Focused Birth Trauma Treatment
Helping parents process traumatic or difficult birth experiences with compassion, expertise and evidence-based care
For some parents, birth is remembered as frightening, overwhelming or life-threatening rather than joyful.
Months or even years later, you may still find yourself replaying what happened, avoiding conversations about birth, feeling anxious about becoming pregnant again, or becoming increasingly distressed as your due date approaches.
Others describe feeling constantly on edge, struggling to trust their body, or carrying a sense that something important was never fully processed.
Whether you are currently pregnant, hoping to conceive again, or simply wanting to move forward after a difficult birth, it is never too late to seek support.
A focused approach to treatment
Birth trauma often has a clear therapeutic focus.
For some parents, the goal is to reduce the ongoing impact of a previous birth. For others, it is to prepare emotionally for another pregnancy or approach an upcoming birth with greater confidence.
Rather than assuming ongoing therapy will be needed, we begin with a comprehensive assessment and develop an individualised treatment plan based on your goals, symptoms and circumstances.
Treatment may include EMDR alongside other evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches.
Where clinically appropriate, I may recommend a focused episode of care using a series of extended EMDR appointments. Many people complete this focused block of treatment and then return to their regular psychologist or therapist for ongoing support. If you are already working with another treating practitioner, I am happy to collaborate with them to ensure continuity of care.
Why do I sometimes recommend extended EMDR appointments?
EMDR differs from traditional talking therapy.
Rather than simply talking about a traumatic experience, EMDR helps the brain process distressing memories so they become less emotionally overwhelming in the present.
Once assessment and preparation have been completed, meaningful EMDR processing often benefits from uninterrupted time.
Depending on the complexity of your experience, we may focus on processing a particular traumatic memory—or one important aspect of that memory—within a session. Longer appointments can provide the time for that work to unfold naturally, rather than needing to pause because the appointment has ended.
For parents who are pregnant again, there may also be a meaningful timeframe for treatment before their baby's birth.
Extended appointments are never recommended simply because they are longer. They are offered only where they are considered clinically appropriate and where they align with your individual treatment goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I choose a two-hour EMDR appointment instead of weekly counselling?
There is no single approach that is right for everyone. Some people benefit from standard weekly appointments, particularly when concerns are broad, longstanding or involve multiple areas of life.
However, when treatment is focused on a specific traumatic experience, such as a previous birth, a longer EMDR appointment may provide sufficient uninterrupted time for memory processing within a session.
Following assessment, we will discuss the treatment approach most appropriate for you.
I'm pregnant again. Is it too late to seek help?
Not at all. Many parents seek treatment during a subsequent pregnancy after experiencing a traumatic birth.
Where there is sufficient time before your due date, treatment may focus on reducing the emotional impact of traumatic memories and helping you approach your upcoming birth feeling calmer, more prepared and more confident.
Do I have to book extended appointments?
No. Extended appointments are one treatment option available within my practice.
Following assessment, we will discuss the appointment length, pace and treatment approach that best meets your needs.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies from person to person. Some parents find that a relatively focused episode of care is sufficient to achieve their treatment goals, while others benefit from longer-term therapy.
Following your assessment, we will discuss a treatment plan tailored to your individual circumstances and review your progress together throughout therapy.
Perinatal & Second-Time Motherhood Support
I have a particular interest in supporting women entering pregnancy or early motherhood for a second time following a difficult or distressing first pregnancy/birthing experience.
Sometimes this is clearly recognised as birth trauma. Other times, it can be a quieter sense that things were not as hoped or planned, which may show up as fear around conceiving again, being pregnant, or giving birth.
Subsequent pregnancies can:
reactivate earlier trauma or unresolved birth experiences
bring up anxiety, vulnerability, or loss of trust in the body
intensify identity shifts
resurface relational or attachment patterns
I work at the intersection of trauma and perinatal mental health, supporting you to:
make sense of what is being activated
stabilise your nervous system
process what remains unresolved
So that this chapter can feel steadier, more coherent, and more integrated.
Fees
Initial Assessment (55minutes) – $240
The initial appointment allows time to understand your birth experience, current concerns and treatment goals, and to develop an individualised treatment plan.
Extended EMDR Appointment (2 hours) – $480
The fee reflects the equivalent of two standard consultation sessions and provides sufficient uninterrupted time for focused trauma treatment where clinically appropriate.
If you are accessing treatment under a Mental Health Care Plan, Medicare currently provides one rebate per day, regardless of appointment length. This means a two-hour appointment attracts a single Medicare rebate.
Is this approach right for me?
If you have experienced a traumatic birth and are wondering whether focused treatment may be right for you, I invite you to get in touch.
Together, we can discuss your experiences, your goals and the treatment options that best support your recovery.
Here for You
Arrange your appointment at Angela Chadwick Psychology.