PERINATAL & PARENT-INFANT SERVICES
In Berkhamsted
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At The Lotus Psychology Practice, our clinical and counselling psychologists offer specialist perinatal and parent-infant mental health services for people in Berkhamsted and Hertfordshire. We provide compassionate, evidence-based psychological support for individuals, couples, and families during the perinatal period — from preconception and pregnancy through childbirth and the early years of parenthood.​​
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What Are Perinatal & Parent-Infant Services?
The perinatal period spans conception, pregnancy, up to 12-24 months after birth, and includes the transition to parenthood and early bonding with your baby.
The journey for many can often begin with significant challenges; whether this relates to fertility challenges, IVF, donor or surrogacy use, high-risk pregnancy, fear of birth or emerging difficulties relating to past trauma.
Birth can present many further difficulties, including birth trauma, early separation from your baby or for some, loss and bereavement.
The transition to parenthood is marked by many emotions. It can present emotional challenges, stress, or mental health concerns such as anxiety, low mood, trauma, or difficulties in adjusting to parenting. Our services are designed to help you navigate this important life phase with understanding and support, tailored to your unique experiences and family context.
How Can We Support You in Your Journey
Post-Natal Support
Becoming a parent is often described as one of life’s most joyous experiences—but for many, it also brings loneliness, anxiety and a loss of identity.
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The transition to parenthood brings immense change—physically, emotionally, and socially.
Common postnatal difficulties may include postnatal depression, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or birth trauma.
With specialist Psychologists providing individualised and evidence-based therapy, we are able to support individuals and couples during conception difficulties, pregnancy, following a traumatic birth or if your baby has additional health complications or required neonatal intensive care.
Baby Loss
Our team are able to provide support in cases of perinatal loss, whether this is through miscarriage, still birth, neonatal death or parenting a child in palliative care.
Perinatal loss is often traumatic and isolating experience, which can have a significant impact on individuals, couples and wider family. It can lead to high levels of anxiety, depression, trauma and lead to disruption in relationships.
We are able to support parents who are considering pregnancy in the context of prior baby loss, which can be a time of heightened anxiety.
Parent-Infant Attachment
We know that early care and the bond between parents and babies or infants has lifelong implications for how children learn, their emotional regulation, behaviour and future relationship.
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Safe, secure and attuned parenting has a profound positive effect on infants brain development, their bond, attachment security and template for relationships.
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For many reasons, parents may struggle to bond with their baby, particularly following a difficult or traumatic birth. Becoming a parent is often described as one of life’s most joyous experiences—but for many, it also brings great changes, including mental health difficulties and a loss of identity.
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Our Psychologists are trained in supporting parent-infant attachment difficulties and relationship challenges during parenthood. This can help to support parents who may be struggling with their sense of individual identity, managing the changes in relationships or bonding with their child. ​
Our Therapy Process
Prior to your first appointment, you will be asked to complete standardised and validated questionnaire measures, which are used to inform the assessment. A comprehensive psychological assessment is completed across the first two sessions. This helps us to develop a shared understanding of your current difficulties.​ Following an assessment, you will receive a full report, which includes individualised recommendations and resources, as well as an agreed therapeutic plan and individual goals.
Based on the assessment, we will agree the most appropriate therapeutic approach, tailored to you. Psychologists are trained across multiple therapeutic modalities, and the approaches are integrated based on an individuals unique needs. All therapies at The Lotus Psychology Practice are informed by scientific research and are and in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.
