What Happens in the Sessions?

Body-Centered Hypnosis for Birth



1st Session: Intake Interview & Prenatal Bonding Hypnosis

: We will explore your concerns about labor, birth, pain, mothering, career, relationship and family issues. We'll also discuss any past childbirth experiences you may have had as well as life events which may impact your beliefs and attitudes toward labor and birth, parenthood, and relationship changes. We will also do a prenatal bonding hypnosis during this session.

2nd Session: Body-Centered Hypnosis for Birth

: Using progressive relaxation, guided imagery, and various hypnotherapy techniques, we will address the issues from the intake and anything of current concern. You are awake and in control the entire time. I merely help you hypnotize yourself by inducing a trance state where we can communicate with your subconscious and make suggestions and gain important information. This session is like a practice for birth; anticipating the intense sensations of labor and giving your body and mind an opportunity to imagine breathing through it. Creating a body memory of an event that hasn't happened yet, like training for a marathon. I'll provide you with a recording of your birth visualization so you can practice up until the birth, increasing the effectiveness. "Practice makes perfect!"; If you are anticipating a cesarean, this visualization can be very powerful in hastening your recovery from surgery. It is also aimed at coming to terms with any issues you may forsee about the upcoming birth or postpartum period, making way for an easier transition while you heal.

3rd Session: Learning to Utilize Your Natural Pain Coping Techniques

: The goal is mastery over pain, not avoidance of it, a skill that can be used in many ways beyond childbirth. We will learn what your natural coping style is and you can practice what works best for you during simulated contractions. This knowledge increases your confidence in your ability to handle labor. If your partner joins you for this session, he/she will also learn how best to help by encouraging your own instinctive style instead of relying on more generic methods which may even hinder or block your body's preferred ways of coping with pain. This session can be very enlightening for both moms and dads or partners.


4th Session: Postpartum Adjustment
: About 3-4 weeks after your baby is born, we will meet to talk about your birth and postpartum adjustment. This is a safe and supportive place to talk about the intensity of your labor experience and how you are adjusting to the demands of caring for a newborn. This is an important session which can help you to process positive and negative feelings about the birth, integrating that into your new identity as a mother. You may invite other family members to attend or use this session for yourself, but I highly encourage you to bring your baby. Information about community resources and support services will be provided to you. We'll also do a quick questionnaire to screen for signs of postpartum depression and if it seems appropriate I can give you referrals for practitioners who are experienced in diagnosing and treating Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Disorders. PPMD's are not routinely screened for by most health care providers, yet are quite common. Fortunately, there IS help and and women with PPMD respond very well to appropriate treatment by qualified professionals.

Additional sessions may be added if desired.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER--HAVE AN EMPOWERING BIRTH!