You're Holding It Together in Every Other Part of Your Life.
But This Feels Different.
Specialist EMDR and CBT therapy for women whose fear of childbirth is overwhelming, who are pregnant after losing a baby, who are processing traumatic births, or who are struggling with postnatal anxiety.
For thoughtful, capable women who are successful in work, relationships, and life - but when it comes to pregnancy, birth, or motherhood, the fear, grief, or trauma feels unbearable.
You don't have to carry this alone.
Online therapy across the UK & EU.
Does This Sound Like You?…
I specialise in supporting women through the most challenging parts of pregnancy and early motherhood. If any of these sound familiar, you're in the right place.
Are you terrified of giving birth even though you desperately want this baby?
𑁍 You're lying awake at 2am Googling "can you die during childbirth UK."
𑁍 You've drafted the email to your consultant requesting a C-section at least 20 times but can't send it because you're terrified they'll say no.
𑁍 Every baby kick feels like counting down to disaster instead of joy.
Are you checking for blood every single time you go to the toilet?
𑁍 You're pregnant after losing a baby.
𑁍 You're holding your breath through every scan waiting for them to tell you there's no heartbeat.
𑁍 You can't let yourself bond with this baby in case you lose them too.
𑁍 You can't stop waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Can't you stop replaying the moment you thought you were going to die in childbirth?
𑁍 Your birth was traumatic.
𑁍 When you look at your baby, you see the trauma.
𑁍 Everyone expects you to have "moved on" but you're still stuck there.
𑁍You can't walk past the hospital without panic.
𑁍 The rage at medical staff who didn't listen won't go away.
Are you struggling with overwhelming anxiety or depression after having your baby?
𑁍 You thought having the baby would make everything better. Instead, you feel worse.
𑁍 You're exhausted, anxious, can't stop the intrusive thoughts, or you can't bond with your baby the way you "should."
𑁍 You feel like you're failing at the one thing you're supposed to be good at.
If any of these sound familiar, you're not broken. You experienced trauma.
And trauma doesn't respond to "just think positive" or "try to relax." It needs proper support.
Support from a BABCP-accredited perinatal CBT therapist, specialising in trauma, anxiety and pregnancy after loss.
As seen in…
Hi, I’m Aleksandra!
I'm a BABCP-accredited CBT therapist and mental health nurse specialising in perinatal trauma.
I've spent over a decade in NHS mental health, supporting women through tokophobia, birth trauma, pregnancy loss, and postnatal anxiety. I've walked alongside hundreds of women navigating the terror, the grief, and the overwhelming fear that can come with pregnancy and early motherhood.
I'm trained in EMDR (completing certification May 2026) and Trauma-Focused CBT — evidence-based therapies specifically designed for processing trauma and anxiety.
I currently work in the NHS alongside my private practice, so I understand UK maternity care inside and out. I know how to help you advocate for yourself, navigate the system, and get the support you deserve.
Your fear isn't irrational. Your trauma is real. And you don't have to navigate this alone.
What Changes When You Get the Right Support
Right now, pregnancy, birth, or early motherhood might feel overwhelming — like you're just surviving, not living.
Here's what shifts when you work with someone who understands perinatal trauma:
❀ You stop living scan to scan.
The hypervigilance eases. You can breathe through pregnancy without constant terror.
❀ You can think about your birth without being pulled back into it.
The flashbacks decrease. You're no longer stuck reliving the worst moments.
❀ The fear of giving birth becomes manageable.
Not gone completely, but no longer controlling every decision you make.
❀ You feel present with your baby.
The fog lifts. You can actually enjoy moments instead of just going through the motions.
This doesn't happen overnight. It takes work. But it does happen.
You're Not Alone
Over the past decade, I've supported hundreds of women through pregnancy after loss, traumatic births, and fear of childbirth - both in NHS mental health services and in private practice.
✿ Women who thought they'd never be able to enjoy a pregnancy again
✿ Women who couldn't look at their baby without seeing the trauma
✿ Women who were convinced they couldn't survive giving birth
They're not just "managing" anymore. They're actually living.
And if they can get through this, so can you.
How CBT and EMDR Can Help?
When you're caught in grief, trauma or anxiety, it can feel like your mind and body are running the show - racing thoughts at 3am, panic in your chest at the sound of a monitor, or a constant sense that something bad is about to happen.
I use two evidence-based therapies to help you process trauma and manage overwhelming fear: CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).
They work differently, but they work together. return.
CBT helps you manage what's happening now
CBT focuses on gently untangling the loops - the catastrophic thoughts, the panic spirals, the avoidance - so you don't feel hijacked by them anymore.
What this looks like:
Making sense of what's happening in your mind and body — why you can't "just stop worrying," why your heart races before every scan, why sleep feels impossible.
Calming spirals of "what if" — learning ways to pause the anxious loops so they don't take over your whole day.
Working with triggers — reducing the power of scans, hospital smells, baby kicks, or anything else that sends you into panic.
Finding gentler ways through avoidance — whether that's skipping scans, avoiding baby clothes, or feeling unable to leave the house, therapy gives you small, manageable steps back toward what matters.
Rebuilding confidence and connection — with your body, your baby, and yourself.
EMDR helps you process what happened before
EMDR is a trauma therapy that helps your brain process experiences that are "stuck" - traumatic births, pregnancy losses, medical trauma, or anything else your nervous system is still holding onto.
What this looks like:
Processing traumatic memories — not by reliving every detail, but by helping your brain understand "that was then, this is now."
Reducing flashbacks and intrusive images — the birth scene that replays at 2am, the moment you thought you were going to die, the scan where they told you there was no heartbeat.
Helping your body feel safer — EMDR works with your nervous system, not just your thoughts. Your body learns: "I survived that. I'm safe now."
Separating past trauma from present pregnancy — if you've had a loss or traumatic birth before, EMDR helps you stop catastrophising that it will happen again.
You won't need to describe every traumatic detail. EMDR is designed to process trauma without re-traumatising you.
I'm completing EMDR certification in May 2026. Until then, I use Trauma-Focused CBT, which is also evidence-based for processing trauma.
Together, CBT and EMDR help you:
✓ Process the trauma that's driving the fear (EMDR)
✓ Manage the anxiety that's taking over your daily life (CBT)
✓ Build practical tools for scans, appointments, panic spirals (CBT)
✓ Stop replaying the worst moments (EMDR)
✓ Make decisions from calm, not terror (Both)
This isn't about forcing yourself to "stay positive." It's about processing what happened, managing what's happening now, and creating space for calm, safety and even joy to return.
Gentle Letters from Aleksandra
Insights, guidance, and support for navigating the harder parts of pregnancy and motherhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Birth trauma isn’t just a “bad memory.” It can leave you with flashbacks, nightmares, or the sense of being right back in the delivery room when you least expect it. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) has trauma-focused approaches that help you gently process what happened so it no longer hijacks your mind or body. Together we’ll find ways to reduce the power of triggers, ease the constant alertness, and help you feel safer in everyday life again.
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Yes. Research shows online CBT can be just as effective as in-person therapy. For many women, being able to access therapy from home makes it easier — especially when leaving the house feels daunting, you’re caring for a baby, or travel is too stressful. Online therapy gives you the same evidence-based support, with the comfort of being in your own space.
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Absolutely. Many women say that pregnancy after loss feels like holding your breath the entire time. Therapy gives you practical strategies for getting through scan days, managing spirals of “what if,” and coping with the constant uncertainty. It’s a safe place to talk about fears you may feel unable to share with family or friends, and to find ways to carry both grief and hope side by side.
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It depends on your situation and goals. CBT is usually time-limited, often between 6–16 sessions. Some women feel lighter within a few weeks, others want longer-term support. We’ll check in regularly so the pace feels right for you.
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Yes. Intrusive or scary thoughts are far more common than most women realise, especially in the perinatal period. Talking about them in therapy doesn’t make them more real — it helps reduce their power. You’ll never be judged or shamed here.
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Sessions are £130 for 50 minutes (online, across the UK)
Delivered via secure video (Zoom)
Frequency tailored to your needs — many women find 8–12 sessions helpful, but some need shorter or longer support
Available Fridays, with limited evening sessions
Therapy is for women based in the UK and worldwide* (coaching services available separately for the clients based in the US and Canada)
What Clients Say
"I feel at peace with those experiences. I accept that they've happened and that they were challenging and painful, but I now also recognise that they don't need to affect my experience of motherhood."
- Anonymous client, Birth TraumaTherapy
"I just had to message you - I couldn't wait to tell you about my scan! It actually worked - the plan we put together really helped. I managed it fine. And then relief; the results came back low risk!
I won't lie, I have been panicking a bit since, but I feel like I'm handling it better. Just wanted to say thank you because for the first time, I felt like I could actually get through a scan without it completely breaking me."
— Client message (shared with consent)
"The most helpful part of therapy was realising and accepting that the miscarriage was not my fault. I keep reminding myself that I did all I could.
I used to think “It is my fault, whose else's fault could it be?.” But now, when I piece things together, I know I did all I could."
- Anonymous client, Pregnancy After Loss Therapy
let's get startedReady to Start?
I work with a limited number of clients at a time so I can give each woman the attention and support she deserves.
Current availability: I typically have 2-3 openings per month for new clients. If you're ready to stop just surviving and start actually healing, let's talk.
The discovery call is free, no-pressure, and helps us both understand if we're a good fit.