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Birthing trauma can have major long term consequences on wellness
Last week, Family Counselling Support Network honoured Birth Trauma Awareness Week (July 17-21).
Australian and international research suggests that up to 1 in 3 women identify their birth experience as traumatic (Heyne et al, 2022). Birth trauma happens when women experience events during birth that lead to emotional and psychological overwhelm. These overwhelming experiences can lead to immediate and long-term negative effects on her health and wellbeing (Leinweiber et al, 2022).
Unexpected medical interventions (for example induction, epidural, or an emergency Caesarian section), premature delivery, prolonged and painful labour, miscarriage or stillbirth or other medical complications are experiences that increase the risk of birth-related trauma.
If you have experienced a traumatic birth, you may have felt afraid, helpless or unsupported by those around you during birth. After the birth, you may have been left feeling guilty or numb due to events beyond your control. You could even suffer from panic attacks. If this happens you need to know you are not alone!
We also know that there is often a strong correlation between birth trauma and the likelihood of new mums experiencing some level of postpartum depression or anxiety. Postpartum depression (also called PPD) is a medical condition that many women get after having a baby. It’s characterised by strong feelings of sadness, depressed mood, loss of interest, anxiety (worry), difficulties with concentration, changes in appetite and sleep, suicidal ideation, and tiredness that lasts for a long time after giving birth. It can make it hard for you to take care of yourself and the baby.
A mother experiencing birth trauma and postpartum depression may feel neglected, confused, scared, resentful, unsupported, burdened or exhausted. These feelings can lead to ongoing struggles that complicate being a new parent.
If you are experiencing difficulties pre and/or post-birth, we want to know help is available and we are here for you. You don’t need to suffer alone. We are here for you.
Psychologist, Louisa Mason, has experience working with new mothers with low mood, those who need to process their birth experiences, or who are experiencing anxiety.
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Questions about our online
Counselling Services?
Do I need separation counselling or coaching?
It is a Counsellor’s role to help people identify and resolve difficulties stemming from their past which currently impact their marriage, parenting, family relationships and overall life satisfaction. We use a process-oriented approach to help identify patterns of thought and behaviour that hold individuals back.
All of our clients are encouraged and supported to work towards improved emotional resilience and to be better prepared to face the emotional impact of navigating a divorce and its ripple effects on all aspects of life, work and family. The main focus is on feelings within a framework of psychological and emotional issues.
The goal of Separation and Divorce Coaching is to walk clients through the legal, financial and parenting practicalities of separation and divorce and to educate and empower them to take the steps necessary to move forward to achieve affordable, fair and less stressful outcomes.
Our goal is to guide clients through the practical steps of the dissolution of a marriage efficiently and with the least amount of emotional interference in their decision-making especially where children and their custodial needs and care are involved.
Medicare rebate or private medical insurance claim for psychological services?
Most clients prefer to book directly with with our counsellors. No referral is required to access this counselling service.
During the first session, you can discuss the benefits of seeking a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP should you wish to pursue this path moving forward and you are booking with a registered psychologist. If you require a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) you will need to make a long appointment with your GP and they will make an assessment about whether you are eligible.
All of our registered psychologists are registered with Medicare and you will need a referral from a GP if you wish to claim Medicare rebates. Under the Better Access program you can receive a partial rebate for up to 10 individual sessions in a calendar year.
All our psychologists are registered with private health insurance providers in Australia. If you have private health insurance, you may be eligible to claim rebates for psychological sessions. The level of cover and any applicable waiting periods vary between providers and depends on your extras cover policy.
To find out if you are eligible and/or how much funding you are entitled to claim for psychological sessions, please contact your private health insurance.
Where applicable, some of our psychologists also see clients who are self-managed or plan-managed through NDIS at the current rate for NDIS.
Cancellation or missed sessions policy
Given the nature of our support services, last minute cancellations are costly, and it means that other clients may miss out on receiving the required support. For cancellations within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment there is a $65 part fee payment. For less than 24 hours cancellation notice or a non-show, the full session fee will need to be charged. These fees are refunded however if the session can be filled at the last minute.
How are your counselling and coaching sessions held?
We know our clients are time poor. For your convenience, all our counselling or coaching sessions are now available online via Zoom.
You can book your appointment online via this website.
Zoom allows us to connect with you via video and audio. It just requires you to click on a link to join. You can sign up to Zoom to create a FREE account and download the Zoom Client for Meetings. Zoom does require internet connections.
After you book you will be sent a reminder about the booking and emailed a link to connect at the booked time. You are also likely to be sent a client information form to complete prior to your initial consultation to enable our Counsellors and Coaches to be better prepared for your first meeting.
If you are unable to make any of the dates available, please email us to see if we can accommodate an alternate time for you: [email protected]
Are your workshops in person or online?
Our regular workshops, book club and events are offered offered online and in person at various venues.
You are very welcome to sign up to receive more information about upcoming workshops and events on offer and all the fabulous book club information . CLICK HERE
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