Pregnancy Counselling

“She understood that the hardest times in life to go through were transitioning from one version of yourself to another.”

— Sarah Addison Allen

Pregnancy can bring a range of emotions: joy, happiness, or unexpected feelings of anxiety, stress, or grief from past losses.

Whether you dreamed of starting your own family for years or your pregnancy happened unexpectedly, this experience can come with various physical and emotional challenges. You may feel anxious about this huge, life-altering transition and the uncertainty of labour and postpartum. Not to mention worrying about how this will impact your professional identity and the career you’ve worked so hard for. You may also experience resentment towards your partner and fear about how these changes will impact your relationship. If you’ve experienced pregnancy loss in the past, this time can be filled with fear and anxiety during every milestone. These are all common experiences to have during pregnancy. 

Pregnancy counselling is an opportunity for you to feel heard, to lessen your anxiety, learn tools to navigate this transition, build confidence, and thrive. No matter how you’re feeling, you deserve support during this time of profound change.

Areas of Focus

Anxiety During Pregnancy

Sometimes, pregnancy can increase our stress, fear, and worry. You may feel tense, a loss of control, or panicked. It might feel like your thoughts are going haywire as you fixate on every worst-case scenario imaginable. Counselling can help you identify your thought patterns and learn ways to help cope with stress and anxiety during pregnancy.

Depression During Pregnancy

Feelings of hopelessness, sadness, or changes in sleep and appetite can all be symptoms of depression during pregnancy. You may even like you haven’t been yourself lately or feel like you’re not cut out to be a mom. Counselling can provide a safe space in which you can express your feelings, build self-compassion, and learn to feel like yourself again.

Fear of Labour

Fear of labour is not uncommon. The media and people around you are filled with stories of difficult childbirth. If you’ve experienced pregnancy loss or birth trauma in the past, labour can be particularly daunting. Counselling can help you identify your fears, help you process previous birth trauma, and learn ways to calm your mind and body during your labour.

Pregnancy After Loss

If you’ve experienced miscarriages and pregnancy losses in the past, pregnancy can be filled with grief, fear, and anxiety. It doesn’t matter how far you’ve come in your pregnancy, you continue to worry until your baby is born safely. These feelings are understandable. Counselling can help you learn ways to lessen your anxiety, process grief, and enjoy your pregnancy.

Pregnancy Body Changes

Are you feeling uncomfortable or fearful about the physical impacts of pregnancy? There are so many unknowns. And if you’ve struggled with body image issues and/or eating disorders in the past, pregnancy can be particularly triggering. Counselling can help you develop a more positive body image and learn to embrace your changing body.

kate bailey counselling pregnancy

How will I help?

Together, we will identify and explore what’s keeping you stuck. With me, you’ll find a safe space to express your worries and fears during pregnancy. With new techniques, you can learn to reframe negative thought patterns. We’ll address any previous loss or trauma that may be impacting how you’re feeling now.

Our work together may also include gaining new insights into why you feel the way you do, developing practical coping skills, learning to set boundaries in your relationships, and creating a postpartum plan that feels nurturing and supportive. Using techniques such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as well as talk therapy, I can also guide you in the process of overcoming trauma.

Ultimately, the goal is to provide a healthy outlet for emotional release and to empower you with the tools to manage your emotional well-being.

 FAQs

  • I charge $170 per 50 minute session. Payment is accepted via Credit Card and will be charged following completion of each session.

  • The first session is an opportunity for you to share more about your story and what you’d like to gain from therapy. This is also the time to decide if we are a good fit to work together. Do you feel comfortable with me? Do you feel like you can trust me? A great therapeutic relationship leads to better outcomes in therapy. My goal is to create a welcoming space where you feel heard, supported, and challenged to meet your goals.

  • Each session is 50 minutes in length. I generally recommend meeting weekly or bi-weekly to start, decreasing in frequency as you progress through therapy.

  • While I don’t do direct billing, I will issue you an invoice and receipt after payment which you can submit to your insurance provider. Before commencing therapy, it is recommended that you check with your insurance provider to make sure they cover social work services (MSW, RSWs).

  • At this time, I only provide online therapeutic services.

  • I require 48-hours notice of cancellation or you will need to pay for the appointment. An occasional exception may be made in the case of an emergency. It’s important that we meet consistently in order to make progress in therapy.

  • Yes. I only work with individuals who are 18 years of age or older. I do not provide treatment for eating disorders or psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, etc). I also do not provide couples therapy. Due to licensing laws, I am only able to provide therapy in the province of Ontario.

Book a free 15-minute call.

Becoming a parent can feel overwhelming. I’m here for you.

Click below to book your free 15-minute call to learn more about my services and approach to therapy