Birth Trauma & Postpartum PTSD Therapy in Miami, FL
You are postpartum and may be here because…
It sometimes feels like the birth trauma you lived through is suddenly happening all over again even though it isn’t
You don’t let your baby out of your sight for fear of something seriously bad happening
You have nightmares related to the stressful birth of your child
You are avoiding things that remind you of the birth trauma
You are on edge, irritable, and can’t sleep much even when you have the chance
You are extremely alert to your surroundings and possible danger
You try to push away painful feelings, images, and memories of the trauma, maybe even turning to alcohol or other substances to help numb the intense emotions
You may feel disconnected from reality sometimes
However you arrived, you are in the right place.
This is exactly what we help people with every day.
Pregnancy, labor, and delivery are unpredictable and scary.
We help you heal from birth trauma and get back to thriving as you navigate life with your new baby.
What is Birth Trauma?
Experiencing life-threatening events or serious injury or threat of serious injury during labor, childbirth, or in the immediate postpartum. This includes threats to your or your baby’s life such as…
… a long, painful labor and delivery
… an unplanned C-section
… baby going to the NICU
… a serious medical complication to you, like a postpartum hemorrhage, unexpected hysterectomy, severe preeclampsia or severe eclampsia, 3rd or 4th degree perineal tearing, or peripartum cardiomyopathy (heart failure related to pregnancy)
Regardless of what happened, birth trauma is deeply connected to how you felt after childbirth, including if you felt powerless, unsupported, or uninformed during childbirth.
Disappointment that your childbirth experience was not the one you were hoping for.
Your mind may tell you that having a new baby should counteract any traumatic experiences you went through to get to this baby. If only it worked like that.
Trauma can have deep impacts on your relationships, including your relationships with your baby, partner, and loved ones. Trauma can mess with your sense of safety about yourself, others like your baby and partner, and the world.
Maybe the horrifying possibility of your baby dying put your mind into protective mode and convinced you to be a little bit emotionally disconnected from your baby, just in case.
Maybe you always wanted another child but now you aren’t so sure because you just can’t imagine going through childbirth again after what you just went through.
We help you heal from this disappointment so it doesn’t get in the way of enjoying your life now, developing the relationship you want with your baby, or your future goals.
When birth trauma becomes postpartum PTSD…
Not everyone who experiences a birth trauma will also experience postpartum PTSD from that birth trauma.
When symptoms of postpartum traumatic stress continue to show up in your life and are getting in the way of living your life and having the relationship you want with your baby and loved ones, this can be a sign of Postpartum Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, aka Postpartum PTSD or PPTSD.
These interfering symptoms include difficulties with trust, predominantly experiencing negative thoughts and emotions, avoiding reminders of the trauma, and being on edge, especially when it comes to your baby’s wellbeing.
How we help you heal from birth trauma and postpartum PTSD
At Natal Counseling, we kickstart your healing from birth trauma and postpartum PTSD by helping you process your birth trauma in a safe, non-judgmental, deeply compassionate space. Together, we get a better understanding of your triggers so we can get ahead of them.
Just like a messy file organizer with files everywhere and in the wrong folders, birth trauma and postpartum PTSD can mess with the organization of your memory.
This disorganization and messiness is what causes the postpartum PTSD symptoms that are getting in the way of enjoying your life and planning the future you want.
We help you put the files of your memories back in order so you can get back to leading a thriving life as you navigate this major life moment with your new baby.
Treatment For Birth Trauma and Postpartum PTSD
We offer you treatments based in the most cutting-edge science.
Dr. Perera has been heavily involved in providing many types of evidence-based and trauma-focused psychotherapies (including Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, & Narrative Exposure Therapy).
Dr. Perera worked on one of the first clinical trials testing the use of Narrative Exposure Therapy for pregnant women in the US. She has trained other health professionals to deliver Narrative Exposure Therapy to pregnant and postpartum people across the world.
You don’t have to suffer.
Postpartum PTSD is temporary.
Postpartum PTSD is treatable with professional help.
Ready for more? Schedule a free 20-minute consultation today so you can start feeling like yourself again sooner. We offer same-day consultations so you can start your journey to healing from birth trauma and postpartum PTSD today.
We are ready when you are.
Book a complimentary 20-minute consultation to see if we are the therapist for you.