This week on the podcast, I am chatting with my friend Dr. Cassidy all about birth trauma. She is a mom of 3, and a family and marriage therapist who specializes in perinatal mental health, parenting, trauma, life transitions, and loss.
Birth trauma is a heavy subject and needs SO MUCH MORE light shed onto it. Dr. Cassidy is seriously one of the best guests to discuss birth trauma. She not only personally experienced birth trauma, but has also worked with countless moms who also have in her professional practice.
Today we talk about risk factors for birth trauma, how birth trauma affects support people, how to process birth trauma if you’ve been through it, and so much more!
Here’s a framework of what we talked about inside the episode
- How can we define birth trauma?
- Are there certain risk factors associated with birth trauma?
- How can birth trauma affect a women’s life?
- Are you comfortable sharing your own experience with birth trauma?
- How has it impacted your professional career and motherhood in general?
- Can traumatic birth impact a partner or support person?
- What steps can be taken to start processing and healing from birth trauma?
- What can women do on their own, and where can they turn for professional support?
- What does professional support for birth trauma look like?
- Can you explain more about the EMDR approach?
- Do you think there are any ways to prevent, or potentially prepare for a traumatic birth?
Related Reading: Unpacking Traumatic Birth and Learning How to Cope
About Dr. Cassidy Freita, LMFT, PhD
Dr. Cassidy is a licensed family therapist, mental health advocate, and mom of three. Her popular Instagram account @drcassidy is dedicated to holding space for the messy parts of parenting.
In addition to her private therapy practice, Dr. Cassidy is the creator of a number of self-paced online courses for new parents including, Flourish in the First Year and Prepared Postpartum.
Connect with Dr. Cassidy:
- Instagram: @drcassidy
- On her podcast: Holding Space Podcast
- Facebook: Dr. Cassidy Freitas, LMFT
Links from the episode:
- De-Mystifying EMDR blog post: https://www.drcassidymft.com/blog/emdr
- Scary Mommy Interview about EMDR: https://www.scarymommy.com/prince-harry-used-emdr-therapy-trauma/
- Prepared Postpartum: https://www.thesterlinglife.com/preparedpostpartum
