therapy for birth trauma | emdr therapy for birth trauma

SERVICES

Therapy for Birth Trauma

Process through your birth experience to help you better connect with your baby and feel good about yourself as a mom.

Your birth didn’t go as planned…

You took the classes, read the books and blogs, you thought you were ready and you had it all planned out.

Maybe it went on longer than you anticipated, you didn’t get the support you were expecting, there needed to be more intensive intervention, and/or you experienced complications. It’s possible your baby experienced an injury and/or had to spend time in the NICU.

These can all be very traumatic and difficult to process through. It can be hard for others to understand. If everything “worked out,” they often expect you to be okay. It’s okay if you aren’t okay.

You are not alone.

Did you know that up to 45% of moms report their birth experience as Traumatic?

Birth Trauma can have lasting effects- especially during the postpartum time. Many moms report feeling numb and disconnected from their baby. They often blame themselves and feel a lot of guilt and shame for not being able to have a “normal” birth experience. There is also an increased risk for experiencing postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety.

The most important thing to know is that you can process through your birth trauma.

You can feel better and be the mother you always wanted to be.

Therapy for Birth Trauma in California

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Therapy for Birth Trauma in California *

My name is Melissa and I’m a mom to two kids and a therapist.

As a mom myself, I understand how overwhelming motherhood can be. I had two very different postpartum experiences and in both of them there were quite a bit of areas where I was caught off-guard and felt ill-prepared.

My own postpartum struggles really shaped how I showed up as a therapist. Supporting mothers, especially in the postpartum time became a big passion of mine.

I’ve worked with a lot of mothers that have struggled during the postpartum time, including those with postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and birth trauma.

The most important thing to know is that you are not alone and that you’re not failing. This is hard and you can start to feel better.

In the beginning of therapy we’ll focus on very practical ways you can start to take care of yourself and get more support. Then we’ll start to look at the bigger picture - how your thoughts and beliefs about yourself, your relationships, your past and how you grew up, etc. may also be contributing to feelings of depression and anxiety. If you have experienced past trauma, including birth trauma, we can explore how a specialized therapy called EMDR can be helpful.

You are deserving and you can feel good about yourself as a mom!

Hi mama!

Therapy for Birth Trauma includes:

birth trauma therapy, EMDR therapy for birth trauma

MY THERAPY APPROACH

Get online therapy for birth trauma from the comfort of your home.

Let’s face it- finding time to go to a therapy session during the postpartum time can be very difficult! My services are all virtual- no need to travel to an office, you can access your video appointment by computer, smartphone or tablet! It’s also okay if you need to tend to your baby during our appointment. Getting you the support you need is the most important and I’m happy to meet you where you’re at!

therapy for moms in San Marcos, CA, therapy for new moms in Carlsbad, CA
  • Being a mother changes you in every way. Who you are after having children will never be the same as who you were before. There are very unique needs and pain points during the postpartum time and it's very important for a therapist to have the knowledge and awareness of this.

    My specialization of working with mothers takes in consideration how much being a mother impacts you and how becoming a mother can be an amazing opportunity for growth for ourselves. Motherhood is really hard, it can bring up a lot of unresolved things from our past, it highlights our insecurities, it challenges us in so many ways. Motherhood is also beautiful, it is a love like no other, it gives us strength and courage to do hard things, we also shape the future through our children.

    By having a therapist that has a lens of seeing you as not just an individual but also as a mother and the impact that has on you, you can have a better understanding of your needs and struggles. As a mother myself, I can understand many of the struggles and challenges that come with motherhood. I also know that your experience of motherhood is unique to you and I want to support you in feeling happy and confident in your own motherhood journey.

  • No, there are some restrictions and other factors that may make me not a good fit to be your therapist.

    Due to licensing regulations I cannot provide therapy to anyone that is physically located outside of California at the time of our sessions.

    Also, online therapy is not appropriate for everyone. If you are experiencing severe symptoms such as seeing things or hearing voices that aren’t there, if you feel that you cannot keep yourself safe, or keep others safe from your behaviors, then it is imperative that you get immediate and urgent care. You can contact the National Crisis line at ‘988’ for resources, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.

  • What is most important for me is for you to feel heard and understood. A really important aspect of therapy is the relationship between therapist and client. I view myself as like a guide. I will share my understandings and knowledge of things and may make some suggestions. Ultimately you know your life best and it's always up to you on what direction we go in.

    My therapy style is a mix of providing support, exploring past experiences to gain insight into current struggles and offering strategies to help you put into action the things you are wanting for yourself.

    In my therapy, I use a combination of CBT (Cognitive-Behavior-Therapy), Psychoeducation, and Mindfulness-based practices. For Trauma processing, I use EMDR Therapy. I also like to look at the person as a whole- mind, body, and soul. There are so many aspects that go into our mental health that it's important to be open in exploring all different parts of ourselves.

    My hope is that at the end of our therapy session you not only feel seen, heard, and understood, but that you also have some direction on what to do to help yourself.

  • While I have provided Couples Therapy in the past, I am not currently taking on new Couples clients. I have decided to keep my focus and specialize in working with individuals, in particular those struggling with anxiety, depression, and around items concerning motherhood. I can certainly help you process through what is coming up for you within your relationship but if you are looking for Couples therapy I would recommend to seek out a therapist that specializes in that.

  • Of course! Therapy is a service for you. You know best what is coming up for you in your life. My role is to help you sort through it, develop a better understanding of what may be going on and then to help you make any needed to changes to better help yourself.

  • If you have more questions or want to meet me first, we can schedule a consultation. Consultations are free and are for 15 minutes by phone or video. From there you can decide if you want to move forward to schedule for a therapy session.

    If you are ready to schedule right to a therapy session, great! Both options (consultation and therapy session) are available to schedule in the button below.

    Once you schedule a consult or session, you will get a confirmation email with the information on how to access the appointment. You will also get a link to complete either my consult inquiry form or my intake paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions