Women’s Mental Health
When motherhood feels nothing like you expected
Counselling for perinatal mental health — pregnancy anxiety, postnatal depression, birth trauma, and pregnancy loss. Online nationwide and face-to-face across England.
NCPS Organisational Member
Professionally registered therapists
Free 15-minute consultation
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“I loved my baby, but I couldn’t feel it. Everyone said it would come, and I just kept waiting. Counselling helped me understand that what I was going through had a name — and that it wasn’t my fault.”
Client who sought support for postnatal depression
5,000+
People supported
90+
Qualified therapists
5 ★
Website Testimonials
20+
Counties across England
This page is part of our women’s mental health hub — visit for a full overview of how we support women.
The Reality
The feelings nobody prepares you for
Pregnancy and new motherhood are supposed to be joyful. That is the story you are told — by books, by social media, by the people around you. And when your experience does not match that story, it can feel isolating, confusing, and deeply shameful.
Around 1 in 5 women experience a mental health difficulty during pregnancy or in the first year after birth. That includes anxiety during pregnancy, postnatal depression, birth trauma, perinatal OCD, the grief of pregnancy loss, and the quiet, overwhelming sense that you are failing at something everyone else seems to manage naturally. None of these are failures. They are recognised conditions, and they respond to the right support.
Counselling offers a space where you do not have to pretend. You do not have to perform gratitude or reassure anyone that you are fine. You can say the things you are afraid to say — about how you are feeling, about what the birth was like, about the gap between what you expected and what you are living — and be met with understanding, not judgement.
What You Might Be Going Through
Common perinatal mental health difficulties
Antenatal anxiety and depression
Persistent worry during pregnancy — about the baby, the birth, your ability to cope, or a creeping low mood that feels at odds with what you think you should be feeling.
Postnatal depression
More than “baby blues.” A persistent low mood, difficulty bonding, loss of interest, exhaustion beyond normal tiredness, tearfulness, and a feeling that you are not the mother your baby deserves. Affects around 1 in 10 women.
Birth trauma
A difficult, frightening, or traumatic birth experience can leave lasting psychological effects — flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of reminders, anxiety, and difficulty processing what happened.
Pregnancy loss
Miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, or termination for medical reasons can cause profound grief that is often underestimated by others. There is no threshold of loss that makes your grief valid — it already is.
Perinatal anxiety and OCD
Intrusive thoughts about harm coming to your baby, compulsive checking, overwhelming anxiety about your baby’s safety — thoughts that feel horrifying and can leave you questioning yourself as a mother.
Adjustment and identity
The profound identity shift of becoming a mother — losing parts of who you were, navigating a changed relationship, and trying to find yourself in a role that feels all-consuming.
Pregnancy Loss
Grief that deserves to be heard
Pregnancy loss — whether through miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, or termination for medical reasons — is a bereavement. The grief is real, it is valid, and it does not follow a timetable. Yet many women feel they are expected to move on quickly, to try again, to be grateful for what they have.
Counselling offers a space to grieve at your own pace, in your own way. Your therapist will not rush you, minimise your experience, or tell you that everything happens for a reason. They will listen, help you process what has happened, and support you through whatever comes next — whether that is trying again, deciding not to, or simply finding a way to carry the loss that does not consume you.
Birth Trauma
When the birth stays with you
A traumatic birth can leave psychological marks that last long after the physical recovery. Emergency interventions, complications, a perceived threat to your life or your baby’s life, feeling unheard during labour, or a birth that felt out of your control — any of these can result in symptoms similar to PTSD: flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, hypervigilance, and intense anxiety.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is particularly effective for processing birth trauma. It works by helping your brain reprocess the traumatic memory so that it no longer triggers the same intense emotional and physical response. Many women find significant relief in a relatively short number of sessions.
How Counselling Helps
A space where you do not have to pretend
Perinatal counselling is not about being told how to be a better mother. It is about being given a space where you can be honest about what you are experiencing — the parts that are difficult, the parts that are frightening, the parts that feel unsayable — and having someone who understands, without judgement, help you make sense of it.
Your therapist can work with you during pregnancy, through the postnatal period, or both. CBT can help manage anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and the unhelpful patterns that can develop when you are sleep-deprived and overwhelmed. EMDR is effective for birth trauma. Person-centred counselling offers a broader space to explore identity, relationships, and grief.
Sessions are 50 minutes, confidential, and available online — which means you can attend from home, during a nap, or whenever works for you. The free 15-minute consultation is a no-pressure first step.
Our Approach
How we work with perinatal mental health
We offer several evidence-based approaches, and your therapist will recommend the one that best fits your situation.
Our booking team and your therapist will discuss which approach — or combination — feels most appropriate for what you are bringing. You do not need to know which is right before you start.
What our clients say
Real experiences
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I loved my baby, but I couldn’t feel it. Everyone said it would come, and I just kept waiting. Counselling helped me understand that what I was going through had a name — and that it wasn’t my fault.
Client who sought support for postnatal depression
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The birth was terrifying. Months later I was still having flashbacks. EMDR changed everything — I can think about it now without the panic.
Client who sought support for birth trauma
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
After my miscarriage, everyone wanted me to ‘move on.’ My counsellor was the first person who said I didn’t have to — that I could grieve in my own time.
Client who sought support after pregnancy loss
Client experiences are unique. Results vary between individuals.
Getting started
How it works
Starting counselling can feel like a big step. Here is how it works.
1
Free consultation
A brief, no-pressure conversation. We listen and find out whether we can help.
2
Matched with a therapist
We match you with a therapist experienced in perinatal mental health.
3
Your first session
A chance to talk about what you are going through. No pressure, no rush.
4
Ongoing support
Weekly sessions at your pace. Online means you can attend from home.
Most clients hear back from us the same working day, and typically begin sessions within a week of the free consultation — depending on your preferences and therapist availability.
Standards you can trust
How we match you with the right therapist for perinatal mental health
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and we take time to get the match right.
A careful match, not a long list
Therapist availability changes from week to week, so rather than asking you to choose from a directory, we take time during your free 15-minute consultation to understand what you are looking for — and then match you with a therapist suited to your needs.
During the consultation, we will ask about:
- What you would like the work to focus on, and any specific concerns
- Whether you would prefer face-to-face, online, or combination
- Any preferences around therapy approach (counselling, CBT, EMDR, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, ACT, compassion focused therapy and others)
- Day and time availability
- Any specialisms (LGBTQIA+ affirming, neurodiversity-affirming, particular life experiences)
- Practical preferences (therapist gender, age range, shared lived experience)
All therapists we work with are qualified and registered with appropriate UK professional bodies, and we will confirm the most suitable options with you before any sessions begin.
Professional standards across our team
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services has been operating since 2014, and we hold Organisational Membership with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). We work in line with the NCPS Code of Ethics and BACP Good Practice, and our wider clinical standards include:
- Qualified, professionally registered therapists across the team — registrations vary per therapist and are confirmed before matching
- Ongoing clinical supervision in line with professional body requirements
- Continuing professional development to maintain and develop practice
- Clear confidentiality standards, with limits explained before sessions begin
- Client-centred, non-judgemental and inclusive practice across all areas of identity and experience
- Founder-led clinical oversight from Ian Stockbridge — MBACP (Senior Accredited) – who continues to lead the practice and oversee its standards
Whether you choose face-to-face counselling near you or online therapy from anywhere in the UK, you can expect to be matched with a therapist who is appropriately qualified and suited to the support you are looking for.
Transparent Pricing
Our fees
No hidden costs. Your therapist and fees are discussed during your free consultation.
Counselling
From £65
per 50-minute session
- Person-centred or integrative approach
- Online via Zoom or telephone
- Face-to-face where available
CBT
From £85
per 50-minute session
- Structured, goal-focused approach
- Practical tools and strategies
- Online or face-to-face
EMDR
From £95
per 50-minute session
- For trauma experiences
- Evidence-based approach
- Online or face-to-face
Looking for a more affordable option? We may be able to offer sessions at a reduced rate — just ask during your free consultation.
London clients: Location-adjusted rates may apply. Please ask during your free consultation and we will confirm the exact fee before you commit to anything.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is postnatal depression?
Postnatal depression is a form of depression that develops in the weeks or months after having a baby. It affects around 1 in 10 women, though many cases go undiagnosed. Symptoms include persistent low mood, difficulty bonding with your baby, loss of interest in things you normally enjoy, exhaustion beyond normal new-parent tiredness, anxiety, and feelings of guilt or inadequacy. It is a recognised medical condition — not a failure of motherhood — and it responds well to treatment including counselling.
Can I get counselling during pregnancy?
Yes. Antenatal anxiety and depression are common and often overlooked. If you are experiencing persistent worry, low mood, fear about the birth, or difficulty coping during pregnancy, counselling can help. Our therapists can work with you during pregnancy and continue support through the postnatal period if needed.
What is birth trauma?
Birth trauma refers to the psychological impact of a difficult, frightening, or traumatic birth experience. This can include emergency interventions, complications, feeling out of control, or a perceived threat to your life or your baby’s life. Symptoms can include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of reminders, and intense anxiety. EMDR is particularly effective for processing birth trauma.
Can counselling help after pregnancy loss?
Yes. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and other forms of pregnancy loss can cause profound grief that is often underestimated by others. Counselling provides a space to process your loss at your own pace, without being told how you should feel or when you should move on. There is no threshold of loss that makes your grief valid — it already is.
Is everything I say in counselling confidential?
Yes. Sessions are confidential in line with professional ethical standards. There are some limited exceptions — for example, where there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else — and your therapist will explain these clearly before you begin.
How much does counselling cost?
Individual counselling sessions start from £65 for a 50-minute session. CBT starts from £85 and EMDR from £95. The free 15-minute consultation carries no cost and no obligation.
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Meet Our Founder
Built by someone who saw the need from the inside
★
SCoPEd Band C
MBACP & SNCPS Senior Accredited
“Having worked for more than 25 years in senior management, I saw the same thing repeatedly — people struggling with mental health and relationship challenges, and so often struggling to access the right support when it was needed. It was out of this recognition of human need that Hope was born.”
Ian Stockbridge founded Hope Therapy after 25+ years leading large commercial teams – watching colleagues carry stress, anxiety, and personal difficulty with nowhere to turn. He retrained rigorously, now holding Senior Accredited status with both the BACP and NCPS, alongside SCoPEd Band C — the highest independent competence verification in the UK counselling profession.
He remains a practising therapist, clinical supervisor, published author of PMDD Uncovered, and co-presenter of The Talk Room Podcast. Hope Therapy was built on the things he saw were most broken – and designed, from the ground up, to do better.
MBACP (Senior Accredited)
SNCPS (Acc)
SCoPEd Band C
BSc (Hons) CBT
PGCert Supervision L7
Quality Award 2024 — 95%+
You do not have to wait until something breaks
A free, no-obligation 15-minute conversation. No pressure, no script — just a chance to be heard, ask questions, and see whether we feel like the right fit.
Get in Touch
Start your enquiry
Not sure where to start? Send us a message and a member of our team will get back to you. All enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“From the very first phone call, I felt heard. They didn’t rush me — they helped me work out what I needed.”
Hope Therapy enquiry feedback
NCPS Organisational Member
Est 2014
90+ Qualified Therapists
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies
Individual registrations vary per therapist. Last reviewed: May 2026.