BIRTH TRAUMA COUNSELLING AND EXPRESSIVE ART THERAPY.

In Australia, at least one in three women who give birth experience birth trauma. One in ten develop signs of post-traumatic stress. 

Research in Australia suggests that almost half (45.5 %) of women describe their childbirth experience as traumatic.

The implications are multifaceted and intergenerational, impacting both physical and mental health, and their child’s development.

Contributing factors for birth trauma include physical injuries, obstetric interventions, a perceived lack of control and poor relationships with health care providers (Tsakmakis, Akter, Bohren, 2022). Journal of the Australian College of Midwives.

I am an accredited Counsellor with a passionate interest in women’s maternal health, trained as a Doula and, am currently seeing clients for perinatal* trauma or a bad-birth experiences. I use a person-centred, trauma-informed, somatic, expressive art, and narrative approach in helping healing, moving-on and improved bonding with your child. Later this year, I will be offering Creative Art Therapy groups later this year for gentle nurturing opportunities for processing and supporting healing your unique heroine's journey.

Three things to do:

1/ Talk to someone who will listen and understand and not dismiss your concerns on the platitude of “well at least you have a healthy baby…”. Seek counselling with a professional who is specifically trained in this area.

2/ Request your notes from the hospital or place of birth. Debrief with a Midwife.

3/ Write your birth story.

Resources: Australasian Birth Trauma Organisation - www.birthtrauma.org.au

Centre of Perinatal Excellence - www.cope.org.au

Birth Talk - www.birthtalk.org.

*Perinatal is referred to as the time from conception through to the end of the first year.