Perinatal and Postnatal Therapy in London | Support through pregnancy, birth and the first year
Pregnancy and the months after birth can be a lot. Your body is changing, your plans are being tested, and everyone seems to have an opinion. Alongside the excitement, there can be worry that won't switch off, a birth that didn't go the way you hoped, or a lonely stretch of days at home with a newborn that nobody quite prepared you for.
Many of the women I work with are used to being organised and in control. Pregnancy and early motherhood tend to take a lot of that control away, and it can be unsettling to feel so unlike yourself at a time you expected to feel happy.
I support mums through pregnancy, birth and the first year, including LGBTQ+ parents, solo mums by choice, and families formed through IVF, donor conception or surrogacy.
What we work on
In pregnancy
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Anxiety that makes it hard to enjoy your pregnancy, or constant "what ifs" about your baby
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Fear of birth, including tokophobia, and feeling unsure about your birth choices
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Pregnancy after loss, and the fear of letting yourself hope. Read more about support after loss
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Your changing body, and the loss of control that can come with it
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Shifts in your relationship with your partner, family or in-laws, and setting boundaries around unsolicited advice
After birth
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Scary, unwanted intrusive thoughts about your baby, and checking or avoiding to feel safe
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Feeling constantly on edge, even when your baby is fine
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Making sense of your birth story, especially if it left you shaken. Read more about birth trauma therapy
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Low mood, anxiety or irritability that isn't lifting. Read more about postnatal depression and anxiety
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Isolation, and the village you were promised not quite showing up
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Changes with your partner as you figure out how to share the load
How therapy can help
Together we'll make space for everything this stage has brought up, including the thoughts you've been too frightened or ashamed to say out loud. We'll use practical tools to help settle anxiety and intrusive thoughts, so you can rest and function day to day. Alongside that, we'll look at what's happening underneath, including how your own experiences and relationships are shaping the way you feel now.
Over time, many clients notice their anxiety start to loosen its grip, and begin to trust themselves as mothers.
If you're further into motherhood and wondering who you are now, you might find my page on motherhood and identity helpful.
My approach: Integrative, drawing on relational, psychodynamic and mindfulness-based therapy, and shaped around what you need.
Session format: Weekly 50-minute sessions in‑person in Notting Hill, London or online across the UK.
Common questions
Do I need a diagnosis to come to therapy?
No. Feeling anxious, overwhelmed or not like yourself is reason enough.
Is it normal to have scary thoughts about my baby?
Yes. Unwanted, intrusive thoughts are very common in pregnancy and after birth, and having them doesn't mean you'll act on them or that you're a bad mum. They're often a sign of how much you care. Therapy can help you understand them and make them feel less frightening.
Can I bring my baby to sessions?
Yes, if they're not yet crawling. Some clients prefer to come on their own so they have time that's fully theirs, and others would rather not arrange childcare. Whatever works for you is fine.
Do you offer sessions online?
Yes, across the UK, as well as in person in Notting Hill. Many mums find online sessions easier to fit around naps and feeds.
You don't need to have it all figured out before you reach out. Get in touch to ask a question, or book a free 15-minute call.