I help new mums manage pregnancy anxiety & low mood, through CBT & online pregnancy therapy.
I can help you during pregnancy to overcome feelings of depression and anxiety, helping to get you in a good place for the birth of your baby and feeling content in your own skin again.
Have the hormonal ups and downs and weird pregnancy symptoms left you feeling out of control of your body?
Do you miss ‘the old you’ before pregnancy left you feeling like you’d lost your identity?
Do you get consumed with worry about something bad happening to the baby or that you won’t be able to manage childbirth?
Or perhaps you have times when you feel that you don’t want the baby anymore and regret ever getting pregnant?
Are you comparing yourself to other pregnant women feeling like you should be doing better?
If you have answered yes to any of the above questions, then you’re not alone - and it doesn’t have to be that way.
Who am I?
My name is Sophie Harris. After becoming a mum and battling with my own mental health during this time, I decided to use my 13 years of NHS experience to specialise in CBT for pregnancy and postnatal mental health. I am passionate about using the skills that I have acquired over my years of experience to help women confidently step into their new role both as a woman and a mother.
How can online pregnancy therapy with me help you?
I offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you during pregnancy. Sessions are offered online via a secure video conferencing platform. The sessions are flexible around your needs, and it is a safe space that you can attend with your baby if needed. The session length is 50 minutes and can be offered short term (approx. 6 weeks to longer term (20+ weeks). Details of this can be discussed during our initial consultation. I aim to ensure that you get value for your time and money, and there will be tasks to complete in between sessions… These tasks are all aimed towards making you feel better…. And they will be negotiated between us so that it feels manageable to fit into any busy schedule.
What can you achieve?
What you want to get from the sessions is up to you, and we will decide this together in the first session. Some ideas based on what I have helped clients achieve in the past are:
Reclaim your sense of identity and feel more like yourself again... You are more than just a pregnant lady!
Prepare for childbirth... Feel strong and confident both as a woman and a mum.
Understanding your emotional reactions to situations and feel more in control.
Feel calmer and more level headed… Manage anxiety and worry as it arises.
Using nutrition and fitness to helping you to feel good in your body and manage your moods.
A healthier relationship with your partner; allowing you to communicate better even when feeling emotional.
What areas can I support you with?
I work with women to improve their experience of transitioning into motherhood. This includes more general issues around self esteem, managing mood and support to manage anxiety or anger. In addition to this support, I am trained and experienced in working with the following mental health conditions. I am happy to discuss supporting you with these.
Pregnancy Depression
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) / Trauma - Including birth-related issues such as previous miscarriage or abortion.
Panic Disorder
Health Anxiety - related to yourself or your baby.
What is CBT?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most evidence-based form of treatment for pregnancy anxiety. This style of therapy aims to support you to become your own therapist. Together, we practice tools and strategies to manage difficult situations more effectively and make positive changes in your life. For example, interrupting negative or self-critical thought patterns, finding techniques to manage anxiety or practising ways to manage conflict with a partner. I will help you to make positive changes to your life. You will be held accountable for doing what is necessary to move forwards and get to where you want to be. In addition to specific psychological support, we will plan how to manage nutrition and exercise to support both your mental and physical health goals.
How much does it cost?
£125 per 50 minute session
I offer a free 20 minute consultation to consider whether online pregnancy therapy is the most helpful treatment option for you. During this conversation, we will discuss the length of support you are likely to need and tailor the support for your specific requirements.
What my clients are saying….
I'm so grateful to Sophie for all her help and support over the last year. My pregnancy, birth and early motherhood all brought unexpected challenges that I would have found near impossible to navigate without our sessions each week. Sophie is extremely skilled at building meaningful, empathetic and powerful relationships and she helped me feel much more empowered to manage whatever is thrown at me. It is clear that Sophie also has a deep, informed and clear understanding of the pressures that society places on pregnant women and mothers and how that can manifest in negative and unwelcome emotions. She subtly tailors each session to be of most use to you in the moment you meet - resulting in powerful and perspective-changing conversations. Thank you.
What’s next?
If you are interested in working together then I offer free 20 minute phone consultations. This is a great chance for me to get an understanding of where you are at and whether this will be a good fit for you. I currently have a waiting list (approx. 1-3 weeks) Please e-mail sophie@lookingaftermum.co.uk to be added to this waiting list and I will contact you when spac becomes available to arrange a consultation.
What my clients are saying…
“Take the plunge. Having the courage to admit what you are struggling with and share your worries is really cathartic. Sophie really helps you to understand how to think differently about your anxieties and that time and consistent practice can help you to overcome them or learn how to manage them. I left it late in my pregnancy to deal with my problem and wish I had done it sooner because it has massively helped me. Best decision I made!”
— Client treated for birth-related anxiety.
Already had your baby?
If you're navigating motherhood and looking for support, find out more about how I can help you here.