Postpartum and Birth Trauma Support: You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Welcoming a baby into the world is often portrayed as a purely joyful experience. But for many parents, the postpartum period is complicated. While there can be moments of love and wonder, there can also be exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, and, in some cases, deep distress.
At Heights Family Counseling, we understand that postpartum challenges and birth trauma are real, valid, and deserving of compassionate, specialized care. Our clinicians include those with Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C), meaning they have advanced training in supporting parents through pregnancy, postpartum, and loss.
What Can Happen in the Postpartum Period
The postpartum period can bring a mix of physical recovery, hormonal changes, and life adjustments. It can also be a time when:
Mood and anxiety disorders emerge or intensify, including postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety.
Feelings of isolation develop as routines change and social connections shift.
Identity changes surface, as you navigate who you are in your new role.
Overwhelm and guilt creep in when expectations don’t match reality.
These experiences can happen to anyone—no matter how much they love their baby or how prepared they felt before birth.
Understanding Birth Trauma
Birth trauma can stem from a physically or emotionally distressing birth experience. This might include:
Emergency medical interventions or complications.
Feeling unheard or dismissed by medical providers.
Loss of control during the birth process.
Fear for your life or your baby’s life.
Birth trauma can lead to symptoms similar to PTSD: flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, hypervigilance, and difficulty bonding with the baby.
The Loneliness of “Toxic Positivity”
Many new parents who experience postpartum struggles or birth trauma feel silenced by the culture of toxic positivity. Comments like, “At least you and the baby are healthy” can unintentionally invalidate the depth of what you’ve been through. You may be left feeling isolated, as though you “should” move on quickly or be grateful instead of struggling.
We believe that acknowledging pain is the first step toward healing—and that no one should have to process these experiences alone.
Our Approach to Care
At Heights Family Counseling, our PMH-C clinicians are trained to recognize the unique needs of postpartum parents and those coping with birth trauma. We use:
Evidence-Based Interventions
Grounded in research, we draw from approaches proven to reduce symptoms and improve functioning in postpartum and trauma-related conditions.
Relational Therapy
We focus on building a trusting therapeutic relationship, so you feel safe to share your experiences without judgment.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
For those experiencing trauma symptoms, EMDR can help reprocess distressing memories so they have less emotional charge and are less disruptive to daily life.
Including Your Support System
We know healing doesn’t happen in isolation. With your permission, we can involve partners, family members, or close friends in the process. We help them:
Understand what you’re going through.
Learn how to support you in meaningful ways.
Recognize when additional help may be needed.
This creates a safety net at home and reduces the burden of trying to “explain” your needs when you’re already exhausted.
You Don’t Have to Struggle in Silence
Whether you’re facing mood or anxiety changes after birth, processing a difficult delivery, or feeling isolated by the pressure to “just move on,” help is available.
Our PMH-C clinicians are here to walk alongside you, validate your experiences, and help you feel stronger, more connected, and more yourself again.
You are not alone, and your healing matters.