Birth Trauma Counselling in Wellington

Service – Birth Trauma Support

A Safe Space to Process Your Birth Experience

A difficult, distressing or overwhelming birth experience can continue to affect your emotional and physical wellbeing long after the birth itself.

Birth trauma counselling provides a safe and supportive space to explore and process your experience. I offer compassionate birth trauma counselling in Wellington for people experiencing anxiety, anger, disappointment, powerlessness or unresolved emotions following birth.

Support is also available for experiences connected with miscarriage, stillbirth, fertility difficulties, abortion and other aspects of pregnancy, birth and parenting.

With more than 30 years of experience as a midwife, alongside my trauma-informed counselling background, I understand both the clinical and emotional sides of birth. Sessions are available in Wellington, including home visits where appropriate, or online throughout New Zealand.

I am here to support you with feelings of powerlessness, lack of control, confusion, anger or disappointment that you may have surrounded your birth experience. Traumatic experiences can impact how you feel about yourself, your partner, and the bond you have with your baby.

I can also support you with trauma around loss and parenting. This includes stillbirth, trouble conceiving, miscarriage, and abortion.

My professional background is in midwifery and trauma informed counselling, and I have three adult children myself. I can help you to unravel your birthing experience, compassionately listen to, and validate your feelings. I’m here to help you process what happened to you, and to assist you to positively move forward. I can support you with practical tools that help you with your physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental wellbeing. I can also support you to plan for a positive next birthing experience.

I am based in Wellington, New Zealand. I can gently guide in person in your home, or in my clinic rooms. Or we can meet together by phone or zoom anywhere in New Zealand or internationally.

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Call Us Anytime

021 2324503

Email Us Anytime

fiona.changeup@gmail.com

Right For You

Who This Support Is For

This service may be helpful if you:

  • Feel powerless, out of control, or confused about your birth experience.
  • Are experiencing anger, disappointment, or unresolved emotions after birth.
  • Are struggling with how your experience has affected your sense of self.
  • Feel a shift or strain in your relationship with your partner.
  • Are finding it difficult to connect or bond in the way you expected.
  • Have experienced trauma related to loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion.
  • Are navigating challenges around fertility or trouble conceiving.
  • Want to gently process and make sense of what happened to you.

You do not need a diagnosis or a specific “level” of trauma to seek support—your experience matters.

Support You Can Trust

How I Can Support You

Process your experience safely

Talk openly without judgment

Reduce anxiety and overwhelm

Rebuild confidence and trust

Support connection and wellbeing

Support from Someone Who Understands

Why Choose Me

  • 30+ years as a midwife.
  • Skilled Mental Health and Addiction Clinician.
  • Trauma-informed approach.

“I combine professional knowledge with genuine care and understanding”.

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Testimonial

What my clients have said

  • My unravelling birth trauma sessions were valuable. I was able to start processing the trauma at a level I have not done or been taught to do, in a healthy manner. It has left me feeling empowered and ready to let go of those things I couldn't control. I can look at my beautiful little boy and know I did everything I could in that moment.
    Rebecca

Find answers to common questions 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma is the emotional and psychological impact of a distressing or overwhelming birth experience. It’s not only about what happened medically, but how the experience felt to you.

You may notice feelings such as anxiety, flashbacks, low mood, or difficulty processing your birth experience. If your experience is still affecting you, support can help.

No, you don’t need a diagnosis. If your birth experience continues to impact your wellbeing, you are welcome to seek support.

Counselling provides a safe space to talk through your experience, process difficult emotions, and reduce distress, helping you move forward with greater confidence and calm.

This varies for each person. Some people benefit from a few sessions, while others prefer ongoing support. We will decide together what feels right for you.

It’s never too late. Whether your experience was recent or many years ago, you can still benefit from support and healing.

No. You can go at your own pace. You are always in control of what you share and when.

Yes. Birth trauma support can help you process past experiences and feel more prepared and confident about future pregnancies or births.

Birth trauma counselling can support anyone who feels their birth experience was traumatic, distressing or did not meet their expectations. It can also help people who have experienced baby loss, including stillbirth, miscarriage or abortion, as well as those facing infertility.

Yes. Partners can receive individual support, or you can attend counselling together as a couple.

Yes. Home visits are available within the Wellington region. Sessions can also take place at the clinic.

Yes. Sessions are available online or by phone, providing flexible support for people throughout New Zealand.

Your first session provides a safe and supportive opportunity to share your birth story and talk about how the experience has affected you. The session will be guided at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Crisis Support

Please note that I am not a crisis or emergency service. 

For any mental health crisis, or physical health emergency, or immediate safety concern, please refer to the crisis support options below. If you are feeling 

overwhelmed, unsafe or in a life-threatening emergency, please reach out to the appropriate service that can support you now, they are available 24/7.

Healthline : 0800611116
Need to Talk? :  Txt or call 1737
Emergency : 111

Mental Health Crisis Team

Wellington, Hutt Valley or Kapiti – 0800745477
Wairarapa – 0508432432

For other local crisis services, youth services, sexual harm support, family violence support, and mental health services across Aotearoa, please see page ten Mental Health Foundation National Helplines Directory

Counselling Options

 

Introductory Conversation

If it’s your preference you are welcome to have an introductory conversation by phone or in person for up to 30 minutes. The purpose of this would be to see if you feel we are a good fit, and for me to answer any of your questions.

Cost

Sessions are for 60 minutes and cost $130.

Sessions are invoiced at the end of each session. You can pay by cash or internet banking. If paying by cash, please bring the exact amount as I don’t carry change.

You may choose to have counselling short or long term. You are welcome to pause if you prefer and start again whenever you wish.

Cancellations

If something comes up for you and you need to change or cancel, please give at least 24 hours’ notice wherever possible. If something comes up for you on the day unexpectedly, please let me know as soon as you can.  Missed appointments without notice will usually incur a fee of the cost of the session for self-funded clients. If this situation becomes relevant, we will talk it through together.