Birth Trauma Therapy in Raleigh
Counseling for Birth Trauma & Pregnancy Loss
When Birth Leaves You Shaken Instead of Joyful
YOU’RE FINALLY HOME AFTER GIVING BIRTH… and everything still feels like a blur. You never imagined your birth going the way it did. You think you’re still in shock. The tears come constantly, and you can’t seem to stop them. Your baby didn’t deserve for this to be his birth story. You feel violated, like something sacred was taken from you. The whole experience made you feel like you weren’t even treated as a human being.
NOW YOU CAN’T STOP PANICKING…waiting for something else to go wrong. You wonder if this could be postpartum anxiety or depression. You don’t feel like yourself, and every time you try to talk about what happened, the words get stuck in your throat. You can see the worry in your partner’s eyes, but you don’t know how to explain what’s happening inside you. Everyone keeps asking about the birth, expecting a sweet story, but it feels too painful to share how hard it really was.
YOU FIND YOURSELF BLAMING YOUR BODY...wondering if it failed you. Seeing friends post about their beautiful water births feels unbearable. You want to be happy for them, but instead you feel jealous, angry, and alone. You hate looking at your own pictures from the hospital. You can barely remember those first moments with your baby, and that loss hurts deeply.
YOU WORRY ABOUT YOUR BABY…wondering if She might somehow carry your trauma too. You think ahead to the future and wonder how you could ever face another birth again when this one felt like surviving a storm.
Healing After a Traumatic Birth
I’m Victoria Edgington, a counselor in Raleigh, and I help mothers who have experienced a traumatic birth reconnect with their strength, peace, and sense of self. Many of the moms I work with feel out of control, overwhelmed by guilt, panic, or sadness. They long to bond with their babies and feel joy again but find themselves stuck in fear or numbness.
Through therapy, we work toward helping you:
Regain a healthy sense of control over your emotions.
Reconnect with your body and your baby.
Feel proud of your strength and wisdom as a mother.
Make decisions about your family’s future with clarity and confidence.
Face triggers like hospitals, photos, or medical settings without panic.
“Healing doesn’t erase the past; it transforms your relationship with it.”
You can remember what happened without being flooded by pain.
You can find peace in your story and see yourself as the capable, resilient mother you already are.”
How EMDR Helps Mothers Heal
I use EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help process traumatic birth experiences. EMDR allows your brain to release the intensity of painful memories so they no longer hold power over your daily life.
Over time, clients notice:
Less guilt and self-blame.
A stronger sense of pride and compassion for themselves.
Reduced anxiety about future pregnancies or medical care.
A shift from “what if” fears to a grounded sense of safety.
More connection and understanding with their partners.
Freedom from jealousy or comparison.
EMDR doesn’t make you forget your story. It helps you reclaim it, seeing the strength that got buried under fear and pain.
A Therapist Who Gets It
I’m Victoria Edgington, LMHC, PMH-C. I’m not just an EMDR therapist. I’m also a mother who understands how layered and messy this time can be. I believe in creating a flexible, compassionate space where you can say anything about motherhood, no matter how dark or confusing it feels.
Clients often describe therapy with me as a deep sigh of relief. They finally feel like someone sees the whole picture, not just their symptoms but their humanity. In this space, you can bring your unfiltered thoughts and experiences. Nothing is too strange or shameful to talk about here.
Therapy isn’t about fixing you. It’s about helping you find your way back to yourself.
Finding Closure and Confidence Again
After our work together, closure starts to take hold. You begin to feel more present because your mind isn’t stuck in the past or worried about the future. You see your baby and yourself with tenderness instead of guilt. You notice a sense of peace when thinking back on your birth and pride in how you made it through.
You may even start to imagine future decisions with calm and clarity, not from fear but from trust in your strength.
With gentle processing and support, this chapter can become one of the most powerful parts of your story.
FAQ Birth Trauma Therapy in Raleigh
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A birth may feel traumatic if you experienced fear, pain, or loss of control that left you emotionally or physically overwhelmed. It doesn’t have to meet medical definitions of trauma to be valid.
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If memories of your birth bring panic, guilt, sadness, or nightmares, or if you avoid talking about it or returning to medical settings, therapy can help you heal and feel safe again.
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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based trauma treatment that helps the brain reprocess painful memories so they lose their negative emotional charge.
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Yes. EMDR can be tailored to your needs and your body’s recovery process. It can be done during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, and doesn’t require medication.
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The timeline depends on your goals and experiences. Many clients start to notice relief after several sessions, while others continue for deeper integration and support.
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No. You’ll never be pushed beyond what feels manageable. EMDR works gently and safely to help your body release the stress of what happened.
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Yes. Many clients come to therapy to feel more confident and calm before growing their family again. We’ll work on building safety and trust in your body and your choices.
Reach out today to connect with a counselor in Raleigh who understands birth trauma and can help you find peace, connection, and confidence again.