Therapy for Reproductive Trauma
Los Angeles • California • Orange County
What is reproductive and perinatal trauma? How does living with reproductive trauma affect your life?
Reproductive/perinatal trauma is trauma that is experienced while trying, during, and after becoming a parent. Examples of reproductive/perinatal trauma include (but are not limited to):
An infertility diagnosis, infertility treatments, difficulty getting pregnant, or difficult IVF procedures.
Difficult pregnancies, miscarriage, stillbirth, or other loss of pregnancy.
Trauma throughout pregnancy, birth, or postpartum
Difficult or traumatic birth experience (examples include but not limited to: unplanned c-section, baby going to NICU, and lack of support or other complications during delivery and birth).
Postpartum depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
What all of these experiences have in common is a deep sense of loss that is not honored, visible, and acknowledged in larger society, creating a sense of isolation.
Experiencing reproductive or perinatal trauma can deeply impact your sense of self, bringing up feelings of grief, shame, and disconnection. It may show up in your body as hypervigilance, irritability, or feeling shut down and numb. It can disrupt your sleep, focus, and relationships, making daily life feel overwhelming.
Having personally navigated the challenges of trying to become a mom and the weight of postpartum anxiety, I understand how isolating and painful this journey can be. You don’t have to carry this alone. I’m here to support you, hold space for your healing, and help you reconnect with yourself so you can move forward with greater ease, self-compassion, and hope.
To learn more, ready my blog on Reproductive Trauma
How can talk therapy help with reproductive and perinatal trauma?
Provide a safe space to grieve the loss of your reproductive story–how you thought becoming a parent and starting a family would look like.
Honor the grief of having gone through a pregnancy loss or the grief of getting your period after months and years of hoping and trying.
Prepare emotionally for potential fertility treatments and get equipped with tools to take care of your mental health during the process.
Learn how to communicate these feelings to your partner, including how to talk openly, express your needs, and get support from one another.
Discuss how to set appropriate boundaries with people in your life, and how to ask for support.
How does EMDR help with reproductive/perinatal trauma?
Process distressing memories so they feel less overwhelming and emotionally charged.
Ease feelings of guilt, grief, or self-blame that often accompany reproductive trauma.
Heal emotional wounds from medical interventions related to fertility treatments, pregnancy, or postpartum care.
Rebuild a sense of safety and trust in your body after difficult reproductive experiences.
Mentally and emotionally prepare for future fertility treatments, childbirth, or the transition to parenthood.
To learn more, read my blog on how EMDR therapy help people experiencing infertility and perinatal trauma .
How does therapy help with postpartum depression and anxiety?
Provides you a safe space to tell your story and sort through your thoughts and feelings.
Develop your self-compassion so you can honor the courage you’ve shown on your journey to becoming a parent.
Honor the profound shift that accompanies becoming a parent and understand anxieties and old wounds that may be resurfacing as a result.
Help you tend to your wounds, connect with your inner-child, and honor your needs so you can show up as the parent you want to be.
To learn more, read my blog on postpartum anxiety and depression
If you’re carrying the weight of reproductive or perinatal trauma, you don’t have to hold it all alone. Whether you’re grieving a loss, processing a difficult birth, or feeling overwhelmed by infertility, our work together can help you find space to heal, honor your experience, and reconnect with yourself. I offer therapy in Irvine, Los Angeles, and throughout California. Reach out today to start your healing journey.