A birth debrief may be accessed as part of a program including a perinatal-trained psychologist, which has benefits beyond simply receiving more information about your baby’s birth. A psychologist can help with preparing for the birth discussion and strategies for dealing with symptoms that might be present, either before or after the birth conversation.

Birth trauma is a complex area, and a combined approach will help you deal with emotions and feelings that may surface and can promote healthy healing. A birth debrief offers the information to explain what happened, why and what this might mean for future pregnancies. The psychologist support offers a space for your feelings, to understand and process them.

Danny works with Melissa Freestun from Self Psychology, offering the following program. Sessions are 50 minutes duration each.

Visit 1: Melissa - intake, review of current symptoms relating to birth, which may include screening questionnaires and goal setting. This could take more than one session.
Visit 2: Melissa - preparation for birth debrief and strategies to prepare for emotions and feelings that might arise. Consideration of ways to support your well-being during and after the debrief.
Visit 3: Danny - birth debrief
Visit 4: Danny - birth debrief and planning for next time if relevant. Some women may not need two sessions; others may need more.
Visits 5 onwards: Melissa - ongoing therapy to help process what you have learned, manage new and long-standing symptoms, bring healing to your birth experience and explore your vision of parenthood. The number of sessions will be determined by your own goals and needs with the intention of strengthening the bond with your baby, improved family wellbeing and self-compassion.

Getting started
To access the program or a birth debrief with Dr Danny Tucker, please see more information on the Referral Information page, which includes details of fees and Medicare rebates. Consultations take place in Self Psychology rooms, 5 Woolcock St, Hyde Park, Townsville or Dr Tucker’s rooms in Cranbrook. Telehealth may be an option if travel is difficult or you do not live in Townsville. If you have questions, please get in touch via email admin@dannytucker.net, call 07 4448 4810 or SMS 0419 632 654.

If you have physical injuries that have not healed, there is more information about where to go here. Image used with kind permission of 4am_doodles.