PERINATAL COUNSELLING + BIRTH STORY HEALING

I specialize in perinatal counselling, offering warm, compassionate, and therapeutic care to individuals navigating various aspects of reproductive health and perinatal experiences, honouring the profound transition towards the 4th trimester that is parenthood. 

Some areas of support include:

• exploring reproductive health decisions
• abortion support planning and processing
• processing grief and loss
• clarifying birth preferences
• preparing for labour
• childbirth education and coaching
• supporting the postpartum period and 4th trimester
• supporting postpartum mood difficulties and baby blues
• adjusting to new parenthood and evolving parental identities
• affirming queer and gender-diverse parenting experiences
• single or multiple-session Birth Story Healing support to help individuals integrate their tender birth experiences and to process challenging moments or trauma

While not all births are traumatic, they can be quite intense, and it is the birther’s definition and interpretation of the birth that defines it. The impact of birth can linger in both the birther and the baby for years. It is a sacred and epic journey. This is one reason it deserves more intentional holding space, as well as honouring this rite of passage and reclamation of the body and the memories it holds.

Birth Story Healing begins with establishing safety and grounding, creating a container where clients feel supported to explore their experiences. Clients are invited to share their birth story either as a full narrative or as a summary, highlighting both tender moments and glow moments. Glow moments, sometimes referred to as “Glimmer Moments” by Deb Dana, focus on positive memories to anchor the healing process and give access to the fullness of the story, balancing the harder moments that are often held in the body. Tender moments may reflect challenging or traumatic aspects of the birth experience.

Throughout the process, somatic and body-based techniques from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy are used to help process and reframe these experiences, building internal and external resources to support continued integration, healing, and a strengthened sense of self. This approach is adaptable, recognizing that some individuals may require multiple sessions to fully process their experiences. By integrating body-based healing with reflective storytelling, this method facilitates profound empowerment, self-compassion, and reclamation of both body and birth experience. Not all births unfold according to plan, and parents deserve tools for emotional and spiritual integration no matter the outcome.

My approach to perinatal counselling and birth story healing draws from somatic psychotherapy, trauma-informed practice, feminist therapy and the philosophy of Birthing from Within by Pam England. Rather than focusing on “perfect outcomes” or prescriptive methods, I support clients in preparing for the unknowns of birth and parenting with resilience, compassion, and self-trust.

I come to this work with a background as a childbirth educator, birth, postpartum, and abortion doula, as well as a prenatal yoga teacher. Since 2017, I’ve supported many families through the full spectrum of perinatal experiences, attending both hospital and home births and collaborating with midwives, nurses, lactation consultants, and other care providers.

My training in birthwork, childbirth education, and somatic healing has shaped a grounded, competent, and compassionate approach. Over the years, I have worked independently as a doula and within non-profits and collectives. From 2020–2022, I supported families through Birthmark, a non-profit providing free and low-cost perinatal care to those experiencing marginalization and financial barriers.

I've continued to deepen my learning through trainings such as:

• DONA International Doula Training (with TENS machine)
• Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings (anti-racist and trans/queer-affirming birthwork)
• Grief Literacy Certificate, Level 3 – Being Here Human
• Prenatal Childbirth Preparation for Trans and Gender Diverse Folx – Moss the Doula
• Childbirth Educator Certification Training – Whole Body Pregnancy
• 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training + Prenatal Yoga - Downward Dog Yoga Centre

Whether you are preparing for birth, navigating postpartum changes, or processing a past experience, you don’t have to move through it alone. Perinatal counselling offers a place to feel seen, supported, and understood. If this resonates with you, I welcome you to connect with me to explore how we can work together.