Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers—strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.”
– Barbara Katz Rothman

Being With Birth: An Embodied Inquiry
A compassionate space to explore, feel, and honor your birth experience through gentle trauma-informed somatic awareness and embodiment.
​Birth experiences, no matter how they unfolded, leave lasting imprints in our bodies. Whether your birth was empowering, traumatic, or somewhere in between, those feelings don’t just disappear, they live in us, shaping how we feel, move, and relate to ourselves as mothers.​
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If you've ever wondered whether something from your birth story is still holding you back or yearning to be learned, this space is for you. A donation-based offering for any mother who feels called to explore their birth experience through the wisdom of the body.
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What Is Somatic Awareness and Embodiment?
Somatic awareness is the practice of tuning into the sensations, emotions, and wisdom stored in the body. Embodiment goes a step further—it’s about learning to trust and move with that wisdom, rather than overriding it with our minds. This is especially powerful for birth integration because so much of the birth experience lives beyond words, held in the nervous system and the body’s deep memory.
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​In my work supporting mothers, I knew I wanted to tend more deeply to what I was seeing and hearing in circle, the ways matrescence was shaped by what lingered from birth experiences. Some women had words for it, while others carried something unspoken, a felt sense of what remained unresolved. I could feel that something was missing. I worried that there was unneccessary heartache from the limited ways and opportunities to even begin to process everything that had happened.
My own experience with somatic awareness showed me a way in, a way to listen to the body’s stories when words aren’t enough. It led me to get certified as a Focalizing Practitioner, giving me the tools to support this exploration in a trauma-informed way. When I trained in Focalizing, I had a deep knowing that this was the missing piece in my work with mothers. Again and again, I had seen women carrying the weight of their birth experiences and just knew there had to be another way..
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Perhaps this feels familiar...
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It's felt too painful—or too complicated—to talk about what happened.
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You find yourself dissociating from parts of your birth story or worrying you haven’t processed it fully.
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You feel disconnected from your body or unsure how to trust it again.
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​You want to reconnect with the strength and power you felt, to carry that energy into your motherhood journey.
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You feel bad for being disappointed or annoyed about how things played out because you have so much to be grateful for.
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Even though you know you did everything you could, a part of you still carries guilt and wonders if it would have been different if you had just done something more.
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There is fear and anxiety about future pregnancies or births because something about your birth experience still feels unresolved.
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You notice lingering physical sensations—like tension, pain, or numbness—that seem tied to your birth experience but you’re not sure how or what to do.
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If any of this resonates, you are not alone. Research shows that up to 45% of women describe their birth experience as traumatic and reclaiming your story matters. I believe all mothers deserve this space and support to honor what happened. Without it, birth stories can feel heavy or incomplete, making it hard to move forward with the clarity and peace you deserve. While it’s common for mothers to feel guilt, regret, or even trauma surrounding their birth, it doesn’t have to be the norm. You are deserving of the space to process and make sense of what happened. Just because something is common doesn’t mean it should define your experience or hold you back from feeling at peace in your mothering journey.
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​​What to Expect?
Being with Birth invites you to explore your unique birth story in a way that honors the complexity of what you went through. We will sit together and many people describe the practice as similar to a guided vizualization or meditation. The main difference is that you will be sharing your experiences as we go along, you're always in the driving seat of what happens while I guide. This offering is not about revisiting painful memories but rather creating a space for your body to share what it’s been holding and for you to reclaim your inner strength and power. ​
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This offering includes two sessions, each dynamic and responsive to your needs:
Session One (up to 90 minutes): We begin by setting an intention for this exploration and gently dropping into a practice. The extra time allows spaciousness—if sharing your birth story feels helpful, there’s room for that, but it’s absolutely not required. We may start with grounding or movement to create a sense of safety, or we might go straight into the practice. Most importantly, we move at your pace, ensuring that you always feel supported and resourced.
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Session Two (60-80 minutes): This is a space to integrate. You may want to verbally process what came up in the first session, or you might find that another practice feels more supportive. Together, we’ll follow what feels right for you and your nervous system, co-creating a session that meets you where you are.
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Every step of this process is about reconnecting with your body’s wisdom and giving yourself the space to honor what remains. You don't need to be fixed, no matter how long ago your birth was, if something in you is ready to explore it now, that’s enough. ​​​​
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Louise helped me clarify my intention to soften my body and find more peace regarding my birth experience. I wasn't expecting for that sense of peace to come flowing in so quickly. Of course it was temporary, but I think it provided a sense of hope that my body is in a place where I can experience safety and peace again.
After spending about a year in therapy for my birth trauma and still feeling like I haven't processed it enough, I loved the idea of processing through the body, instead of talk therapy.
The biggest impact it had on me was the realization of how disconnected I was to my body. IT encouraged me to seek out movement again and i'm now going to Pilates a few times a week!
I've been feeling a sense of sadness and frustration as I think back over my experience of childbirth and frankly just wishing things had been different. I've been feeling stuck in that space, unable to accept what happened. Ive talked about it in therapy but I was curious to see what a different approach would feel like. Offerings from Louise always feel so supportive and aligned.
A note on pricing - why donations based?
I want this work to be accessible to all mothers because I believe that when we process and integrate the lessons from our birth stories, we reclaim our power as mothers. That healing ripples out, strengthening our families and shaping a more grounded, compassionate world. If you feel called to work together, I invite you to offer what you can while honoring the value of this work.
A suggested donation range is $75–$175 per session or $225–$525 for the full series, but any contribution that feels aligned and available to you is genuinely welcome. Please know that if you’re able to pay at a higher rate, you’re helping to make this work more accessible for others.
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Why a 2 session minimum?
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What I’ve learned is that this work can bring up deep insights and emotions. Scheduling two sessions close together (within a week) allows us to revisit and deepen the process, helping you integrate what comes up more fully.
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Disclaimer
This offering is not a replacement for mental health or clinical treatment. If you are currently experiencing PTSD or significant distress related to your birth experience, I encourage you to seek support from a licensed mental health professional or trauma specialist.
'Being with Birth: An Embodied Inquiry' is a gentle, somatic exploration designed to support curiosity and awareness. While it may complement other forms of care, it is not a substitute for therapy or medical treatment. Your well-being and safety are the priority, and this space is intended to work within your capacity in a supportive and non-clinical way.
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Is this therapy?No, I am not providing these services as a licensed therapist and they are not intended to substitute the advice, treatment and/or diagnosis of a qualified licensed professional. Although I am trained as an Occupational Therapist I will not be acting as your therapist if you choose to work with me as a matrescence guide. However, the support I provide incorporates therapeutic techniques, frameworks, and approaches that I am trained in, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and the Model of Human Occupation, to provide an understanding of your needs and move through the change process.
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How will sessions benefit me?We don’t have to live with the all the mom guilt, rage, loneliness, confusion, and exhaustion. During our sessions we will complete powerful exercises tailored to your needs, so you can understand and thrive in your matrescence. These will empower you to do things such as reconnect with your core values, uncover how and why guilt or shame show up for you, practice radical self-compassion, enhance executive functioning skills to help manage the competing demands and mental load, explore career transitions, connect to resources, build your village, and most importantly commit to action steps that reclaim your authentic self. I will be there for you to provide accountability for the change you desire and become the woman and mama you aspire to be.
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How many sessions do I need to do?This will largely depend on what is revealed during the mapping process, the goals you identify, and your commitment to the work. Broadly speaking you are likely to see desirable results completing 4 - 12 sessions.
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What will we actually do in our sessions?Using the understanding and framework of matrescence I will guide you through a process of mapping your own unique journey through motherhood and creating an action plan to navigate the road up ahead. Some sessions we may be sitting down together using discussion, reflection, and storytelling, or completing paper-based/digital tools, whilst others movement or meditation may be useful, it will all depend on what we discover. Know that you will come away from each session feeling lighter, more intentional, and clear on your next steps. Still have questions – schedule a connection call.
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How often will I need to meet with you?It is ideal if you are able to commit to weekly or bi-weekly sessions, especially at the start of our work together, to maintain momentum and progress towards your goals but I know you’re busy mama and we will agree a cadence that suits your needs and schedule. I can also offer some text or email-based support between sessions, which we will discuss and personalize based on your needs and wants.
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What is the cost?My hourly rate is $111 but I also offer monthly packages that we can discuss during our connection call. I want to reach as many women as possible to support them to thrive throughout their matrescence, if finances are a concern I do offer a sliding scale fee option.
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Still have questions?Reach out and let's connect. Remember, we're in this together!