birth trauma therapist san diego
BIRTH TRAUMA IS REAL
Many new parents (unfortunately) don’t have the birth experience they dreamed of. If you’re a survivor of birth trauma, know that you’re not alone in your negative birth experience. Birth trauma can be experienced for many reasons, and it is completely possible to heal from it. Working with a birth trauma therapist in San Diego can help you make sense of your experience and learn how to recover.
Most people understand that giving birth can be difficult and intense, but no one expects to have a traumatic birth. Having this sort of experience can shake you to your core and make it difficult to move forward.
Many survivors of birth related trauma also feel isolated and alone. As a society, we often leave birth trauma out of the conversation. That's where our team of mental health professionals comes in. We want to remind you that you don't have to navigate this experience by yourself
We've seen firsthand how helpful therapy can be. We're here to meet you with a safe space to process your birth experience. Reach out today to get started.
Our therapists are here to meet you with compassion, kindness, and curiosity. Our goal is to make therapy a safe space for you to heal from your traumatic birth, take care of your mental health, and feel like yourself again.
We know that reaching out for support after experiencing a traumatic event can be extremely difficult. Our team is available for complimentary 15-minute phone consultations to address any questions or concerns you have about starting therapy. We encourage you to connect with us to start making meaningful change today.
EXAMPLES OF BIRTH TRAUMA
Again, each person has a unique reaction to different circumstances. With that being said, there are some common scenarios that can be traumatic for new parents. Click next to learn about a few examples of what a traumatic birth could look like.
stillbirth or infant loss
There are no words to describe the pain of stillbirth or infant loss. You had so many hopes and dreams for your baby, and the layers of grief and loss are intense. It's important to look out for trauma related symptoms after having this experience.
The heartbreak, anger, sadness, and other negative emotions that come along with infant loss are like no other. Your life will be forever changed by this experience, and you deserve support as you navigate through it.
labor complications
Unexpected medical issues can be scary, especially for a new parent. Any experience of a medical emergency, especially when you have a baby involved, can be terrifying. It can disrupt your sense of safety and leave you feeling helpless.
On top of that, having your birth experience go differently than planned can be extremely upsetting, disappointing, and even traumatic for some people. Many new parents devote a significant amount of time and effort to their birth plan, so any disruptions can make you feel like your world has been turned upside down.
baby spending time in the NICU
Any parent knows that watching your child experience difficulties, especially medical problems, can be heart wrenching. Having your baby spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is no different.
Many new parents feel totally helpless if their baby requires intensive medical care. You might even blame yourself for the situation, even if you logically know it's not your fault. This experience can come with incredibly complicated emotions.
poor medical care
Having a negative experience with your medical team can also lead to birth trauma. Birth is a vulnerable time in your life, and being mistreated (purposely or not) can have a profound impact.
It can also be scary entrusting your health (and the health of your baby) with strangers. While you're familiar with your own doctor, there are tons of different medical providers you may come into contact with during your birth experience.
WHAT IS A TRAUMATIC BIRTH EXPERIENCE?
Trauma is different for everyone. What one person experiences as a traumatic event may leave another person relatively unaffected. If you're a survivor of birth trauma, know that your experience is valid, no matter what someone else thinks. You don't owe anyone else an explanation of why something affected you so deeply.
how do I know if I had a traumatic birth experience?
Post traumatic stress disorder (also known as PTSD) can develop after a terrifying event such as birth trauma. If you suspect that you may have PTSD, it's best to reach out to a mental health professional to know for sure.
Some PTSD symptoms include flashbacks or nightmares about the event, intense physical symptoms when you think about the event, trying to avoid reminders of the event, panic attacks, and feeling numb or easily frightened. However, there are many other symptoms that people with PTSD might experience.
It's also important to remember that not every person who experiences trauma develops PTSD. Your experience is still valid whether or not you get diagnosed with PTSD or other mental health issues, and you deserve support either way.
OUR APPROACH TO BIRTH TRAUMA THERAPY IN SAN DIEGO
you deserve support
you deserve support
We believe that building a strong therapeutic bond is the key in supporting our clients who have had a distressing birth experience. Birth trauma (or any traumatic experience) can change your outlook on life and make it difficult to trust yourself and others. That's why we put so much care into showing up with warmth, curiosity, and authenticity.
You deserve a space where you can make sense of your traumatic childbirth experience without judgment or shame. Our clinicians cultivate this environment through online therapy sessions so you can access care where you feel most comfortable.
We're honored to share time and connection with each one of our clients. We take time to get to know you as an individual, as no two people are exactly alike. We want to deeply understand your experience, needs, values, and strengths in order to help you on your healing journey.
Reaching out for help can be challenging, but suffering on your own is even more difficult. You are worthy of support, and it is possible to heal from birth trauma. Reach out to schedule a complimentary consultation today.
TALK THERAPY METHODS
Our team uses a number of other treatment methods to support people who have experienced traumatic births. Some examples include acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, internal family systems therapy, and more.
Most therapists use a combination of treatment methods in their approach. This allows us to tailor your therapy experience to meet your needs, preferences, and goals. Above all else, we value the connection we create in the virtual therapy space.
It's okay if you're not sure what type of therapy you're looking for. Our therapists can give you more information about what each treatment approach entails and help you make an informed decision about the type of care you could benefit from.
HOW WE TREAT BIRTH TRAUMA
Your therapist will collaborate with you individually to ensure that your therapy experience is tailored to you. Our therapists each have different training and specialties. Click next to learn about a few types of treatments that we use to support people with traumatic birth experiences.
EMDR THERAPIST IN SAN DIEGO
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (also known as EMDR) is a therapy modality that is commonly used to treat trauma. It uses a technique called bilateral stimulation, which involves stimulating both sides of your body and brain.
The goal of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy is to change the way you respond to traumatic memories. Working with an EMDR therapist in San Diego helps you reprocess your trauma so that the memories are stored differently within your brain. This can help you experience fewer flashbacks and less intense physical symptoms.
EMDR is different from traditional forms of talk therapy. With that being said, it has a strong research base. Some studies suggest that it can also be helpful in treating other forms of mental illness that new parents experience, such as postpartum depression.
faqs about birth trauma therapy in san diego
Still have questions about birth trauma therapy? We have answers. Here, we've addressed some of your most frequently asked questions. If you don't see your question here, we encourage you to reach out to schedule a complimentary consultation so you can speak directly with one of our therapists.
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WHILE WE HAVE MORE AWARENESS THAN EVER AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, IT CAN STILL BE CHALLENGING TO FIND A THERAPIST–NOT TO MENTION HOW MUCH COURAGE AND VULNERABILITY IT TAKES TO REACH OUT FOR HELP IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THE SAN DIEGO POSTPARTUM HEALTH ALLIANCE HAS A DIRECTORY TO HELP YOU FIND A PROVIDER WHO'S TRAINED IN POSTPARTUM MENTAL HEALTH. YOU CAN ALSO ASK YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER IF THEY HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR REFERRAL OPTIONS.
WE RECOGNIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CONNECT WITH A PROFESSIONAL WHO REALLY UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. OUR SAN DIEGO THERAPISTS ARE TRAINED IN BIRTH TRAUMA AND POSTPARTUM MENTAL HEALTH. WE CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE TO WALK ALONGSIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR HEALING PROCESS.
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YES! OUR THERAPISTS EXCLUSIVELY OFFER ONLINE THERAPY. ALL SESSIONS TAKE PLACE VIA A SECURE VIDEO PLATFORM THAT IS HIPAA-COMPLIANT, MEANING YOUR INFORMATION STAYS PROTECTED AND CONFIDENTIAL.
WE LOVE THAT VIRTUAL THERAPY ALLOWS US TO MEET WITH YOU IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME. EXPERIENCING BIRTH TRAUMA CAN MAKE IT HARD TO FEEL SAFE, SO BEING ABLE TO GET HELP IN A FAMILIAR ENVIRONMENT CAN HELP.
ONLINE THERAPY ALSO ALLOWS US TO REACH THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE LOCATED IN SAN DIEGO IN ORDER TO CONNECT WITH OUR TEAM OF CLINICIANS. THIS ALSO SAVES YOU TIME AND MONEY SINCE YOU CAN SKIP THE COMMUTE TO AN OFFICE.
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Our team of therapists are here to lend a compassionate listening ear and offer evidence-based strategies to support you in processing your birth and feeling present again. We'd be honored to navigate this journey with you, and we're looking forward to hearing from you. Reach out today to get started.