Perinatal Mental Health Support
Becoming a parent — or trying to, or grieving the loss of that — changes everything. It's normal to expect some of that. What's harder to prepare for is when the adjustment tips into anxiety that won't switch off, a low mood that doesn't lift, intrusive thoughts that frighten you, or a birth experience that still feels unresolved months later.
If any of that sounds familiar, you're not failing at motherhood, and you're not alone in feeling this way. This is an area I specialise in, both professionally and through my own life experience, and it's some of the most meaningful work I do.
What this might look like for you
Persistent worry during pregnancy about the baby, birth, or your ability to cope, that goes beyond normal nerves.
Low mood, numbness, guilt, or anxiety that develops in the weeks or months after birth.
A birth experience that has left you with flashbacks or distress, even if others have told you "at least the baby's healthy."
Frightening, unwanted thoughts about harm coming to your baby — far more common than most people realise, and treatable.
Worry that you don't feel the way you "should" about your baby.
Grief for who you were before, or difficulty recognising yourself in this new role — sometimes called matrescence.
Is this normal?
Some worry and adjustment is a normal part of pregnancy and early parenthood. It's worth speaking to someone when the anxiety, low mood, or intrusive thoughts are persistent, are affecting your day-to-day functioning or sleep, are stopping you from doing things with or for your baby, or simply don't feel like "you."
You don't need to wait until things feel unbearable — and you don't need a diagnosis to reach out.
How CBT helps
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy has a strong evidence base for perinatal anxiety, depression, and trauma. In practical terms, we work together to understand the patterns of thinking and behaviour keeping the difficulty going, build coping strategies that fit around the realities of life with a baby, and process traumatic experiences at a pace that feels safe.
Sessions are practical and collaborative — you're never just a passive recipient of advice. Sessions take place online via secure video call, which many parents find easier to fit around feeding schedules, naps, and unpredictable days than travelling to an in-person appointment.
We start with a free 15-minute consultation, followed by an assessment session to understand what you're experiencing and agree a plan, then regular 50-minute CBT sessions. See the full process →
Frequently asked questions
Yes — many parents describe feeling flat, numb, or strangely disconnected in the weeks after birth, and it's one of the most common things I hear in sessions. It doesn't mean something is wrong with you as a parent, but it is worth talking through, especially if the feeling persists.
No. Unwanted, intrusive thoughts about harm coming to your baby are a well-recognised and common experience, often linked to postnatal anxiety or perinatal OCD, not to any intention or risk. These thoughts are treatable, and talking about them openly is an important first step.
Yes. Antenatal anxiety and low mood are just as valid a reason to seek support as difficulties after birth, and addressing them during pregnancy can make a real difference to how you feel going into early parenthood.
Birth trauma isn't only about medical complications — it's about how the experience felt to you. Feeling frightened, out of control, or unheard during birth can be traumatic even when the outcome was fine, and it's a completely legitimate reason to seek support.
No referral is needed. You can get in touch directly, and we'll start with a free 15-minute consultation to talk through what you're experiencing.
Yes — online CBT has a strong evidence base and is often easier to sustain consistently around the realities of caring for a baby, without the added logistics of travel and childcare.
Ready to talk?
You're welcome to get in touch for a free, no-obligation 15-minute consultation. There's no pressure and no expectation that you have everything figured out before we speak.
Book your free consultation