If you have a history of abuse (physical or sexual) or trauma, the physical aspects of pregnancy and childbirth, the physical intrusiveness of fertility treatments and obstetric care - as well as the physical intimacy of nursing and caring for a newborn- can be triggering. Learn how birth trauma can change the way you feel about your body and how to get help.

Traumatic stress is a response to a frightening or life-threatening experience---real or perceived. It's not a sign of weakness, and it's also an involuntary neurobiological reaction.

You may have negative feelings about your pregnancy, your baby's birth or your own body. And having a history of trauma also increases the risk of traumatic stress and PTSD. Current research is indicating that rates of PMADs, perinatal PTSD and traumatic stress have increased during the pandemic.

In my practice, I use EMDR to help women and new moms heal from trauma before, during and after pregnancy. EMDR can be used alone or with other therapies to relieve symptoms that can cause you to feel overwhelmed, stuck or hopeless.

DISSOCIATION IS SOMETHING THAT OCCURS DURING A TRAUMATIC EVENT AND IS A SYMPTOM OF TRAUMA/PTSD THAT’S VERY OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD AND UNRECOGNIZED. KNOWING THE SIGNS OF DISSOCIATION CAN HELP YOU BEGIN TO HEAL FROM YOUR TRAUMA AND HELP YOU CONNECT WITH YOURSELF, YOUR BABY AND THE PEOPLE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU.

Many traumas can be resolved without any help. However, some traumatic experiences can interfere with our brain’s natural ability to recover. When the stress of an event continues to cause you to feel overwhelmed with flight, fight or freeze responses, or if reminders of the events create the feeling that it’s happening all over again, EMDR can help to process through and decrease the distress associated with the memory.

UNRESOLVED TRAUMA IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON REASONS PEOPLE SEEK THERAPY, AND THE EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA CAN EXPLAIN WHY YOU'RE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.