Healing Childbirth Trauma Therapy for Mothers
You've tried to 'move on' after what happened during birth, but the weight still lingers.
Birth Trauma Therapist in Columbia, Maryland
Maternal Mental Health Support
You're Not Alone in This Journey
You stay busy caring for your baby, going through the motions. You tell yourself, "This must be what motherhood is."
But certain things hit hard like:
Driving past the hospital
Hearing a baby cry
Retelling your birth story
You wonder, "Am I too sensitive?" or "Shouldn't I be over this?"
You're Not Broken. You're Not Failing.
You're dealing with PTSD after giving birth and you're not alone.
"Healing isn't about forgetting. It's about making space for what happened and feeling safe again in your body and life."
What We'll Work on Together
Gentle, evidence-based approaches to help you heal and feel safe again
Grief Support for Childbirth Trauma
You may have had hopes and dreams for your birth that were shattered. We'll gently work through those losses, such as:
Grieving the experience you didn't have
Processing the way you were treated
Healing from what your body went through
Understanding Your Emotional Reactions
Trauma can leave you feeling on edge, numb, or easily overwhelmed. This means you're outside your 'window of tolerance.' I'll help you:
Understand your body's response
Learn grounding tools
Feel like yourself again
Processing Self-Blame
You might be thinking, 'I should have spoken up' or 'Why didn't I do more?' We'll explore these thoughts with compassion. Together, we'll shift from self-blame to understanding by asking:
Not 'What's wrong with me?'
But 'What happened to me?'
Rediscovering Yourself After Birth
Who are you now, after becoming a mother and surviving this trauma? Using NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model), we'll:
Explore how this experience has shaped you
Help you reconnect with parts of yourself you may have shut down to cope
It's not about knowing that you should feel better. It's about actually feeling safe in your body again consistently.
True healing doesn’t come from forcing yourself to move on.
It starts with gently understanding how trauma has impacted your mind, body, and sense of self.
Even with love and support, your body might still carry what happened.
If you feel on edge, disconnected, or like you're holding on by a thread, your nervous system may still be activated in survival mode.
And that’s not your fault. It’s your body’s way of protecting you mode.
The BIRTH Healing Framework
A structured approach to guide your healing journey
Be Seen and Heard
A safe space where your birth story matters — without feeling minimized, judged, or silenced.
Identify Triggers and Responses
Learn ways to manage the emotional reactivity to triggers and reminders of the birth.
Release Painful Memories
Use EMDR and birth debrief techniques to process trauma safely while unpacking the weight of the past. This is not about erasing the past, it is processing what happened and how to move forward.
Take Back Your Safety
Reconnect with your body and your sense of self to ultimately feel grounded and secure in motherhood again.
Heal at Your Own Pace
Move forward with compassion and patience, knowing healing is a journey and we move at a pace that works best for you.
Proven Tools for Healing
Our work may include evidence-based approaches tailored to your unique needs
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
To gently process trauma and reduce emotional pain.
NARM
NeuroAffective Relational Model
To explore reconnecting with all parts of you.
Somatic Techniques
Body-based healing approaches
To help your body feel safe again.
Emotion Regulation
Practical daily tools
So you can feel more in control day-to-day.
Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?
Take the first step towards feeling safe and whole again. Your free consultation is completely confidential and without obligation.
What to Expect in Your Free Consultation:
A safe, judgment-free conversation about your experience
Understanding of how therapy can support your healing
Answers to any questions you have about the process
A chance to see if we're a good fit to work together
"Taking this step shows incredible courage. You deserve support, compassion, and the chance to feel whole again."
Questions You Might Have
We understand you may have concerns. Here are some gentle answers to common questions.
What does therapy for birth trauma look like?
Therapy for birth trauma is a gentle, collaborative process. We'll work at your pace to process your experiences, understand your body's responses, and develop tools to help you feel safe again. Sessions typically involve talking through your experience, learning coping strategies, and sometimes using specialized techniques like EMDR to process traumatic memories.
How can therapy help me feel safe again?
Therapy helps by providing a safe space to process your experience without judgment, teaching you grounding techniques to manage overwhelming emotions, helping you understand your body's trauma responses, and gradually rebuilding your sense of safety and control. We work together to help you reconnect with yourself and feel more secure in your daily life.
How long does the healing process take?
Healing is unique to each person and there's no set timeline. Some people notice improvements within a few sessions, while others may need more time. We'll work at a pace that feels right for you, focusing on progress rather than speed. Remember, healing isn't linear - it's a journey of small steps forward.
What if I'm not ready to talk about my birth experience yet?
That's completely okay and very common. We can start wherever you feel comfortable - perhaps by talking about how you're feeling now, learning some coping tools, or just getting used to the therapy environment. You never have to share more than you're ready to, and we'll build up to discussing your birth experience only when you feel safe to do so.
Is this covered by insurance?
Many insurance plans provide partial reimbursement for out-of-network mental health providers. The intake is a 60-minute session and $185 and each session thereafter is 50-55 minutes and $155. I can help you understand your superbill and work with you to make therapy accessible because everyone deserves support in their healing journey.
Supporting mothers through childbirth trauma recovery with compassion, evidence-based care, and the belief that every woman deserves to feel safe and whole again.