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Birth Story Processing

Birth story processing sessions are geared towards women who feel there is more they can learn about their birth in order to move forward from the disappointment, grief, trauma, or fear. These sessions can benefit women who have talked to friends and family about their birth, and constantly find themselves going back to certain components of the birth that do not feel worked through.

My goal is to guide you towards deeper insights and a path forward, whether it's letting go of your previous birth to plan another birth or to fully engage in motherhood.

Book a free 15-min consultation
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What's included

Birth Story Processing is $350 for a 60-minute session. For most mothers, this is a focused, short-term process, and 1–3 sessions are typically enough to explore what happened, understand what still feels emotionally unfinished, and begin making sense of the experience in a different way.

Every session includes:

  1. Before your session

    Preparation email

    A preparation email ahead of your session, including what materials to bring.

  2. Your session

    60 minutes of processing

    A full hour dedicated to your birth story, gently guided by Dr. Rebecca Branda.

  3. After your session

    Resources for next steps

    Resources to support your next steps once your session is complete.

A mother lifting her baby in the air, in profile

What is birth story processing?

Birth story processing is a gentle, guided exploration of your birth experience, whether it was recent or years ago. It's a space to tell your story, in your own words, without judgment, minimizing, or needing to make it sound okay.

Many people carry unspoken feelings after birth: grief, confusion, anger, guilt, or a deep sense of disconnection. Birth story processing gives those feelings a voice. It's not about retelling the facts, it's about honoring the meaning your birth holds for you, and finding clarity and healing in how it lives in your body and memory today.

At Birth Feelings, we believe your story deserves to be witnessed with care. Birth story processing is often the first step in reclaiming your experience and making peace with what happened.

A mother holding her young daughter by the hand at the edge of the water

What can I expect from birth story processing?

You'll begin by sharing your birth story in a way that feels natural to you: spoken, written, or through imagery or emotion. Dr. Rebecca Branda will gently guide the session, helping you explore the moments that feel charged or unresolved.

Together, you'll begin to identify how your birth experience may be impacting your current emotional landscape: your sense of self, your relationship with your baby or body, or your ongoing fears or triggers.

Throughout the process, you'll be supported in making meaning, integrating what happened, and softening the emotional weight you may be carrying. This is not about forcing closure; rather, it's about feeling more whole and connected to the story you hold.

You don't need to relive your trauma to begin healing, you just need a safe place to be heard.

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Birth Story Processing

  • Is birth story processing coaching or therapy?

    Birth story processing is coaching. Birth trauma coaching and therapy can both offer meaningful support after a difficult or traumatic birth, but they serve different purposes. Therapy is a clinical service designed to assess and treat mental health concerns, including symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression, or PTSD. It may involve deeper exploration of past experiences, patterns, and emotional responses, as well as evidence-based trauma treatment such as EMDR when appropriate. Birth trauma coaching is not psychotherapy and does not diagnose or treat a mental health condition. Instead, it is a more focused, present- and future-oriented form of support. Coaching can help you make sense of your birth experience, identify what still feels unresolved, prepare for a future pregnancy or birth, clarify what you want to communicate with your medical team, and feel more grounded and empowered moving forward. For some women, coaching is enough; for others, the intensity or persistence of trauma symptoms may make therapy the more appropriate level of care.

Birth Feelings provides birth story processing and therapy for women navigating postpartum mental health, birth trauma, and the challenges of maternal identity. Dr. Rebecca Branda, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in California. This page is for informational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.

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