Birth Trauma Therapy and Tokophobia Therapy Online in the UK
Specialist CBT support to help you heal after a traumatic birth - or ease the fear of giving birth before it happens.
When Birth Leaves You Shaken - or Too Afraid to Try Again
You might have moments when it hits out of nowhere - a smell, a sound, a scene on TV - and suddenly you’re right back there.
Or maybe you haven’t even given birth yet, but every time you think about labour your heart races, your chest tightens, and your mind spirals with what ifs.
It’s not “just anxiety.”
It’s your body remembering danger, even when you know you’re safe.
Whether your fear comes after a difficult or traumatic birth, or before it’s ever happened, therapy can help you gently calm your nervous system, process what happened (or what you fear might happen), and rebuild a sense of safety - in your body and in your choices.
Blog Post: 8 Signs You’re Still Healing From Traumatic Birth (Even Years Later)
What Is Birth Trauma and Tokophobia?
Birth trauma happens when your experience of giving birth felt terrifying, out of control, or unsafe — and that moment still lives in your body.
It’s more than a bad memory. It can show up as:
Flashbacks or nightmares
Avoiding hospitals or medical appointments
Feeling detached from your baby or your body
Panic or tears when others share their birth stories
Read more here: What is Birth Trauma? Causes, Symptoms, and How to Heal
Tokophobia, on the other hand, is a deep fear of childbirth — sometimes so strong that even thinking about pregnancy or labour triggers panic.
For some people, this fear begins long before pregnancy (primary tokophobia).
For others, it appears after a traumatic experience (secondary tokophobia).
Both are your nervous system’s way of trying to protect you from what feels unbearable.
And both deserve care that meets you where you are — not pressure to “move on” or “think positive.”
Step 1
Calming the Body’s Alarm System
When you’re constantly on alert — heart racing, on edge at appointments, tearful for “no reason” — we start by helping your body settle.
You’ll learn small grounding techniques and body-based tools to reduce panic and feel steady in the moment.
How CBT Therapy Helps with Birth Trauma & Fear of Childbirth
Step 2
Making Sense of the Story (or the Fear of It)
We unpack the birth experience, or your fears about it, at a pace you can handle.
For birth trauma and PTSD after childbirth, this means gently processing the moments that still feel stuck.
For tokophobia, we work with what feels most frightening — loss of control, pain, medical intervention — to reduce the overwhelm without pushing you too far.
Step 3
Rebuilding Trust & Confidence
Healing doesn’t just mean less fear — it means feeling safer in your body, your relationships, and your decisions.
Together, we’ll help you find your voice with healthcare professionals, plan for the future and your birth (if relevant), and reconnect with a sense of calm and control.
Why Generic Therapy and Counselling Are not Enough?
Many people try to cope by reading everything they can, using meditation apps, or telling themselves to “just be grateful.”
But when your body is still reacting like the danger never ended — racing heart, panic at the word “labour,” tears during check-ups — regular anxiety techniques often don’t touch it.
That’s because birth trauma and tokophobia aren’t just thoughts you can reason away.
They’re stored in the body, in your nervous system, in the way you brace for something that’s already over (or hasn’t even happened yet).
You deserve care that understands both the psychology and physiology of childbirth — how trauma, fear, and control get tangled together.
This is where CBT for birth trauma and tokophobia makes a difference.
Why Specialist Support Matters After Birth Trauma or Tokophobia?
What Changes When You Begin Healing
You stop bracing every time you walk into a hospital.
Instead of your heart pounding or tears starting before anyone’s even said a word, you can get through appointments with a calm plan — and come home without needing hours to recover.You stop feeling like your body betrayed you.
Slowly, you begin to trust it again — to sleep, to breathe, to be touched — without flinching or disconnecting.You can think about birth without spiralling.
Those middle-of-the-night “what if I die?” thoughts quiet down. You can read about labour or see a pregnant friend without panic rushing through your chest.You start believing you get to choose this time.
Whether that means preparing for another pregnancy, choosing an elective C-section, or deciding not to have more children — you make that choice from calm, not fear.You begin to feel close again.
With your baby. With your partner. With yourself. The moments that used to feel hijacked by trauma start to feel real, present, even peaceful.
What to Expect in Therapy for Birth PTSD and Tokophobia
✿ What to Expect in Birth Trauma Therapy ✿
For birth trauma and postnatal PTSD, therapy focuses on gently processing what happened and helping your body realise the danger is over.
You’ll learn to steady yourself during triggers — whether that’s flashbacks, anniversaries, or appointments - and rebuild trust in your body after it felt like it failed you.
We’ll work through the moments that still feel stuck, using trauma-focused CBT techniques that reduce the emotional charge without re-living every detail.
Over time, most clients notice they can talk about their birth without panicking, attend appointments without tears, and reconnect with their baby or partner with less fear and shame.
✿ What to Expect in Tokophobia Therapy ✿
If you haven’t given birth yet but the idea of it feels unbearable, therapy helps you understand where that fear comes from - and how to make it smaller.
We’ll look at what specifically feels most frightening: pain, loss of control, medical intervention, or the unknown.
You’ll learn calming techniques for your body, ways to challenge catastrophic thoughts, and how to create a sense of control and safety around future choices.
Many clients find they can start thinking about pregnancy or birth with less dread, feel calmer reading about labour, and make decisions from a place of confidence rather than panic.
You won’t be told to “just think positive.”
You’ll be supported to move through fear and trauma at your own pace - with space for every feeling and practical tools that actually work when life gets hard.
Want a gentle overview before you begin therapy?
Healing After Traumatic Birth: A Therapist's Guide to Recovery, Therapy & Support
How Common Is Birth Trauma? Statistics You Should Know?
Studies show that 1 in 3 women describe their birth as traumatic (Ayers, Horsch et al., 2024).
Around 4% of women develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after giving birth (Yildiz, Ayers et al., 2017).
Flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance are some of the most common PTSD symptoms experienced by those affected by birth trauma.
If you’re dealing with any of these, you’re not alone—and therapy can help you reclaim a sense of peace and safety in your life.
For months, I couldn't look at my c-section scar without crying. Working with You helped me process my feelings of failure and find peace with my birth story. I can finally enjoy moments with my baby without the trauma hijacking everything.
Emma
let's get startedBirth Trauma & Tokophobia Therapy Across the UK
I offer CBT therapy for birth trauma, tokophobia treatment, and fear of childbirth support online for women throughout the UK.
Together, we’ll work at your pace to reduce panic, rebuild trust, and help your body remember what safety feels like again.
You don’t have to keep surviving it.
Let’s help your body feel safe again.
Start Birth Trauma and Tokophobia Treatment in
3 Simple Steps
01
Book a 20-Minute Discovery Call
Get clarity on whether CBT for birth trauma and tokophobia is right for you.
Personalised Therapy Plan
Learn how we’ll address symptoms of perinatal PTSD and build emotional safety.
02
Ongoing Support
Weekly sessions with practical tools to manage birth-related triggers, panic, and hypervigilance.
03
Q&AHave questions about the therapy for birth trauma and fear of childbirth?
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Common signs include flashbacks, panic attacks, avoidance of medical settings, sleep disturbances, and disconnection from your baby.
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Yes. CBT is one of the most evidence-based therapies for PTSD and can help with emotional regulation, trauma processing, and trigger management after birth trauma. It can also help you to feel more safe, prepare and confident for your birth following previous birth trauma experience.
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Look for a therapist who specialises in trauma-informed care, perinatal mental health, and birth trauma recovery - like I do here at Unscrewing Motherhood.
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The length of therapy depends on your unique situation and needs. Typically, clients find 6-12 sessions helpful for managing anxiety and processing their emotions. However, some may benefit from longer-term support, particularly if they’ve experienced multiple losses or have complex trauma.
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Each therapy session costs £130 for 50 minutes. Payment is required 48 hours before the appointment via a secure payment link sent to your email. Please note that I offer therapy exclusively to self-funded clients, meaning sessions are paid privately. I do not work with insurance companies or public health services.
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The first step is to schedule a free 20-minute call with me. This initial conversation allows us to determine whether we're a good fit and how I can best support you on your journey.
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Yes, I offer psychotherapy sessions in English to clients based internationally, with the exception of those living in the USA and Canada.
If you're located in the USA or Canada, I can provide Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (CBC) instead.
Please note: During the assessment, if we determine that this approach isn't the best fit for your needs, my ability to guide you toward alternative services may be limited, as I'm not fully familiar with the healthcare systems in every country.
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I understand that sometimes life can be unpredictable. If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, I kindly ask for at least 48 hours' notice. Cancellations made less than 48 hours before the appointment will be charged the full session fee, as it’s often difficult to fill the slot at short notice. This policy applies to both therapy and supervision sessions.
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I’m happy to assist further. Simply complete the contact form, and I’ll be in touch to answer any specific questions or discuss your individual needs.