Pregnancy and Motherhood
Feel overwhelmed and doubtful about your parenting. Constantly worry about the future, have difficulty controlling your feelings.
Find the best You and become a confident mother.
Anna Ryan
Therapist (Dip. CBH)
Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had… and dealing with fears you didn’t know existed.
– Lynda Wooten
Feeling Anxious During Pregnancy?
Becoming a mother is one of, if not THE most life-changing event for a woman. Having a little being grow and develop inside of you is a miracle that can seem so impossible, pregnant women often need weeks, if not months to process and believe it.
The 9 months of pregnancy is a real rollercoaster, full of excitement and joy, but also full of doubts and fears.
It is more than natural to feel overwhelmed with everything that comes with being pregnant:
▰▰ The symptoms you experience,
▰▰ The changes of your body,
▰▰ The things you aren’t allowed to eat/do/use while expecting,
▰▰ The anxiety (previous loss, age, general concerns…)
▰▰ The practical preparation (e.g. furnishing the baby’s room, purchasing the necessary clothes and gadgets),
The 9 months of pregnancy is a real rollercoaster, full of excitement and joy, but also full of doubts and fears.
It is more than natural to feel overwhelmed with everything that comes with being pregnant:
▰▰ The symptoms you experience,
▰▰ The changes of your body,
▰▰ The things you aren’t allowed to eat/do/use while expecting,
▰▰ The anxiety (previous loss, age, general concerns…)
▰▰ The practical preparation (e.g. furnishing the baby’s room, purchasing the necessary clothes and gadgets),
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Not to mention the thoughts and emotional whirlwind within you:
▰▰ ‘Am I going to be a good mother?’
▰▰ ‘What if I won’t be able to care for my baby?’
▰▰ ‘I’m so worried about my baby’s health. What if something goes wrong during my pregnancy?’
▰▰ ‘I’m really scared of giving birth. It gives me the shivers and I cannot handle my anxiety’
▰▰ ‘I cannot stop testing – without it, I cannot believe I am really pregnant’
▰▰ ‘Am I going to be a good mother?’
▰▰ ‘What if I won’t be able to care for my baby?’
▰▰ ‘I’m so worried about my baby’s health. What if something goes wrong during my pregnancy?’
▰▰ ‘I’m really scared of giving birth. It gives me the shivers and I cannot handle my anxiety’
▰▰ ‘I cannot stop testing – without it, I cannot believe I am really pregnant’
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Feeling confused and having anxious thoughts during pregnancy is natural. However, excessive stress can affect your mood and be harmful in the long run.
In therapy, I aim to help you to
▰▰ Deal with feelings of inadequacy and regain your confidence
▰▰ Cope with anxiety and become a balanced mom-to-be
▰▰ Deal with pregnancy symptoms
▰▰ Handle uncertainty
▰▰ Conquer self-doubt, self-criticism and fears
▰▰ Prepare mentally for motherhood
In therapy, I aim to help you to
▰▰ Deal with feelings of inadequacy and regain your confidence
▰▰ Cope with anxiety and become a balanced mom-to-be
▰▰ Deal with pregnancy symptoms
▰▰ Handle uncertainty
▰▰ Conquer self-doubt, self-criticism and fears
▰▰ Prepare mentally for motherhood
Facing Challenges Of Motherhood?
Although you officially became a mother when you gave birth to your child, REALLY becoming a mother takes time and practice, just as learning a new skill or starting a new job.
There is nothing that turns your life more upside down than the arrival of a child. A new role, new daily routine, new family dynamics, less sleep, less me-time, less date-time, more exhaustion, more challenges, and more questions.
Therapy can benefit you, if you
▰▰ Feel emotionally imbalanced
▰▰ Find it hard to control your feelings (e.g. anger, worry, impatience)
▰▰ Are constantly overwhelmed and struggle to find time for yourself
▰▰ Are overly self-doubtful and self-critical in your parenting
▰▰ Feel lost in the multiple roles you juggle
▰▰ Would like to get a better understanding of yourself and become a more conscious parent
There is nothing that turns your life more upside down than the arrival of a child. A new role, new daily routine, new family dynamics, less sleep, less me-time, less date-time, more exhaustion, more challenges, and more questions.
Therapy can benefit you, if you
▰▰ Feel emotionally imbalanced
▰▰ Find it hard to control your feelings (e.g. anger, worry, impatience)
▰▰ Are constantly overwhelmed and struggle to find time for yourself
▰▰ Are overly self-doubtful and self-critical in your parenting
▰▰ Feel lost in the multiple roles you juggle
▰▰ Would like to get a better understanding of yourself and become a more conscious parent
How can I help?
▰▰ In my therapy, I offer a comprehensive approach and use integrative methods to help you overcome issues related to pregnancy and motherhood. Cognitive-behavioural therapy gives the foundation of this approach, supplemented by mindfulness exercises, elements of acceptance and commitment therapy, and optionally, hypnotherapy.
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▰▰ Cognitive therapy provides an effective framework to identify and challenge negative self-perceptions and create a realistic picture of your strengths and weaknesses. During the sessions, we address the thinking errors underlying negative self-evaluation in order to break the vicious cycle of destructive thoughts. You will learn actionable techniques that you will be able to apply effectively in the future as well. You will also get usable knowledge and practical advice regarding questions about pregnancy and motherhood.
▰▰ Through exercises for self-regulation, you will become more self-aware and capable of effectively managing your emotions under pressure. You will learn to distinguish between rating your behaviour and rating your personality as a whole.
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▰▰ Through regular self-reflection and positive reinforcement, you will develop a mindset that fosters resilience and personal growth. Imagery exercises and mental rehearsal can be of exceptional use to facilitate positive change.
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▰▰ Therapy is always unique and requires a tailored approach. At the beginning of therapy, we set clear goals and monitor our progress regularly, making sure you are on the right track to reach the desired results.
Client Testimonials
Pregnency and Motherhood Therapy is available online.
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Virtual therapy has proven to be as effective as therapy conducted in person.