Birth Trauma Therapy

Not every birth unfolds the way we imagine. Whether your delivery involved unexpected medical complications, an emergency cesarean birth, feeling unheard or dismissed by your medical team, or simply leaving the experience feeling frightened, overwhelmed, or disconnected, your feelings are valid.

I offer birth trauma therapy as a licensed clinical psychologist and Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) provider. Healing from birth trauma isn’t about forgetting what happened. It’s about making sense of your experience, processing the emotions surrounding it, and reducing the emotional weight it continues to carry.

I work with clients in Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Calabasas, and Hidden Hills, elsewhere in the Conejo Valley, and throughout California through secure telehealth.

When a birth still feels unfinished

After a difficult birth, many women replay what happened, struggle to talk about it, or feel cut off from their body or their baby. Some feel angry that they were not listened to. Others feel numb, ashamed, or unsure whether what they went through “counts” as trauma because everyone around them is focused on a healthy baby.

Your birth story matters even when the medical outcome was considered a success. In therapy, we create a safe space to tell that story at your pace, notice how it still lives in your body and relationships, and rebuild trust in yourself.

How we work together

Together, we’ll process your story, rebuild trust in yourself and your body, and move toward healing with greater confidence, peace, and self-compassion. We may also look at how the birth has affected sleep, bonding, intimacy, or your feelings about a future pregnancy.

Birth trauma care often sits alongside postpartum depression and anxiety therapy and perinatal psychology. If your baby spent time in intensive care, you may also want to read about therapy for NICU parents.

Birth trauma therapy for Calabasas and nearby communities

Clients in Calabasas often look for a therapist who understands traumatic childbirth and will not minimize what happened. Because Calabasas is in Los Angeles County, many people choose secure telehealth from home. In-person sessions are available in Ventura County for those who prefer to meet that way, including clients traveling from the Conejo Valley or Hidden Hills.

Families in Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village are also welcome. If you are looking more broadly for women’s therapy after a hard season, that page may be a helpful next read.

Frequently asked questions

What if I am not sure my birth was “traumatic”?

You do not need a particular diagnosis or a dramatic story to deserve support. If the birth left you frightened, disconnected, or unable to make peace with what happened, that is reason enough to talk with someone.

Will I have to retell every detail of the birth?

No. We will go only as far as feels manageable. Some people need to tell the story in order; others start with how they are feeling now. You stay in control of the pace.

Can this help if the birth was years ago?

Yes. Some women reach out months or years later, sometimes when they are considering another pregnancy or when a reminder brings the experience back to the surface. It is not too late to give that story care and attention.