5 People Every Mom Should Include in Their Birth Team in Jacksonville, FL & How EMDR Can Support Women Healing from Birth Trauma
As a trauma therapist specializing in women’s issues in Jacksonville, I often work with mothers who are processing unexpected experiences from their birth. I was shocked when I learned that up to 45% of women report experiencing something during childbirth that they would consider traumatic. Personally, I believe that although birth trauma is common it doesn’t have to be. If you are a new mom or a mother who is looking to reclaim your birth experience this list is for you! Building a birth team that supports both your body and your mind is the key to keeping the trauma out of the birth room.
Here are the top 5 people every mom should have on their birth team in Jacksonville, Florida to protect your emotional wellness before, during, and after birth:
1. A Trauma-Informed Provider
Choosing a provider who understands the impact of trauma is critical. A trauma-informed OB or midwife will prioritize consent, communication, and collaboration. They’ll explain procedures, offer choices, and create a sense of safety during labor. If you’ve experienced previous trauma, birth-related or otherwise, having a provider who respects boundaries and listens to your concerns can make all the difference.
Trauma Informed Providers I recommend:
2. A Doula
Doulas offer non-medical support before, during, and after birth. Studies show that continuous labor support from a doula can reduce the likelihood of interventions and improve birth outcomes. More importantly, doulas are advocates, helping you stay calm, informed, and connected to your voice. Whether you're birthing in a hospital, at home, or at a birthing center, a doula in Jacksonville, Fl brings reassurance, experience, and emotional grounding.
Doulas I recommend:
3. A Therapist Trained in Maternal Mental Health
During pregnancy, a therapist can help you process fears about labor, manage anxiety or depression, explore any past trauma that may be resurfacing, and create a plan for prioritizing your mental health post birth.
After birth, a therapist can help you sort through whatever you’re carrying. Maybe the delivery didn’t go as planned, or unexpected emotions are coming up. Do you feel disconnected from yourself, your baby, or the life you imagined? Therapy in Jacksonville , Fl offers space to name those feelings and begin the work of healing. That might include learning how to rest without guilt, setting boundaries that support your well-being, or finding a sense of self in the new identity of motherhood.
4. A Supportive Friend or Family Member
Sometimes it’s the person who brings snacks, reminds you to rest, or just sits with you and listens that helps the most. Identify someone in your life who is supportive, non-judgmental, and emotionally available. Their presence can ease loneliness and help you feel grounded in the wild postpartum weeks.
5. A Prescriber Familiar with Postpartum and Breastfeeding
If you have a history of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or other mental health conditions, having a trusted prescriber, such as a psychiatrist or primary care doctor, can be essential. Look for someone who is experienced in treating postpartum women, especially those who are breastfeeding. The right medication, prescribed thoughtfully, can be a lifeline.
Prescribers I Recommend:
How EMDR Therapy in Jacksonville, FL Can Support Women with Birth Trauma
So, what if you didn’t feel safe during your birth experience? What if you still carry memories that feel too big, too heavy, or too hard to explain? Maybe you had a frightening delivery, felt dismissed or ignored in the birth room, or left the hospital feeling like something inside you changed and not in the way you hoped.
Birth trauma doesn’t always look like what you expect. You might feel anxious, disconnected from your baby or your body, overwhelmed by guilt, or like you're constantly on edge. Maybe you're wondering why you’re not “over it” yet. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone in those feelings, and you don’t have to carry them by yourself.
At Something New Counseling and Wellness, I offer EMDR therapy for women in Jacksonville, FL and throughout Florida who are navigating birth trauma, perinatal anxiety, and postpartum depression. EMDR is a gentle, evidence-based approach that helps your brain process these painful memories, so they no longer carry the same weight. It’s not about reliving the experience, but about helping your mind and body understand that you are safe now, and the danger has passed. With EMDR, we can work together to help you feel more at peace, more present, and more connected to yourself and your baby.
In therapy, we’ll create a space where your story is heard without judgment. EMDR can help you gently revisit the moments that still hold pain and shift the way they live in your body and mind. You don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode. Healing is possible, and it starts with feeling safe again.
If you’re searching for counseling for women in Jacksonville or throughout Florida, I’d be honored to walk with you as you reclaim your peace and power.
You are not broken. You are healing and EMDR can help.
