Perinatal Psychotherapy at Mother Nature Psychology
Support and treatment throughout a woman’s reproductive journey
Perinatal Psychotherapy considers the complexities of this vulnerable stage of life. This approach may be used to address concerns at any stage throughout the periods of conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and parenting in the early years.
This approach considers the developmental stages in-utero, infant development and the new role and identity for parents. Perinatal psychotherapy also takes a relational view and your relationship style is closely considered. Our work seeks to build secure attachment between you and your bub, a way of relating with life long benefits for your child.
Working in this way therapists are likely to explore your past experiences and how these have influenced your current beliefs and patterns. It will provide you the opportunity to consider and develop your motherhood mindset.
Perinatal Psychotherapy is based on attachment research and is an evidence based approach suitable to this transformative life stage.
Let’s start talking about the realities of being a Mum…
It’s messy, exhausting, confusing, invisible, undervalued, consuming, relentless, and full of conflicting emotions like joy and rage, beauty and sadness, delight, and boredom. Were you prepared for this?
Early Parenthood
Caring for babies and young children offers the rewards of fulfilment, joy, and fun while simultaneously being incredibly hard, emotionally exhausting, and isolating work for many parents. Some parents thrive yet others quietly experience distress adjusting to their new role.
Common challenges are coping with unsettled babies, feeling ill-equipped, having deep trauma triggered, loneliness, feelings of overwhelm with big emotions as well as experiencing financial and relationship stress at this vulnerable time.
Mother Nature Psychology provides perinatal psychotherapy for:
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Taking time out for developing emotional and psychological preparedness. Strengthening your couple relationship is also worthwhile at this stage.
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Fertility issues are common and procedures such as IVF can feel intrusive and consuming. Perinatal psychological therapy provides a reflective space to come back to yourself and receive strategies and support to sustain you for this journey.
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If you are feeling stressed, worried, experiencing relationship difficulties, are depressed of receive a prenatal diagnosis this can impact your experience of pregnancy.
Therapy during this time will provide treatment and strategies to support you during pregnancy, enhance preparation for birth and facilitate antenatal bonding.
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For women who have traumatic memories from their birth experience, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is ideal.
EMDR has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments to reduce the intensity and distress of traumatic memories including birth trauma.
EMDR can be more effective with slightly longer sessions and this may be arranged in collaboration with you for a 90min appointment.
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For women who have experienced loss such as a miscarriage, still birth, or early infant death.
Therapy offers support at this devastating time. People experience loss differently and there are complexities with loss during the perinatal period, taking time to receive support can be hugely beneficial.
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1 in 5 mothers will experience a perinatal mood disorder. Treatment will support you maintaining a strong bond with your bub and building joy into your days.
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Ambivalence is a common yet distressing experience for many new mums. It can take time to get to know your bub and to learn how to care for them while meeting your own needs.
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Would you benefit from taking time to reflect on how you are coping with mum life and what is working and not working. Maybe you would like to learn about strategies for managing the life juggle that support building a strong secure relationships with your bub and partner.
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The changes that occur during the perinatal period have a big impact on the couple relationship. Many couples struggle with renegotiating how their relationship works as they move from being two individuals to three or more. There are more individual demands, more decisions to make and many more stressors.
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For parents feeling overwhelmed with advice or confused about how to respond to their feelings or their children’s behaviour I offer sessions to reflect and reconsider parenting in line with your values.
These sessions provide the opportunity for unpacking beliefs and your own history, to notice your strengths, capacities and challenges and work towards more opportunities for fun play, respect and connection in your family.
