Support
Birth trauma or traumatic experiences around birth while in hospital
NICU experiences or difficulties with a complex pregnancy or baby’s health issues
Birth phobia (tokophobia)
Struggling to connect with your baby, especially after a rocky start to your parenting journey
Breastfeeding anxiety or trauma
Online therapy
Online therapy sessions using Microsoft Teams allows us to work around baby naps
Evidence Based Therapy
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is the NHS recommended treatment for most perinatal mental health issues including depression, anxiety, OCD, worry and trauma
Therapy adapted to the perinatal period
I recognise that life changes when you have a baby and that things may be more chaotic than usual and your concentration, energy levels and time may not be what they were pre baby. We need to take this in to account and adapt therapy to match what you feel you can currently manage.
Trauma informed care
The question is never ”what’s wrong with you?’ but what has happened for you to feel like this and what can I do to help?
We can help work through previous trauma and plan how to manage your maternity care in the future in a way that my feel more supportive to you
What to Expect
First Session
During the first session, the focus is on information gathering and planning. We will discuss the difficulties you have been facing and what you hope to achieve from the sessions. It is also a chance for you to get to know me and decide whether we could work well together.
Hopefully, we can develop an initial plan for what we will focus on in therapy and how CBT may be able to help. We may agree on an initial number of sessions, but this is flexible and can be extended or reviewed as we go, depending on what you find most helpful.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
There is no exact answer, as everyone’s needs are different, but CBT is designed to be a brief, focused therapy and rarely extends beyond 20 sessions. Most people in the perinatal period receive briefer treatments, typically between 6 and 12 sessions.
My goal is to help you manage your mood independently and not keep you in therapy for years. Some people may feel better supported with periodic reviews over longer periods after completing initial treatment, and I am happy to discuss whatever works best for you.
Resources & Support
I understand that not everyone may be able to afford private therapy. Please be aware that CBT is available for free on the NHS via your local Talking Therapies service, although offerings may differ between areas based on their assessment of your needs.
Please speak to your GP, midwife, or health visitor about a possible referral to your local service, or search for your Local Talking Therapies team, as many offer online self-referral options. If you are pregnant or have a baby under 1 year old (under 2 in some areas), you may be seen as a priority patient.
You can also access peer support via charities such as:
Birth Trauma Association
Towards Together Tomorrow (baby loss at any stage),
Sands and Tommy’s
Details of some charities and resources you may find helpful are on the Resources page.
Contact
If you would like to arrange a telephone call to see whether you think I may be helpful for you, click on the contact button below.
