Supporting you through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood

My work has a particular interest in supporting people during the perinatal period — including (but not limited to) fertility and trying to conceive, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and the transition into parenthood.

I am currently completing Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Training with the Perinatal Mental Health Institute, further developing my understanding of the emotional and psychological experiences that can arise during this important stage of life. The training covers areas including matrescence, perinatal anxiety and depression, intrusive thoughts, pregnancy and infant loss, birth trauma, postpartum challenges, relationships and the transition to parenthood.

My existing interest in matrescence — the physical, emotional, psychological and social transition of becoming a mother — is an important part of how I understand this experience.

I recognise that becoming a mother can involve a sense of both gaining and losing parts of yourself. You may be adjusting to a new identity, navigating changes in your relationships, struggling with expectations of motherhood, or simply trying to find yourself again amongst the demands of caring for a baby.

Therapy can offer you a space to slow down, make sense of your experience and be heard without judgement.

What can perinatal therapy support with?

You may be looking for support around:

• Anxiety during pregnancy, birth, after having a baby, trying to conceive, fertility treatment, pregnancy after a loss.

• Feeling overwhelmed by motherhood

• Prenatal or postpartum emotional difficulties

• The transition to motherhood

• Matrescence and changes in identity

• Fear or anxiety around birth

• Difficult or traumatic birth experiences

• Pregnancy or infant loss

• Fertility difficulties and trying to conceive

• Feeling disconnected from yourself or your baby

• Intrusive thoughts or worries

• Stress, overwhelm and difficulty coping

• Grief and loss

• Adjusting to life after having a baby

• Body image and changes during pregnancy and motherhood

• Finding your sense of self again

• Navigating relationship changes with partner, family, friends.

• NICU support

• Feeding challenges and experiences

• Support for Dads/partners in the transition and their experiences