Fertility, IVF, miscarriage and women’s health counselling 

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Online Pregnancy, Perinatal
and Postnatal Mental Health Counselling UK

Pregnancy Counselling
Pregnancy is a portal to a new existence.  It is a huge shift from who we once were to a different way of being.  Transforming into a parent and caregiver of another being can be chaotic and messy.  The emotional and physical strains of pregnancy can be a challenge and can  trigger old wounds from the past.  Unhealthy patterns or thoughts from long ago can re-emerge and counselling and psychotherapy is a way to hold and recognise what is happening, to ground you and allow you to let go of unhelpful behaviours and thoughts.    
 
For those who have survived a difficult fertility journey or reproductive trauma, achieving pregnancy can bring a different kind of pressure. You may feel an immense burden to feel “only grateful,” leaving you hiding your real anxieties. Online counselling allows you to unpack these heavy expectations, sit safely with the complexity of your feelings, and find relief in knowing there is no “right” way to feel.
 
Pregnancy, Perinatal and Postnatal Counselling in Edinburgh and Online UK

Perinatal Counselling

The perinatal period, spanning from conception up to a year after birth, involves a profound identity shift known as matrescence: the motherhood version of adolescence. It is a time of immense emotional and physical growing pains.

Together, we will gently explore: Who you are becoming as you step into motherhood. What parts of your old identity feel lost or need to be grieved. What new strengths are emerging, and how to nurture your changing self.

Postnatal Counselling

Postnatal counselling is deeply valuable whether or not you are experiencing clinical depression or anxiety. Even when daily life feels like it is “ticking along,” the first year postpartum is an emotionally unstable and unsettling time. Accessing support online or via telephone across the UK means you do not have to worry about the logistics of leaving the house, finding childcare, or rushing to an appointment with a newborn. You can show up exactly as you are, baby in arms, from your couch, or in your loungewear. Counselling offers you a rare opportunity to slow down, catch your breath, and gently process this transformative period. If you would like to begin virtual perinatal or postnatal support, please reach out to book a free introductory call.

What is the difference between the "baby blues" and "postnatal depression" or "anxiety"?

The “baby blues” typically occur in the first two weeks postpartum due to massive, abrupt hormonal shifts and sleep deprivation, and they usually resolve on their own.  Postnatal depression or anxiety involves persistent feelings of extreme exhaustion, dread, hyper-vigilance, intrusive thoughts, or a sense of detachment that lasts longer than two weeks.  If you feel like you are constantly operating on high alert, professional support can help you regulate.  

No, it means your nervous system is completely overwhelmed.  Intrusive, scary “what-if” thoughts are an incredibly common symptom of perinatal anxiety.  They are a misfired evolutionary mechanism where a highly anxious brain visualises worst-case scenarios to try and keep the baby safe.  In our sessions, we strip away the shame attached to these thoughts, understand why they are happening and lower your brain’s threat response.  

Matrescence- the transition into motherhood-is a massive psychological, physical, and social shift akin to adolescence.  It is entirely normal to grieve your old life, your independence, and your old sense of self, even if you love your baby deeply.  We use relational psychotherapy to help you process this massive transition, redefine your boundaries, and integrate your new identity as a mother without losing yourself entirely.  

Based in Edinburgh? I offer In person session at 22 Drumsheugh Gardens, EH3 7RN.