Birth Trauma & Past Trauma
Therapy in California

When your birth experience left a mark you can't shake

You might look fine on the outside, but inside, the memories still live in your body: replaying, tightening, flooding.

Birth trauma is real. It doesn't require a near-death experience or an emergency to count. If your birth left you feeling scared, unheard, out of control, or violated — that is trauma.

You may find yourself replaying what happened during your birth experience, wondering if things could have gone differently. Perhaps certain sounds, medical settings, conversations, or physical sensations bring you right back to that moment.

Or maybe the trauma began long before birth or parenthood. Past experiences may continue to surface in ways that feel confusing, overwhelming, or difficult to explain.

Your birth experience matters — even if others say it shouldn't

You are not broken. Your mind and body are responding exactly as they were designed to — trying to protect you after something overwhelming.

At Palmetto Psychology Clinic, we provide specialized online therapy for birth trauma, and any past traumatic experiences across California.

Trauma can make you feel stuck in survival mode, long after the event has passed. But healing is possible. We'll help you safely process what happened so you can move forward without being pulled back by the past.

We understand how trauma affects both the mind and body.
If this resonates, you’re not alone, and we can help.

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How Birth Trauma and Past Trauma affect your life:

Women who come to us for birth trauma and trauma therapy often describe things like:

  • "I can't stop replaying my labor and delivery"

  • "I feel like something went wrong during my birth but no one will acknowledge it"

  • "I'm scared to get pregnant again after my last birth"

  • "I don't feel bonded to my baby and I feel so guilty"

  • "I freeze or shut down when I think about what happened"

  • "I feel like I'm always on edge and I don't know why"

  • "I have nightmares or flashbacks about my birth"

  • "I feel disconnected from my body since giving birth"

  • "Something happened to me in the past and I've never really dealt with it"

  • "I know I'm safe now but my body doesn't seem to believe it"

You don't have to have a PTSD diagnosis to deserve support. If it's affecting your life, it's worth talking about.

Common Responses after Trauma

Whether related to birth trauma, medical trauma, childhood experiences, relationship trauma, loss, or other painful life events, trauma often impacts far more than memories alone.

You may notice:

  • Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks

  • Feeling constantly on edge or unable to relax

  • Difficulty sleeping or resting

  • Panic, dread, or racing thoughts

  • Emotional numbness or disconnection

  • Feeling easily overwhelmed

  • Avoidance of reminders of what happened

  • Difficulty trusting yourself, others, or your body

  • Shame, guilt, or self-blame

  • Feeling stuck in survival mode

Reach out

Why Work With Us for Trauma Support

Healing from trauma doesn't mean forgetting what happened. It means it loses its grip on you.

Our clinicians specialize in supporting individuals navigating trauma, anxiety, nervous system dysregulation, and major life transitions.

We understand the complex ways trauma can intersect with:

  • Parenthood and birth experiences

  • Anxiety and panic

  • Grief and loss

  • Identity shifts

  • Relationships

  • Body-based distress

  • Perfectionism and control

With support, healing often looks like:

  • Feeling safer and more grounded in your body

  • Being able to remember what happened without becoming overwhelmed

  • Feeling less controlled by triggers or fear

  • Experiencing more calm, presence, and emotional steadiness

  • Rebuilding trust in yourself

  • Reconnecting with your body and daily life

  • Feeling more available for relationships, parenting, and the present moment

Healing does not mean forgetting what happened.

It means being able to move forward without feeling pulled back by the past.

Book a free consultation

FAQs about Birth Trauma and Trauma Therapy

  • Any birth experience that left you feeling scared, helpless, out of control, or unheard can be traumatic. It doesn't have to be a medical emergency. If it affected you — it counts.

  • More common than most people realize. Studies suggest up to 1 in 3 women describe their birth as traumatic. You are not overreacting.

  • Yes — and this is one of the most painful parts. Difficulty bonding after a traumatic birth is common and treatable. With support, that connection can absolutely grow.

  • Trauma can remain stored in the nervous system for years, even decades. Therapy can still help process and heal these experiences.

  • No. Trauma therapy moves at a pace that feels safe and manageable. There are many ways to process trauma without recounting every detail immediately.

  • Your baby being healthy and your experience being traumatic are not mutually exclusive. Both can be true at the same time. You are allowed to grieve what happened to you.

  • Yes, this is incredibly understandable. Fear of childbirth after trauma is something we work with directly.

    We will can help you process the past experience so a future pregnancy feels less frightening.

  • Absolutely, and this surprises a lot of women. Pregnancy, birth, and new motherhood can trigger unresolved trauma from the past.

    If this is happening to you, you're not going backwards. We will help you process safely and support you through healing, even if trauma happened years ago

  • Right here. A free consultation is just a conversation. You don't have to share everything at once. We'll go at whatever pace feels safe for you.

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FAQs about Therapy at Palmetto

  • Therapy at Palmetto is a collaborative, supportive process.

    Whether you’re seeking help for postpartum anxiety, depression, or challenges in motherhood, we’ll start by getting to know you — your story, your goals, and what feels most important to you right now — to create a therapy plan tailored to your specific circumstances.

    Over time, therapy will help you feel calmer, more grounded, and more connected to yourself and those around you.

    For more about our approach, visit our services page.

  • Finding the right therapist is key to feeling supported and understood. That’s why we start with a free consultation to learn more about what you’re looking for and match you with a clinician who specializes in your specific concerns.

    If it’s not the perfect fit, we’ll help connect you with someone who is.

  • Yes! We exclusively offer telehealth sessions for clients throughout California.

    Many clients, especially new and expecting moms, appreciate the flexibility of virtual sessions. Telehealth allows you to access care from the comfort of your home (and with your baby in your arms!) at a time that works for your ever-changing schedule.

  • Yes! We love seeing your little ones and you are welcome to cuddle, nurse, or contact nap with them during your sessions.

    To maintain your privacy and to ensure you get the most out of therapy, verbal toddlers and older children should not be in the room with you during therapy.

  • Our session fees vary depending on the clinician, type, and length of service.

    Fees reflect the expertise of our highly specialized doctoral-level psychologists. Rates fall within the typical range for private practice therapy in the Bay Area.

    We also offer lower-fee services with our highly trained student therapists.

    We’re happy to discuss your needs and share more about costs during your free consultation.

  • We are an out-of-network therapy practice, which means we do not bill insurance directly.

    Many of our clients receive partial reimbursement from their insurance company for therapy sessions. We provide monthly superbills to make the process simple.

    We recommend checking with your insurance provider about your out-of-network mental health benefits.

    Standard Notice: “Right to Receive a Good Faith Estimate of Expected Charges” Under the No Surprises Act

    You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
    For more information visit CMS.gov.

  • It’s a little different from client to client depending on needs, scheduling, and budget. We generally recommend that all clients start with us on a weekly basis.

    After making some initial progress, some clients will move to a biweekly cadence. As you approach graduation from therapy, you and your provider may elect to space sessions out to meet monthly or on an as-needed basis.

    You and your provider will work together to create a custom treatment plan tailored to your goals and needs.

  • It depends on your goals. Some clients come for short-term therapy to manage postpartum adjustment or anxiety, while others continue longer-term to work through patterns that have built up over time and to cope with the ever-changing challenges of motherhood.

    You and your therapist will collaborate to find a pace and approach that feels right for you and regularly check in about your progress.

  • That’s completely normal. Many clients start therapy uncertain about what they need — they just know something isn’t working.

    You don’t need to have the perfect words or plan to begin. Our therapists are here to meet you where you are and help you find clarity, confidence, and relief.

    If you’re unsure, book a free consultation so we can make recommendations and help you decide whether therapy is the right fit — no strings attached.

  • We offer a free consultation to help you explore whether therapy at Palmetto Psychology Clinic feels like the right fit.

    You can schedule directly through our website, email us at hello@palmettopsychology.com, call us, or send us a text at (628) 285-1745 — we’ll take care of the rest.

Ready to move forward?
Schedule a free consultation!

Our Team

You Don’t Have to Keep Living in Survival Mode

You deserve support that helps you feel safe, present, and fully connected to your life again. Whether you are processing birth trauma, past trauma, or experiences your body still carries, healing is possible.

We offer online postpartum anxiety therapy across California, including San Francisco, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.

Healing is possible, and it starts with one conversation. Book a free consultation and we'll match you with the right therapist for where you are right now.

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