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PRENATAL AND BIRTH PSYCHOLOGY AND THERAPY

Introduction to pre- and perinatal psychology and therapy
with Cherionna Menzam-Sills, PhD

Are you curious about the effects of very early life experience?

Prenatal and Birth (Perinatal) Psychology is the study of our experience before and around the time of birth. This relatively new field is providing growing evidence of the exquisite sensitivity and sentience of little ones in the womb, during their journey through the birth canal, and in the ensuing days, weeks and months.

Prenatal and Birth Therapy acknowledges and addresses the profound effects this time of life can have on health, behavior, perception, cognition, personality and relationships throughout life.

Are you a practitioner or therapist?

    • Wondering about prenatal and birth material arising for your clients?
    • Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or confused in relation to your work or clients?
    • Wanting to learn more about how our very early history and relationships, even prenatally, can echo throughout life?
    • Feeling drawn to work with prenatal and birth issues in your practice?
    • Working with pregnant and birthing families?
    • Intending to prevent trauma and facilitate healthy, gentle birth experiences?

Are you a parent?

    • Wanting the best for your child?
    • Feeling confused or concerned about how to support or be supported in pregnancy and birth?
    • Wondering how your own prenatal and birth experience might affect your child?
    • Hoping to avoid trauma and experience healthy, gentle birth?
    • Curious about what your baby might be experiencing, feeling, learning?

Have you been born and feel drawn to:

    • Learn more about your own early experience?
    • Explore the source of your own habits, patterns and tendencies?
    • Become more aware of why you are attracted to certain kinds of people or situations?
    • Heal at a deep level?

PRENATAL AND BIRTH EFFECTS

Babies are remarkably sensitive, aware beings.
Ideally, they are welcomed into the world by loving parents who celebrate their arrival. Our entrance into this world is often not so easy.

Many common situations may result in prenatal or birth trauma, including if:

  • Your conception was unplanned or unwanted
  • Your mother experienced ongoing stress while pregnant with you
  • Your mother took or was exposed to tobacco, alcohol, other drugs or environmental toxicity during pregnancy
  • You lost a twin before, during, or soon after birth
  • Your parents were challenged by marital difficulties or other stresses such as illness, loss of a loved one, war, or natural catastrophe
  • Your parents or mother lost a baby before you were conceived due to miscarriage, still birth, illness, abortion, or adoption
  • Your birth included medical interventions such as drugs to reduce pain or accelerate labor, forceps, vacuum extraction, C-section
  • Your birth included medical interventions such as drugs to reduce pain or accelerate labor, forceps, vacuum extraction, C-section
  • Your birth had complications such as premature labor or breech presentation
  • You were separated from your mother after birth

If you find yourself struggling with inexplicable emotional issues, chronic health problems, or stubborn habits, you may be experiencing the effects of early prenatal or birth experience.
Learning more about this early time in life can help.
Learning to orient to the health and resources beyond and prior to the trauma can also be supportive.

RETURNING TO OUR ORIGINAL POTENTIAL

Prenatal and Birth Therapy and Psychology involves:

  • Recognizing patterns established very early in your life
  • Learning to differentiate between how it was then and how it is now
    • We often view and react to life as if we were still helpless little ones. We can learn to recognize a little one state, return to our adult resources where we can function well and also take care of the little one within.
  • Access the support and resources available to you now
  • Slow down so you can be more aware and make new choices

 

 

If you are a new parent or work with babies, you can support the baby by learning to:

  • Slow down so you can be more in sync with your baby
  • Recognize when your baby is trying to tell you about his or her birth
  • Support the child in being comforted by you in the present rather than staying stuck in the fear, anger, shock or other feelings of the past
  • Identify and process your own reactions and feelings about the birth
  • Recognize and release your own feelings of guilt as you develop compassion for yourself
  • Receive the support you need to be a parent in the 21stcentury

PRENATAL AND BIRTH THERAPY CAN SUPPORT YOU TO:

  • Access the deepest source of life energy within you
  • Identify and free yourself from life long patterns that no longer serve you
  • Gently release the hold of preverbal trauma
  • Be more present with yourself and others in your life
  • Prepare yourself to be the best parent you can possibly be
  • Prepare your body-mind for the miracle of birth
  • Welcome and bond with your new baby with greater sensitivity and awareness

Our intention at Resourcing Your Life is to enhance awareness and understanding of this important early time of life. The information and explorations we offer are intended to support you in being clearer about your own and others’ prenatal and birth-related influences, to facilitate resolution of early trauma, resulting in greater ability to be present in heart-centered, embodied aliveness and health.

Courses we offer:

  • For Parents and those working with babies
  • For personal awareness and healing
  • For therapists, practitioners and teachers
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