Counselling for psychosis

[CaroN57]

Do anyone have a zoom recommendation for counselling or psychologist with psychosis experience? I want to talk about the traumatic experience of labour and the afterwards before I received helped. I have a current councillor but she has no experience in it. I been reliving the labour and the Psychosis and it's not fun, I want help.

[Jocelyn_at_APP Partner APP]

Hi CaroN57,

Thank you for reaching out to us. I'm so sorry you experienced a traumatic birth and PP - it sounds very similar to my own story 7 years ago. You will get through this and it is such a positive step seeking help.

I notice that you are based in Canada so am unable to recommend any counselors but some resources that may be helpful to you are Postpartum Support International - postpartum.net/get-help/loc....

There is also a non profit organization working to improve perinatal mental health care in Canada, which can be found at this link:

cpmhc.ca/

It might be worth contacting someone off the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association list ( cpca-rpc.ca/counsellor-dire... to see if they have any recommendations or even if your counselor knows of someone? Would you feel comfortable asking them?

Thinking of you.

Jocelyn

[CaroN57 in reply to Jocelyn_at_APP]

I contacted all the given options, thank you!

[Pikorua Volunteer in reply to Jocelyn_at_APP]

such great advice, Jocelyn x

[alisonrw Volunteer]

Dear CaroN57

Thank you for getting in touch. I'm sorry to hear that your experience of labour was traumatic, this is so much to go through and process alongside postpartum psychosis. You're absolutely doing the right thing seeking help with processing this trauma.

I'm sorry to hear that you're not connecting with your counsellor. Has your counsellor said that they're unable to work with you on birth trauma and postpartum psychosis as they have has no experience with this? If this is the case, that's a positive that they've been honest and you can move forwards to find another counsellor. I'm sorry I don't know anyone that I can make a personal recommendation for. Is your counsellor able to refer you on to anyone else, sometimes they have networks in a local area? Does your doctor know anyone who deals specifically with birth trauma and/or postpartum psychosis?

Or is it that you are you struggling to connect with your counsellor and getting feelings that they wouldn't understand? If this is the case, would it help to raise this with them? If you are getting on with them more broadly and they are empathetic and caring, they may be able to change their approach if they are aware about how you are feeling and that you are struggling to connect with them. They might just be unaware that you are feeling this way.

I didn't experience full PP, but had a preexisting vulnerability to it due to previous episodes of psychosis outside childbirth. I had counselling to process the trauma of hospitalisation and other things related to psychosis. I also found it difficult to connect with my counsellor at times, as I felt so isolated in my experience and felt that that no one could understand psychosis. I didn't specifically ask if she had worked with people with similar experience to me before and I sensed that she hadn't. However, I felt that she had some good qualities and was able to offer a space for me to speak. A lot of the time I answered my own questions (which led me at times to ask myself what I was paying for!?) but I realise now that this is a sign of a good counsellor. She also gave me some practical coping strategies for related issues such as anxiety.

This being said, if you raise this with your counsellor and are still struggling to connect, looking for an alternative person is a good idea. I think it's important that you feel comfortable with any health care professional and this is often a very personal relationship. You may not get on with the first counsellor that you approach and that's OK. Again I'm sorry I'm not able to make a personal recommendation, but would be happy to speak about my experience of counselling more broadly if this would help. Wishing you all the best of luck with this and I hope you have a relaxing Saturday.

Best wishes

Alison.

[CaroN57]

She haven't said she can't treatment and has great techniques that help me allot with childhood trauma, but specific with psychosis and labour, I feel the same techniques are not working and that they take more time to process... I can try and tell her how I feel, do you recommend something or how did you approached it with yours?

[alisonrw Volunteer in reply to CaroN57]

Hi CaroN57

That's really positive that she has helped you with techniques for childhood trauma, I'm so pleased to hear this. I'm not an expert in counselling, but I think there are a variety of methods and I feel that there is an element of trial and error in it. Your counsellor may have other techniques or approaches that could help with psychosis and labour. Do you feel comfortable enough to ask about other approaches you could try?

I think for me it involved a process of working together to find out what might help and being honest if something wasn't helping or was too distressing. I found this trial and error process frustrating at times, as I too felt like I wasn't making progress. Most of my counselling sessions took quite an open conversational format and I found that saying some of the things that had been turning over in my head out loud to someone not involved in the situation quite helpful. This also involved me answering my own questions quite a few times and my counsellor was very clear that she wasn't able to give me advice or tell me what to do. Although this helped me I also found it frustrating at times, as I so wanted someone to tell me what to do to feel better or find answers. Other times we did more practical things like relaxation techniques, which was a lot more guided.

Again, this is so personal and what worked for me may or may not be the thing that helps you, so I'm not able recommend a particular approach. I think if you're finishing sessions on a regular basis feeling like you haven't connected or are not feeling lighter at all afterwards, the counselling relationship could have reached a point where it might help to find another person or take a break from it for a few weeks (if your arrangement with your counsellor permits this) and contact your doctor if you are struggling with mental health more broadly. However, as you mention your counsellor has helped with techniques for childhood trauma already, which is really positive, so it could help to ask her to adjust or use different techniques.

Wishing you all the best with this and please feel free to get in touch anytime.

Best wishes

Alison.

[CaroN57]

Thank you so much! This makes me confident in asking her openly if we can try different techniques for dealing with my experiences.

[alisonrw Volunteer in reply to CaroN57]

All the best of luck and I hope everything goes well with this and recovery more broadly. Please keep in touch and write again if you feel this would help. There are so many supportive people on this forum that have experience with birth trauma and postpartum psychosis - if you need anything please do ask.

Take care,

Alison.

[Pikorua Volunteer]

Hello Carol,I am so sorry about your struggles and share great compassion.

My case was different as I suffered from PTS, because of the "unreasonable treatment" I received when sectioned in a mixed gender psychiatric hospital. My partner suffered years later, because of our negative experience together and accumulation of further event affecting our mental health.

Coping mechanisms need to be learnt and there are a variety of modalities available. It takes a while to find out which once maybe suitable for your needs as there are such huge varieties in approaches whether it is in mainstream therapy or therapeutic avenues.

When I returned to my own sanctuary that is called home I was not in tune with an art therapist, despite pursuing creativity and art for my own healing journey, which is in a sense ironical. But here I must confess it mattered a lot who that person was. At the time I could not cope with certain people as I had lots of flash backs such as being badly treated by male nurses and particular looks always stopped me from functioning in life.

Much later I had to speak up at my son's nursery as the keyworker was a lady who reminded me of somebody at the hospital, who did not support my needs, mildly expressed! What happened in the past, is of no fault to people who tried to help and support me afterwards.

The following is important:

- trying to communicate about your needs

- searching for support and help within the community and/or health services

- a support network, a combination of health professionals, friends and family you can trust

- learn about options of type of therapies; emotional, cognitive etc.

complementary and alternative medicine:

alternative medical systems

mind body interventions

biologically based treatments

energy therapy

mindfulness of breathing

meditation

Yoga, Tai Chi or QiGong

Homeopathy

Aroma Therapy

EMDR eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (often used for war veterans who suffered trauma)

Hypnotherapy

Reiki

and tons more

We are all different and recovery has to be at our speed and often in stepping stones depending on the severity of the trauma. Life after trauma matters a lot as influential factors play a huge part in your recovery. Mine was affected not only by the hospital experience, but by the loss of two very important family members whilst trying to recover, including living with undiagnosed bipolar.

I did not opt for one to one counselling, but have had quite a few health professionals to get me slowly back on track. I have had group counselling where I learned how to overcome my fear of new environments and people (social and agora). Those individuals did not know PPP, but they were beautiful sensitive human beings who helped me through some tough times.

Peer supporting is a brilliant start and you are already doing it here on the APP forum, well done for reaching out!

In my case I opted for learning my own modalities in order to cope with my chronical conditions. I am a Meditator, Reiki Master, Yoga student and art therapist. I use CBD and aroma therapy. This works for me. It is not easy to self reflect and understand body mind and soul straight away. thus, it is important to find good mentors!

Take good care and be very kind to yourself, hope you can find the support you need right now.

x