COUNSELLING FOR POSTNATAL ANXIETY, OVERWHELM AND DEPRESSION

Before becoming a mum, many of us picture how it might be — soft-focus visions of joy, love, and family life filled with laughter and togetherness. Yet alongside those tender moments can come a very different reality: exhaustion that seeps into your bones, overwhelm that leaves you feeling frantic, and the huge sense of responsibility weighing heavily on your chest. The loneliness and isolation can take you by surprise. If you’re struggling with low mood, anxious thoughts, self-doubt, or finding it hard to adjust after having a baby, you are not alone — and you don’t have to face this on your own. Postnatal counselling offers a gentle, supportive space to explore these feelings and start to feel more like yourself again.

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Gentle, compassionate support for new mums

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The postnatal period is one of life’s biggest transitions. It can stir up a mix of emotions, from happiness and connection to anxiety, self-doubt, and isolation. Many mums describe feeling "on edge all the time" or like they "can't switch their brain off" even when the baby is finally asleep. You might be feeling:

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• Tearful, low or hopeless

• Constantly anxious or on edge

• Worried something bad might happen to your baby

• Disconnected from your baby or loved ones

• Guilt or shame for finding things hard

• Struggling with sleep deprivation and exhaustion

• Worn down by the pressure to be 'okay'

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Postnatal depression and anxiety are common, up to 20% of women experience mental health problems in during pregnancy and the first year after having a baby*. Reaching out for help is a brave, positive step toward feeling more like yourself again.

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*https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/better-mental-health-jsna-toolkit/4-perinatal-mental-health?

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How postnatal counselling can help

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This is a safe, non-judgmental space where you can talk openly about what you’re going through — whether that’s difficult birth memories, intrusive thoughts, constant worry about your baby, or simply the relentlessness of life with a newborn.

Together, we can:

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• Process the emotional and psychological changes after birth

• Recover from a traumatic or difficult birth experience

• Manage postnatal anxiety, panic attacks and overwhelming thoughts

• Build confidence in your parenting, without the pressure to be perfect

• Navigate sleep deprivation, identity shifts, and relationship changes

• Strengthen your bond with your baby in a way that feels right for you

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If you’re parenting with limited support, or trying to raise your child differently to how you were raised, therapy can also help you gently unpick old patterns and manage the extra emotional load this can bring.

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You matter too

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This stage isn’t just about the baby — your wellbeing matters just as much. Counselling offers a space to be honest about how you're really feeling and find ways to cope, heal and feel more supported.

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If you are in the perinatal period, those early days and months of parenting, and are experiencing postnatal anxiety and overwhelm or  feelings of depression, please do get in touch to see how perinatal counselling online or in-person could help. 

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