About Aleksandra Balazy-Knas
Specialist CBT Therapist for Pregnancy After Loss, Birth Trauma, Tokophobia & Postnatal Mental Health
Welcome - I’m So Glad You’re Here
If you're holding your breath through another pregnancy, replaying a traumatic birth in your mind, or lying awake with postnatal anxiety - you've found a space where your story is understood and held with care.
I'm Aleksandra, a BABCP-accredited CBT therapist, psychologist, and registered mental health nurse. For more than a decade, I've specialised in perinatal mental health, supporting women who feel scared, stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed during and after pregnancy. My approach blends clinical expertise with warmth, honesty, and a pace that respects where you are right now.
Before motherhood, I was drawn to perinatal mental health as a professional. After motherhood, it became deeply personal. And that changes everything about how I show up for my clients.
As seen in…
Why "Unscrewing Motherhood"
When I started thinking about opening my practice in 2024, I kept thinking about how many times during my own motherhood journey I felt like I needed to hold everything in - like somehow I just needed to be this very tight, closed container in front of professionals, my husband, colleagues, and friends. I couldn't possibly share what was really going on in my head. I was also worried that if I did, I'd just fall apart completely.
What I realised after going through my own perinatal mental health difficulties is that this is how so many mothers are feeling.
I drew this jar to capture what it feels like:
A lot of feelings and thoughts are closed up inside that jar. Shame. Comparisons. Sadness. Loss. Grief. "I'm not good enough." "It's my fault." Blame. Anger. Resentment. Trauma.
And on the outside?
A label that says "I'm fine."
This is what I want my practice to be: a place where we unscrew that lid together. Where you can say the things you've been too scared to say out loud. Where we can contain and face whatever comes up—whether that's scary thoughts about your baby, grief that eating brie cheese before you knew you were pregnant somehow caused your miscarriage, guilt that not advocating for yourself enough led to your birth trauma, or feeling like you're just not a good enough mother no matter what you do.
All of that - all of those thoughts and feelings, and many times trauma - can be unscrewed and safely contained when you're working with me. Kindly. Compassionately. With evidence-based practice and over a decade of experience.
My Story: How This Became Personal
I came to perinatal mental health work through two paths: my professional training and my lived experience as a mother.
Both matter.
After becoming a mother myself, I experienced postnatal depression, birth trauma, infant feeding difficulties and the anxiety that comes with uncertainty about your child's health. I sought therapy. I took medication. I did the work. And I healed - slowly, with the right support.
How This Changed Me as a Therapist
I want to be clear: you don't need to have experienced everything you treat to be a great clinician. A doctor doesn't need to have cancer to be an excellent oncologist. Clinical training and expertise matter enormously.
But my own mental health difficulties during my motherhood journey gave me a deeper layer of felt knowledge - an understanding of what it's like to be stuck in darkness and feel like there's no light at the end of the tunnel. To believe that you're the exception, the one person therapy won't work for, the mother who really is failing.
I know what it feels like to sit in that place. And I know that there is a way through - because I've walked it myself.
That's why I show up fully for my clients. Not because I have all the answers. But because I know what it means to grieve, to rebuild safety, and to learn to hope again - carefully, slowly, and with the right support.
What I Help With
This might be your first time seeking therapy, or you might feel like you've tried everything and nothing has worked. Either way, you're welcome here. We'll work together to make sense of what you're feeling, rebuild emotional safety, and help you move forward in a way that's right for you.
I work with women navigating the emotional aftermath of:
𑁍 Pregnancy After Loss 𑁍
When every scan feels like a test you might fail, and anxiety overshadows what should be milestones. When you can't let yourself hope because hoping feels too dangerous.
𑁍 Birth trauma & PTSD 𑁍
From emergency deliveries, NICU stays, feeling dismissed when you needed care most, or births that left you feeling like you nearly died. When flashbacks intrude and you can't stop replaying what happened.
𑁍 Tokophobia (fear of childbirth) 𑁍
When the thought of labour fills you with panic or dread, whether you've given birth before or never have. When avoidance feels like the only way to stay safe.
𑁍 Postnatal anxiety, OCD & depression 𑁍
Whether you're having intrusive thoughts about your baby, checking constantly, crying easily, on edge, restless, feeling numb and disconnected from your baby or yourself, or drowning in the belief that you're failing as a mother.
𑁍 Grief & identity loss 𑁍
When the person you were before motherhood feels impossibly far away, and you're unsure who you are now. When motherhood has brought loss alongside love.
What You Won't Hear From Me
I believe in being clear about what therapy with me isn't, because I know you've probably heard certain phrases before - phrases that sound helpful but often miss the mark.
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You won't hear me ask this. Not because there's anything wrong with thinking about a friend, but because I've found that when working with women in distress during the perinatal period, most of you can logically access compassion for a friend. You're truly compassionate, kind people who give advice, hold space, and provide support for others.
But somehow, you're not able to do that for yourselves.
So we're not sticking to logic in my practice. We're not just thinking about treating yourself like a friend. We're working at a deeper level - we're learning to actually feel like a friend to ourselves. To have the same feelings towards yourself that you feel when you see a loved one in pain. That's where the real shift happens.
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I won't say this to you either. Not because I don't want to comfort you, but because meaning-making is deeply personal. When something painful happens, what you really need is space to find your own meaning - the meaning you give to things.
Sometimes that might be difficult. Sometimes you need to sit with the fact that there is no neat reason. I'm not going to impose meaning on your experience or try to tie it up in a bow. But I will help you. I will support you to make sense of what happened and to grow from it in whatever way feels true for you.
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Therapy with me isn't about homework and completing diaries. It's about reflection.
I've found that good therapy makes you think. It makes you reflect. It stays with you long after the hour or 90 minutes is done. Many of my clients reflect after sessions naturally - they scribble thoughts, they bring notes to the next session - but they do this because the work moved them, not because I told them to.
If there's something we practice together that you find useful, you'll want to practice it. That comes from your own internal choice, not from me assigning homework.
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You won't experience long, uncomfortable silences with me while I sit there blank-faced, waiting for you to fill the space. I'm fully present. I'm engaged. If there's a pause, it's because we're both sitting with something meaningful - not because I don't know how to help.
What You Will Experience With Me
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When you're in a session with me, you have my complete focus. I'll help you look at things from different angles and find a way forward. Many of my clients say, "I didn't even think about it that way" - and that's not because I've said something groundbreaking. It's because I ask questions, help you make connections, and support you to see the wider context when you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed by your internal experience.
But somehow, you're not able to do that for yourselves.
So we're not sticking to logic in my practice. We're not just thinking about treating yourself like a friend. We're working at a deeper level - we're learning to actually feel like a friend to ourselves. To have the same feelings towards yourself that you feel when you see a loved one in pain. That's where the real shift happens.
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You'll experience my personality in our sessions. I'm not a therapist who sits there like a blank card. You'll hear my voice tremble when we touch on something deeply painful. We'll laugh together. I'll share things about myself when it's appropriate and helpful for you to know you're not alone. There's no feeling that isn't allowed in the therapy room. We will cry together. We will get angry together. We will sit with grief, fear, shame, and guilt. And with over a decade of experience, I can hold all of that safely and kindly for you - and I can teach you how to do that for yourself as well.
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Therapy doesn't end when our session finishes. I know that insights, questions, and struggles come up in between our appointments. You're more than welcome to email me with reflections or progress between sessions. I want you to know I'm here, even outside of our scheduled time.
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A lot of the time when we feel stuck, it's because we can't see the wider context of what's unfolding, or our internal experiences are so overwhelming that we get easily sucked in and find it hard to step back. What you'll experience with me is almost like scaffolding - me helping you make links, supporting you to take that step back, and finding your own way of healing. I'm not here to tell you what to do. I'm here to help you see what's keeping you stuck and to explore what might help you move forward.
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You're going to hear this from me a lot: how to be more compassionate and kind to yourself. This is a cornerstone of my work, whether we're addressing pregnancy loss, birth trauma, fear of childbirth, or postnatal difficulties.
Self-criticism, feeling overwhelmed, blaming yourself, feeling like you've failed, believing it's all your fault, not being able to step back and gain perspective—these patterns run through so much of perinatal distress.
What you'll hear from me, again and again, is encouragement to see yourself as an individual who has been through something immensely difficult and painful. An individual who has suffered greatly. That perspective shift is where healing begins.
How We'll Work Together
Therapy with me is collaborative and tailored to you. I'm trained in evidence-based approaches - CBT, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and EMDR (fully trained in May 2026) - but I don't believe in rigidly applying techniques. I use what works for you.
𑁍 Here's what you can expect 𑁍
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You'll learn to recognise your triggers, common responses, and patterns. We'll explore whether these responses are serving you or keeping you stuck. You'll develop the ability to step back and see what's happening, rather than feeling swept away by it.
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We'll explore when and why your self-critical voice was shaped, and we'll make room for warmth and compassion instead. This doesn't mean positive thinking or toxic positivity. It means learning to speak to yourself the way you would speak to someone you love who's struggling.
For example, I might ask you to notice what happens in your body when you say, "I'm a terrible mother." Because anxiety and self-criticism don't just live in your thoughts - they live in your nervous system. We'll work with both.
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If trauma is part of your story, we'll work on processing those memories so life can feel like breathing in the present, rather than reliving the past. Trauma therapy isn't about forgetting - it's about reducing the grip those memories have on you so you can move forward.
Am I the Right Therapist for You?
Therapy works best when there's a good fit between therapist and client. Here's how to know if we might work well together.
We're likely a good fit if:
✓ You're seeking regular, consistent support (not ad hoc sessions here and there)
✓ You're ready to look at the deeper patterns beneath your distress - not just surface-level symptom management
✓ You want a therapist who's human, warm, and present - not distant or overly clinical
✓ You're willing to explore self-compassion, even if it feels impossible or uncomfortable right now
✓ You value evidence-based practice and want a specialist in perinatal mental health, not a generalist
✓ You're open to therapy that involves reflection and processing, not just learning quick tips and tools
We may not be a good fit if:
✗ You're looking for ad hoc, drop-in sessions without regular commitment
✗ You prefer a more unstructured counselling approach rather than focused, goal-oriented therapy
✗ You're looking for quick fixes, coping skills, and reassurance rather than deeper healing and trauma work
✗ You want clear answers and certainty from me, rather than support to find your own meaning and way forward
✗ You're not comfortable with a therapist who brings their personality and humanity into the room
I'm a specialist, not a generalist. I'm a therapist with extensive training and evidence-based practice, not a coach or counsellor (though I have great respect for my counselling colleagues - this is simply a difference in approach and training).
If you're unsure whether we're a good fit, book a free 20-minute call and we can talk it through together.
A Bit About Me (The Human Stuff)
I'm originally from Poland, but I'm also British - I hold dual citizenship. My household is multicultural, and we mix Polish and British traditions and culture. I'm a mother to a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old, which means my days are full of the chaos, joy, and exhaustion that comes with young children. I get it.
When I'm not working, you'll often find me by the sea. I could spend every free second of my life at the seaside - there's something deeply calming about the waves, the pebbles, the seagulls' noise, that fishy-watery scent. You get the picture.
I love hiking (hello, Peak District and Wales!), reading (often work-related, because I genuinely love what I do), and art (often done with my chidlren). I drew the jar you saw earlier in this page - creating visual metaphors helps me process and communicate complex emotions.
If I wasn't a therapist, I'd probably be a website or graphic designer. Boring, introverted, hyperfocused work for one? Yes, please.
I share this because I want you to know that I'm not just a set of credentials. I'm a person who has struggled, healed, grown, and continues to do so. I bring all of that—my training, my experience, my humanity—into our work together.
My Credentials
I’m fully accredited therpiast with the BABCP and registered mental health nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. I’ve spent over a decade working in NHS and private mental health services, with specialist training in trauma and perinatal care.
My Qualifications
𑁍 Psychology, MSc (Wroclaw University)
𑁍 Mental Health Nursing, BSc (Coventry University)
𑁍 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, PGDip (Coventry University)
𑁍 Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (CBC), Transformation Academy
Professional Registrations
𑁍 Registered Mental Health Nurse with the NMC: I am a registered mental health nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), ensuring that I adhere to the highest standards of mental health care and ethical practice.
𑁍 Accredited CBT Therapist with the BABCP: As an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) with the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), I’m trained in evidence-based techniques to help you manage anxiety, trauma, and grief effectively.
𑁍 Working Towards Supervisor Accreditation: I am actively working towards my Supervisor Accreditation with the BABCP. This ongoing professional development reflects my commitment to advancing my skills and providing the best possible support to clients and fellow professionals alike.
Selected Relevant Training
𑁍 Clinical Supervision (High Intensity), Birmingham University
𑁍 Introduction to Compassion Focused Therapy, The Compassionate Mind Foundation
𑁍 Trauma-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Psychwire
𑁍 The Compassion Focused Approach to Perinatal Mental Health, The Compassionate Mind Foundation
𑁍 Healing and Hope: Working with Trauma and Loss in the Perinatal Period, Bespoke Mental Health
𑁍 How to move forward with loss, grief and PTSD linked to traumatic bereavement with Cognitive Therapy, Bespoke Mental Health
𑁍 Strategies to Help Clients Process Grief and Loss, National Institute for Clinical Applications of Behavioral Medicine (NICAMB)
𑁍 Polyvagal Theory in Action: Creating Safety and Connection with Trauma Clients, Deb Dana
𑁍 The Foundation for Infant Loss Training, Foundation for Infant Loss
Some things that my Clients have said about working with Me:
Ready to Take the Next Step?
You don't have to keep managing this alone. If you're ready to feel more grounded, connected, and hopeful - I'd love to walk alongside you.
Therapy isn't about fixing you. You're not broken. But sometimes we need support to unscrew the lid on everything we've been holding inside - the fear, the grief, the guilt, the trauma, the "I'm not good enough."
If this resonates with you, book a free 20-minute discovery call. We'll talk about what's been going on, whether therapy feels right for you, and if we're a good fit to work together.
There's no pressure. No obligation. Just clarity.
