therapy specialties
Birth Trauma Therapy near SF Bay Area, California
You’d been dreaming the day of your baby’s arrival. But your birth experience was nothing but traumatic.
→ Perhaps your birth left you feeling shocked, guilty, ashamed, sad, helpless, or even, angry.
→ Perhaps you can’t seem to forget what happened during your labor and delivery. These intrusive thoughts and traumatic memories constantly remind you of your birth. You may wonder if you have PTSD and trauma symptoms.
→ Your traumatic birth may have also increased your anxiety and fear about future pregnancies and your baby’s safety. You are worried about the health of your baby and your mental health.
You wonder if therapy may help you heal emotionally from your birth trauma while restoring a sense of agency and peace.
Mama, I’m so sorry about your traumatic birth experience.
Perhaps you had an unwanted medical intervention. Maybe you had a difficult and intense birth, an emergency c-section, or your birth plan had gone awry.
Perhaps there were medical concerns about you or your baby. Or you felt that nobody listened to and cared for you, and felt unsafe during the birthing process.
From the bottom of my heart, please know that your feelings and birthing experience are valid.
You are not at fault. You are enough. I want to be there for you.
I believe Birth Trauma Therapy can help you heal, rebuild trust in yourself, and reclaim a sense of agency & well-being.
Birth Trauma Counseling Can Lessen Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & Trauma Symptoms.
A traumatic birth experience is not uncommon. According to research, between 20% to 68.6% of women perceive their birth experience as a traumatic event. Even worse, 4% of women develop PTSD symptoms following birth trauma.
SOME COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PTSD & BIRTH TRAUMA:
Intrusive thoughts about what happened during childbirth
Flashbacks or nightmares related to your childbirth
Panic attacks or intense anxiety
Difficulty bonding with the baby
Increased arousal (e.g., irritability, difficulty sleeping, easily startled)
Avoidance of people, places, or situations (e.g., new moms) that remind you of the birth trauma
Besides symptoms of PTSD, birth trauma may also result in symptoms of postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and other anxiety disorders. Talking in therapy about your birth trauma may help.
How To Heal & Overcome Birth Trauma? 4 Ways Therapy Can Help You.
-
You will learn how to cope with tools from evidence-based methods. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Somatic Therapy, and others.
-
You will have a safe and supportive space to heal from your birth trauma. You can engage in talk, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), somatic therapy, and others.
-
You will have a chance to rethink your birth story. This will help you move past the trauma. You can create a stronger and more positive view of your birth experience, even if it didn’t go as planned.
-
You will find relief and closure about your birth experience. This helps you move forward with peace. You can heal from the emotional weight of unresolved trauma.
Hello. I’m Dr. Priscilla W. Malm, your Birth Trauma Therapist near SF Bay Area, California.
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Having a baby is a life-changing experience. A traumatic birth experience can greatly affect a woman's mental health. It can also impact the well-being of her baby and family.
I am a holistic and trauma-informed psychologist, specializing in birth trauma, maternal mental health, perinatal mood disorders, and other mental health issues for women.
My approach to Birth Trauma Therapy is warm, empathic, holistic, and empowering. I integrate various mind-body tools to help you heal while making you feel safe and understood in the process.
Helping you and your family grow, thrive, and attain wellness is an honor. I provide online therapy, and I invite you to take the next step whenever you are ready.
The Process - Therapy for Birth Trauma
-
Step 1: Contact Us
The process for birth trauma therapy begins when you reach out to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.
Please contact us by filling out an inquiry on our contact page, call (650-257-0126) or email (info@growandwell.com) us.
-
Step 2: Consultation
In the free 15-minute phone consultation, we will discuss why you are looking for birth trauma therapy. We will also explore what you hope to achieve.
You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and determine if my approach and style align with your needs.
-
Step 3: Intake Session
In our first appointment, we will take time to get to know you more deeply. We will start with questions about your background, mental health history, and any current challenges you're facing.
We may also discuss and set treatment goals to guide our work together.
-
Step 4: Ongoing sessions
In our recurring sessions, we will explore your emotions, develop coping strategies, and process your birth trauma.
Using personalized mind-body therapeutic techniques, we will work together to support your healing and restore your peace.
