Perinatal Therapy 

Perinatal therapy for parents who have experienced psychological distress during pregnancy, birth or in the post-natal period.

It can often be difficult to differentiate what are the symptoms of depression and what are the normal emotional, mental and physical changes that can occur during pregnancy.

However, persistent symptoms to keep an eye out for include:

  • Persistent sadness
  • Withdrawing from friends
  • Decrease in energy
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Sleeping too little or too much
  • Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
  • Daily negative thoughts
  • Change in appetite – lack of or increased eating
  • Feeling restless
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Decrease in self-care

Offering specialist therapy for parents and parents-to-be who have experienced:

  • Anxiety and depression

  • Tokophobia (fear of giving birth)

  • Miscarriage

  • Stillbirth

  • Birth trauma

  • Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Psychological Birth Trauma (PBT)

The delivery of a baby can be a positive experience for some women, but for others it can be traumatic. The Psychological trauma may be a result of the physical injury experienced during the birth. It may also be as a result of the experience eliciting high anxiety and feeling a loss of control. Trauma may continue long after the birth, with distinct psychological symptoms.
Symptoms of Birth Trauma:
• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Feelings of intense fear in reaction to reminders of the experience
• Flashbacks of the traumatic experience on a regular basis
• Flashbacks of the traumatic experience during sexual relations
• Poor sleep
• Low persistent mood
• Poor concentration
• Lack of interest in previous enjoyable actives
• Nightmares of the birth experience
• Avoiding reminders of the traumatic birth such as the place of birth a
• Struggling to bond with your baby
• Feeling disconnected from others

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Postpartum depression is also known as Postnatal depression (PND). It is a type of depression that affects some women after having a baby. Typically, it develops within four to six weeks after giving birth, but it can sometimes take several months to appear. Researchers from Northwestern Medicine reported in JAMA Psychiatry that postpartum depression affects 1 in every 7 new mothers.
Symptoms may include:
• Crying
• Insomnia
• Loss of interest in actives you used to enjoy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Persistent feeling of fatigue
• Changes in appetite or eating habits
• Headaches, stomach aches or backaches
• Anger
• Irritability or hypersensitivity
• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
• Difficulty bonding with your baby
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
• Withdrawal from family and friends

Complications 

Many women will experience a traumatic birth with no follow up support. Left untreated, perinatal, birth trauma or postpartum depression can interfere with the health and of mother and child and their attachment bond.

Therapy for Perinatal Counselling:

Dr. Louise Jane Clarke

DIRECTOR: CONSULTANT CHARTERED PSYCHOLOGIST

Dr Clarke has a specialist interest in perinatal mental health. She is a member of the following:

  • Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Interest Group, Psychological Society Ireland
  • The Irish Fertility Counselling Association – Dr Louise served on the Executive Committee for The Irish Fertility Counselling Association  in 2022 and 2023.
  • Member of The Birth Trauma Association

Contact Us

Booking Form