Birth RESOLUTION therapy
Birth Trauma Resolution (BTR) therapy is a solution based, therapeutic intervention designed to help alleviate the symptoms of birth trauma and PTSD in a fast and efficient way. BTR combines the understanding of neuroscience with proven therapeutic techniques in a holistic way. It is scientifically proven to help heal trauma and grief safely, thereby allowing you to parent free from the impact and effects of trauma.
What is Birth trauma?
Any physical or emotional distress you may experience during or after childbirth. During the birth, you may feel afraid, helpless or unsupported by those around you. After the birth, you may be left feeling guilty or numb due to events beyond your control. You could even suffer from panic attacks. If this happens, know that you’re not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 45% of new mothers experience birth trauma—and the effects can continue long after the birth itself.
Risk factors for birth trauma
There are many factors—both physical and emotional—that can contribute to birth trauma, including:
A childbirth experience that was not what you hoped
Birth complications, including a vaginal tear or too much bleeding
Emergency c-section or the use of forceps or other medical devices
You or your baby suffering a birth injury
Your baby requiring medical attention after the birth
Not receiving the care or support you expected from the hospital staff
Any negative meaning you associate with childbirth can stay with you for a long time. Unfortunately, many parents think they should ignore their feelings and present a happy face to the world. But it’s important to value your emotional health, recognise that your feelings matter, and give voice to your experience. This is the way you begin to heal.
The impact of birth trauma on your life
The myth persists that having a baby is supposed to be a natural, joyous event, so you might find it hard to come to terms with a childbirth experience that wasn’t what you expected. You might be ashamed of your feelings or even fearful of being judged, so you bury your emotions in the hope they’ll go away.
But unresolved trauma doesn’t simply go away. It’s important to examine your feelings to understand why you feel the way you do. Otherwise, these negative emotions can simmer under the surface, affecting your everyday life in big and small ways.
Ways to heal from birth trauma with BTR
Helping you reframe your experience and give it new meaning
Building back your confidence to break the trauma’s hold
Allowing you to engage and connect with other parents
Giving you back your identity and sense of self
During each BTR session you will be listened to and your experience validated, and together we will create a personalised plan on how to move forward. Using a series of therapeutic techniques, including therapeutic rewind, we will work together to dissolve the strong negative emotions attached to the memory of your birth so you can remember it without experiencing feelings of anxiety or panic.
Together we will then rebuild your confidence and equip you with the resources to get back to your day to day life and relationships symptom free. Many parents report being able to remember more detail about the birth including positive events that may have been forgotten. I can help you to deal with the feelings of anger, sadness, guilt, shame, failure etc, all commonly associated symptoms of a traumatic birth.
Can this support the grief journey and loss?
I can also help you to heal from the repercussions of suffering from a birth trauma including loss. We can use additional powerful tools and techniques to help you move on from feelings such as:
Loss of a birth dreamed about
loss of confidence
loss of feelings of attachment to your baby
relationship breakdown between you, your child, partner, family members and friends
help to rebuild a life of emotional wellness with a strong sense of a positive future.
BTR is also appropriate for the loss of a baby, including miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, and fertility issues. BTR can help with the trauma element of loss enabling you to pass through the stages of grief more easily.
Most people find 3 sessions to be enough to achieve the intended results; however, some people find that an additional 1 or 2 sessions may be needed to feel complete.
What happens in a BTR session?
After an initial consultation,
Session 1 - Acknowledge previous perinatal trauma (s) properly and in a debrief format. Ensure your needs and fears are recognised fully and discussed. Abdominal breathing and personalised positive visualisation techniques to use between sessions. I will begin I will ask you to imagine yourself in a relaxing place whereby you feel particularly safe, secure and relaxed.
Session 2 - The rewind technique is ideal for helping to really individualise your trauma and triggers, and to create a positive rehearsal method designed for you to move forward. Using deep relaxation techniques to lower trauma templates. This is vital for recoding the pattern/memory you have. We will then gently start a rewind technique in a dissociated state, backwards and forwards, several times in a deep state of relaxation we will rewind until the memory of the trauma does not trigger any strong, unwanted emotions. The techniques help to create positive resourceful states for the enhancement of your wellbeing, and improved relationships with yourself and family.
Session 3 - A new reality generator or positive rehearsal meditation designed just for you.
Session 3-4 - If in further sessions after the rewind we can progress to writing a pregnancy and birth plan if appropriate for subsequent pregnancy or for future pregnancies. This is a trauma informed plan to specifically manage your individual triggers and enable clear advocation for you and your baby. A trauma informed birth plan can help guide conversations with care providers to rebuild trust.
I am an NMC registered midwife with additional training and knowledge in Birth Trauma Resolution Therapy and PTSD.
PRICE
3 x sessions - 1.5hrs at your home
Information Gathering + Rewind Trauma Technique
+ Writing Plan for future
£195 - (£65 per session)