It's Mental Health Awareness Week - #takeaction - get in touch for gentle, caring support
Blue Jade Birth Trauma Recovery
Birth trauma is far more common than many people realise. Even when a baby is healthy, the experience of labour, delivery or neonatal care can leave lasting effects. However, recovery from birth trauma is possible.
What is Birth Trauma?
Are you feeling that you ‘should be over it by now’; do you feel guilt, shame, anger or anxiety about your baby’s health or are you afraid of a future pregnancy?
Are you experiencing nightmares, flashbacks or intrusive memories? Do you avoid talking about the birth or seeing friends who are expecting their own baby?
Maybe you feel panicked about going to the hospital or seeing a GP.
These are all signs that your nervous system is trying to protect you and that you might be feeling traumatised by your experiences.
These feelings can be gently and safely resolved.
I'm Julie Major, a Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Practitioner and Birth Trauma Therapist. With over 20 years working as a children's and neonatal nurse, and nearly a decade working with a charity supporting perinatal and infant mental health, I understand both the clinical realities of birth, and the emotional impact that it can leave behind. Birth trauma can feel isolating and confusing. My aim is to offer a calm, professional and compassionate space where your experiences are taken seriously and recovery feels possible.
I hold a Certificate in Traumatic Birth Recovery 3 Step Rewind Technique and an Advanced Certificate in Grief and Loss. I am also a Certified Developmental Infant Massage and Movement Teacher.
I live and work in the Scottish Borders and can offer face-to-face sessions in this area and online sessions via Zoom to anyone in the UK.
I also work for the Scottish Borders charity Nurture the Borders supporting families who are expecting a baby, or with a child under 2 years of age.
The Rewind Process
I use a structured and gentle trauma-processing approach known as the 3 step rewind technique which helps the brain reprocess a traumatic memory so that it no longer triggers intense emotional or physical reactions
You don't need to describe your traumatic experience in detail unless you want to
I use deep relaxation to guide you through your experience - you will remain aware and in control at all times; the aim is simply to help your brain process a difficult memory safely and effectively
I can also support you at other times, for example following IVF, a miscarriage or baby loss or if you are pregnant again following baby loss. You are welcome to get in touch to discuss how I can help.
You don't need to be a new parent to get support. Whether your experience was 6 weeks ago or 6 years ago or more - if you are still affected by something that happened to you, get in touch and we can discuss what may help
What is involved in support for birth trauma?
At our first session we'll talk about how your experiences are affecting you and, if you are comfortable with this, we will practice some relaxation. After this we'll discuss whether you want to proceed with further sessions. There is no obligation to continue.
If you decide to go ahead, at your next session we will use deep relaxation to process your difficult memories and help your brain to file them away so that they no longer cause you distress.
After this we can decide together whether you want to continue with some further support.
If you are unsure whether you are suitable for my service please get in touch, we can chat about what is going on for you and if I can't help - I can signpost you to services that may be able to.
This technique helps you to safely process memories so that you can start to look forward to your future
We create an environment where you feel safe to relax, during a Zoom call or face-to-face if you live in the Scottish Borders
It is important that you have childcare in place so that you can relax and focus on the process
Charges:
1st 15 minute phone call - Free
Individual session rate - £60
Sessions are usually an hour long but may last up to 90 minutes
How to pay:
Payment is normally by bank transfer. Once we agree to meet I will send you details.
Payment must be received before the start of the session.
*If you live in The Scottish Borders and you are pregnant or have a child under the age of 2 years, you are entitled to this service free of charge from Nurture the Borders C.I.C, You can make a self-referral via their website: www.nurturetheborders.com or we can discuss this when we speak and I can make a referral for you.*