Pregnancy and Parenthood
Pregnancy and parenthood are often portrayed as natural and blissful periods in a woman's life. However, many women go through distressing thoughts, feelings and emotions during this time. Keeping these experiences to yourself can be isolating and overwhelming.
There are many circumstances in which you may be going through this journey. You may be going through it alone or in a heterosexual or same-sex relationship. You may be a father or partner struggling with this phase in your life.
Whatever your circumstances and stage in your journey, I encourage you to get in touch so we can explore your situation together.
Preconception
Difficulties conceiving and/or remaining pregnant can be painful and distressing. It is common to feel tearful and emotional during this time.
If you are going through IVF, you may be finding this an emotionally and physically exhausting experience that impacts all areas of your life.
You may also be feeling isolated and alone, especially if you have not wanted to share your experience with others.
Counselling provides a safe space for you to explore your feelings with a trusted other outside your close circle of family and friends.
Baby loss and Still birth
If you are struggling with pain and grief following the loss of your baby or pregnancy, you may be feeling isolated and alone. You may be left with feelings of anger, confusion, grief and hopelessness and worry no-one will understand.
Perhaps you are considering getting pregnant or are pregnant after experiencing a previous loss.
Counselling can help you work through your feelings and support you in your current or future pregnancy.
Abortion
If you've had a recent or past abortion you may not have wanted to talk to anyone about your experience. You may worry you will be judged due to the strong and opposing views in society. You may also feel you do not have the right to grieve.
However, going through an abortion can bring about many emotions and feelings that can be overwhelming to be with alone. These can range from anger, sadness, guilt, grief and more. The experience can also have an impact on your life afterwards.
Counselling gives you a space to process your experience and work through your feelings in a safe and confidential place.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be an especially anxious time. It is common to experience anxiety and fears relating to various aspects of the pregnancy and parenting journey. These may include...
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The health and wellbeing of you and your baby,
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Birth and the labour process,
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Current and anticipated changes in your body, identity and lifestyle,
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How you will experience parenting and
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The impact of a new baby on other children in your family.
Exploring your feelings in counselling can relieve anxiety and prepare you for birth and afterwards. It can also reduce the likelihood of postnatal depression, freeing you to have greater enjoyment of your baby.
Birth trauma
If you have had a difficult or traumatic birth, it can have an emotional impact on you and your relationship with your baby. You may have noticed you are feeling especially anxious during this time. You may be having intrusive nightmares or flashbacks.
Counselling provides a safe space for you to process your birth experience and lessen its influence on your life in the present.
Post birth
Looking after a new baby is both physically and emotionally challenging. Feeding issues, lack of sleep and hormonal changes all contribute to this.
It can be a vulnerable period as you go through changes in your body and identity. Emotions connected with your own childhood experience can resurface and be difficult to understand and process.
It is common for women to feel low in mood, depressed and/or anxious during this time. Postnatal depression affects more than 1 in every 10 women within a year of giving birth.
You may be experiencing difficulties with...
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boding with you baby,
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your confidence as a mum,
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unwanted thoughts and feelings, and
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issues with the way you see and value yourself.
Counselling can help normalise and make sense of your experience. It can bring you relief and a way forward in your situation which otherwise may be feeling hopeless and overwhelming.
Parenthood
Low mood, depression or anxiety can be experienced at any stage of the parenting journey. You may be struggling with the challenges of being a parent. Perhaps you are feeling stuck or lost in life, especially as your children grow older. Parenting experiences, unresolved emotional difficulties, life events and circumstances can all influence how you are feeling. Counselling can help you to make sense of your experience and support you in finding your way forward.