Counseling for new mothers at Feeling To Healing is confidential, practical support for mums who are struggling after having a baby, whether that is postnatal depression, postnatal anxiety, intrusive thoughts, a difficult birth or simply feeling that you have lost yourself. Our qualified psychologists offer sessions at our East London clinic and by secure video anywhere in the UK, and every new client starts with a free 20-minute consultation.

Clinically reviewed by Dr Carlo Demarco, PhD, Consultant Psychologist. Last updated October 2026.

Everyone tells you that having a baby will be the happiest time of your life. So when you feel exhausted, tearful, numb, frightened or not like yourself at all, it is easy to feel that you are failing, and hard to tell anyone. You are not failing. Many mothers feel this way, these feelings have names and causes, and with the right help they get better.

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Counseling for New Mothers: How You Might Be Feeling

The months after a birth bring huge changes all at once: your body is recovering, hormones are shifting, sleep is broken, and your identity, relationships, work and money may all look different. It is normal to find this hard. But if the hard feelings are strong, last for weeks or stop you enjoying anything, they deserve care in their own right.

If several of these sound familiar, please do not wait for them to pass on their own. Counseling for new mothers gives you a safe, non-judgemental space to say how things really are, and a clear plan to feel more like yourself again.

Baby Blues or Postnatal Depression?

In the first few days after birth, many mothers feel tearful, anxious and up and down. This is often called the baby blues. It is very common, and it usually passes within two weeks with rest, food and support.

If low mood lasts longer than two weeks, keeps coming back, or starts later in the first year, it may be postnatal depression. It affects more than 1 in 10 mothers, it can start any time in the first year, and it is very treatable. The NHS guide to postnatal depression explains the signs in more detail.

Postnatal Depression: Signs, Causes and Treatment

Postnatal depression is not a sign of weakness, and it is not caused by anything you did. It can affect any mother, including those who longed for their baby and those who have had children before. It often creeps up slowly, so many women do not recognise it at first, and partners or friends may notice before you do.

Common signs of postnatal depression include:

• Persistent sadness or low mood for most of the day
• Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
• Feeling tired all the time, even when you can rest
• Trouble sleeping when the baby sleeps, or sleeping too much
• Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
• Withdrawing from people and finding it hard to connect with your baby

Things that make postnatal depression more likely include a previous history of depression or anxiety, a difficult pregnancy or birth, little practical or emotional support, relationship strain, money or housing worries, a baby who is unwell or premature, and big losses or changes around the time of the birth. Sometimes there is no clear reason at all.

The NICE guideline on antenatal and postnatal mental health recommends talking therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for postnatal depression, with medication as an option for moderate or severe depression. Many antidepressants are safe to use while breastfeeding, so if you are thinking about medication, talk to your GP. Therapy and medication can work well together.

Postnatal Anxiety and Intrusive Thoughts

Postnatal anxiety is just as common as postnatal depression but much less talked about. It can feel like a constant knot of worry: checking the baby is breathing again and again, imagining everything that could go wrong, or feeling unable to relax even when the baby is safe and asleep. Some mothers have panic attacks or feel they cannot leave the house.

Many new mothers also have sudden, upsetting thoughts or images of harm coming to their baby, sometimes even of causing harm themselves. These intrusive thoughts are very common, and they are frightening precisely because they go against everything you feel for your baby. Having them does not mean you will act on them. When they become constant and lead to checking, avoiding or seeking reassurance, this may be perinatal OCD, which responds well to specialist CBT. Our OCD therapy page explains more.

Counselling for postnatal anxiety helps you understand what is happening in your body and mind, reduce checking and reassurance-seeking, and build up confidence step by step, so that worry stops running your days.

After a Difficult or Traumatic Birth

A birth that was frightening, rushed, painful or very different from what you hoped for can stay with you. Some mothers have flashbacks or nightmares, avoid anything that reminds them of the birth, or feel on edge and detached afterwards. These can be signs of birth trauma or postnatal post-traumatic stress, and they are treatable with trauma-focused therapy such as trauma-focused CBT or EMDR. Our trauma therapy page explains how this works, and the Birth Trauma Association offers peer support.

If you have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth or the loss of a baby, our grief counselling page explains how we can support you through that loss.

When to Get Urgent Help

How Postnatal Counselling Helps

Counseling for new mothers is not about being told what you should feel or how to parent. It is about understanding what is happening to you and finding practical ways through it. Depending on what you need, your psychologist may help you to:

• Make sense of your feelings: separate what is postnatal depression or anxiety talking from who you really are.
• Challenge harsh self-talk: replace “I’m a terrible mother” with a fairer, kinder view, using CBT skills.
• Calm anxiety and intrusive thoughts: learn what keeps worry going and how to step out of checking and reassurance loops.
• Rebuild small routines: rest, food, fresh air and contact with people, planned around the baby’s day.
• Feel closer to your baby: bonding often grows as mood lifts, and there are gentle ways to support it in the meantime.
• Talk about your relationship: how you and your partner share the load, and how to ask for help without arguments.
• Work through the birth or past experiences: when an earlier loss, trauma or your own childhood is part of the picture.

Most mothers notice a real difference within a few months. The NHS notes that recovery from postnatal depression often takes 3 to 6 months, and that getting treatment makes improvement more likely.

How It Works at Feeling To Healing

Each session lasts 55 minutes. We know life with a baby is unpredictable, so if you need to rearrange, just let us know as early as you can. If you are already under a GP, midwife, health visitor or NHS perinatal mental health team, we are happy to work alongside them with your permission.

Online Postnatal Counselling Across the UK

Getting out of the house with a new baby can feel impossible some days, which is why many mothers choose online postnatal counselling. You can join a secure video session from your sofa while the baby naps, without travel, parking or a waiting room. All you need is a phone, tablet or computer, a quiet corner and a steady internet connection.

Online postnatal counselling works for mothers anywhere in the UK, and research shows talking therapy by video can work as well as meeting in person. If the baby wakes and needs you, that is fine: we simply pause and pick up again. Read more about our video sessions.

Postnatal Counselling in London: Our Clinic

If you would like to meet in person, we offer postnatal counselling in London at our clinic at 106 Empress Avenue, London E12 5EU, in East London. Some mothers find that a regular trip out, and an hour that is just for them, is part of what helps. If you would like to bring a young baby to a clinic session, please mention it when you book. Many mothers who start postnatal counselling in London later mix clinic and video sessions as life changes.

Meet Our Team

Feeling To Healing is a team, not a one-person practice. Counseling for new mothers at our clinic is led by qualified psychologists, with other practitioners available when a whole-person plan helps.

Some mothers also like to add relaxation work with Inas Hassan, our Certified Hypnotherapist, who works with stress, anxiety and sleep in Arabic, French and English. Hannah Norris, our Nutrition Consultant, can advise on eating well while you recover and feed your baby. Our team also includes homeopaths Dr Anelia Dimitrova and Hafsa Hasan.

Your Circle of Support

No mother is meant to do this alone. Recovery is easier when support comes from several directions at once, not only from therapy.

• Your partner, family and friends: let them take a feed, do the shopping or sit with you. Saying “I’m not OK” is a strength.
• Your GP, midwife and health visitor: they ask about your mood for a reason, and they can refer you to NHS perinatal mental health services if you need more support.
• Other parents: local baby groups and online communities can ease the loneliness.
• Helplines: PANDAS Foundation offers free support for parents with perinatal mental health problems, and Mind’s guide to perinatal mental health explains your options.
• Small things for you: rest when you can, eat regularly, get daylight, and keep one small interest that is just yours.

Support for Partners

Partners can struggle too. Fathers and partners can also develop depression or anxiety after a baby arrives, and watching someone you love struggle is hard. Partners are welcome to book their own sessions with us, and if the strain is showing in your relationship, our couples counselling can help you both find your way back to each other.

Private Counselling or the NHS?

On the NHS, your GP or health visitor can refer you to NHS Talking Therapies, which often prioritise new and expectant parents, or to a specialist perinatal mental health team for more severe problems. Waiting times vary by area.

With private counseling for new mothers at Feeling To Healing there is no waiting list and no referral, and sessions are arranged around your baby’s routine. Our session fees are on our fees page. You pay us directly, as we do not bill insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, we give you a receipt after each session so that you can claim the cost back from your insurer yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these helpful: therapy for depression, anxiety treatment, women’s mental health support and all our therapy services in London.

This page is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Reviewed by Dr Carlo Demarco, Consultant Psychologist, October 2026.