Perinatal Counselling

Gentle support for when pregnancy, birth or life with a baby feels more complex than you imagined

When pregnancy, birth or parenthood feels overwhelming

Because becoming a parent changes everything

Pregnancy, birth, and the months after bringing your baby home can stir up many emotions such as joy, fear, guilt, and uncertainty. Sometimes it can feel like everyone expects you to be coping or grateful, even when inside you’re struggling.

You might be holding the weight of exhaustion, loneliness, or changes in your identity and relationships. Perhaps you’re processing a difficult birth, having thoughts that make you feel uneasy, struggling to bond with your baby, or worrying more than usual.

This is a space for you to gently make sense of it all, without judgement. Together, we can explore how you’re feeling and you can say the words you’ve kept hidden from those around you. 

Support for parents at any stage of pregnancy or early parenthood

How counselling with me can help

A space to talk about what’s really happening

This might be the first time you’ve had space to talk honestly about how things feel.

You can share what’s been hard, like the birth you never had, the emotional ups and downs, or the quiet grief for the version of life you imagined.

It’s a space to be fully seen and heard as you make sense of this transition.

Understanding the emotional changes

Pregnancy and early parenthood can bring a mix of emotions such as, joy, love, fear, frustration, and for many, loss and guilt. You might feel disconnected from who you were, unsure of who you’re becoming, or caught between the expectations of others and your own needs.

Counselling offers space to explore these shifts and gently reconnect with yourself whilst stay connected to others.

Pregnancy after loss — carrying hope and fear together

Pregnancy after loss can bring complex emotions, joy and grief often sit side by side.

You might find yourself waiting for reassurance or struggling to trust your body again. You might be feeling guilty for feeling excited or scared you’ll ‘jinx’ it.

This space offers tailored support to help you through the complexities and uncertainty that come with pregnancy after loss.

When old feelings and memories resurface, unexpectedly

Sometimes, the experience of pregnancy or early parenthood can unexpectedly bring up older memories.

This could be memories from your own childhood or from previous experiences that you thought you left behind.

Together, we can explore what these feelings mean for you now, understand why they have suddenly come up and work towards understand why they’ve resurfaced, and work towards feeling more grounded, safe, and connected in this chapter of your life.

If you and your partner are finding this time difficult together, you can also explore couples counselling here.

PRACTICAL DETAILS

What working together looks like

Here’s what to expect when we begin counselling:

NEXT STEPS

One step at a time

Reaching out for support around pregnancy or early parenthood can feel daunting, especially when you’re already overwhelmed with life with a newborn and used to holding it all together.

You don’t need to have the right words or know exactly what you need. Together, we can take this one step at a time, in a way that feels gentle and safe for you.