Radiant Mama
Birth Trauma and the Need for Therapeutic Support
Pregnancy, birth and the transition into parenthood bring profound physiological and psychological changes. While often described as a joyful time, for many it can also be marked by fear, anxiety, or loss. One in three women report their birth as traumatic, and around 4–5% develop post-traumatic stress disorder after giving birth — that’s up to 30,000 women every year in the UK. Challenges such as birth trauma, perinatal loss, postnatal depression and relationship strain can have lasting effects on family wellbeing if not addressed with timely and compassionate support.
A Gap in Maternal Mental Health Provision
Across the UK, overstretched NHS services mean many parents face long waits or inconsistent access to perinatal mental health care — a postcode lottery. Some feel unable to return to the same system in which their trauma occurred. Community-based, trauma-informed services like Radiant Mama’s provide a vital bridge, offering a safe and holistic approach that helps parents regulate, recover, and rebuild confidence during the first 1,000 days — a critical window for both maternal and infant wellbeing.
Our Therapeutic Offer​
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Radiant Mama offers a donation-based counselling and therapeutic support service for pregnant and birthing people, partners and new parents — from conception through the first three years. Our therapeutic approach draws on a range of modalities to promote wellbeing, resilience and healing from trauma, helping parents navigate the many changes and challenges of this life transition. Support may include pregnancy guidance, postnatal planning, birth recovery, and help with changing relationships or emerging identities. Modalities used include coaching, counselling, trauma release, Havening and Somatic Reclamation.
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Feedback from our counselling service questionnaire highlighted that finances are a significant barrier to accessing support at this time, so we created a donation-based model to make it more accessible. Clients can access a block of up to six sessions with a practitioner, on a donation basis. We suggest contributing between £15–£60 per session, but if this would prevent you from receiving the support you need, please pay what you can, whatever that might be. After the initial block of six, ongoing sessions can continue on a paid or subsidised basis if needed.
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Your donations cover the space and running costs of the service, with any surplus goes to subsidising any follow up sessions. Thanks to previous Lottery funding and successful crowdfunding, we’ve been able to make this support available to all — and we are seeking further Lottery funding for 2026 to continue this work. Accessibility remains at the heart of everything we do: please don’t let finances be a barrier to reaching out.
Client Stories
Rachel's Story
Rachel discovered Radiant Mama after the birth of her second child. She had a block of 5 counselling sessions and 3 parent coaching sessions. The Counselling sessions helped her process and gain clarity over a sequence of traumatic events from mistreatment during the birth of her first child and a subsequent miscarriage. This process supported her to identify the root cause of her jumbled mind and dark thoughts after her second birth: the fear of infant loss resulting in the struggle to bond with her new baby, despite a positive birth. During Counselling a number of holistic approaches helped Rachel, including Havening touch, mind exercises, talking therapy, hormonal nutrition and increasing activities that build oxytocin. Radiant Mama services helped settle her nervous system, reduce her insomnia and anxiety and reassure her thoughts that ´she's not being a terrible parent.´ After the counselling she felt much more settled, bonded with her new child and a greater sense of equilibrium: ´Through the sessions, the pendulum that was my mental state was slowly settling and coming to rest in the centre, feeling balanced by the last one.´ Parenting coaching has focused on her older child and increasing their connection and reducing her child’s anxiety. She’s received tips to support her older child to adjust to having a new sibling. She has also been invited into a listening partnership with another Mother to share their experiences for ongoing support. Various healthcare professionals wanted to refer Rachel to the NHS perinatal mental health team and suggested that antidepressants would be necessary. However Rachel wanted to avoid taking a clinical medical pathway unless absolutely necessary. After being recommended for Radiant Mama counselling, she felt she had been ´turned around in the space of 5 weeks’ and had the integrative support she needed instead. She agreed with her G.P. no further help was needed from the NHS ‘Radiant Mama has transformed my perspective as a parent in so many ways. I suggest any new mother look up what Matrescence is: an enormous transition that encompasses every aspect of your life and body. It's Earth-shattering.’ Rachel
Mena's Story
In early 2025, tragically Mena took her own life when her baby was only 4 months old. Mena had not been recognised by the NHS as someone needing postpartum support, even though a history of mental health problems ran in her family. She had not had access to any counselling or therapeutic services. 

It is believed Mena suffered from Postpartum Psychosis. Her unrecognised suffering and the action she took resulted in the loss of this precious mother and unimaginable grief for those left behind. Many women receive crucial and timely support from the NHS mental health teams. Many more could if the pre and perinatal services had adequate funding and support to do the essential work of caring for the physical and mental health of pregnant and new families. There are brilliant new initiatives being developed which we hope will make a long term difference to the current unmet needs. Sadly in the case of Mena, it will come too late.
Meet our Practitioners
Jo Whitton
~ Parent Coaching ~
I am a Mum and Step Mum, and I was inspired to become a Parenting Coach after finding coaching to be incredibly supportive for my family. I am passionate about family wellbeing and I am now truly grateful to be the founder of Invisible Thread Parent Coaching based here in South Devon.
I have trained with some of the world’s leading parenting experts but most importantly I am a mum who has struggled and navigated my way through severe anxiety, crippling perfectionism, and low confidence in my parenting abilities. As a result of having parent coaching myself, I have managed to overcome these self-limitations and I take joy in experiencing a deeper attachment with my children and an improved co-parenting relationship. Coaching helped me to develop my resilience, tap into my intuition and enjoy being a mum again!
I have a knowledge grounded in child developmental psychology, attachment, and nervous system science with access to some wonderful learning content including short videos and workbooks. Whilst information is powerful, I do intentionally work in partnership with parents to help them to access their own answers to their challenges and support them to make the changes they want in their family relationships in a way that feels right for them.
Typical parenting challenges that I can support you with include sibling relationships, separation difficulties, screen time issues , co-parenting, blended family dynamics, child and parent anxiety and associated symptoms such as controlling behaviour or aggression. I am also experienced in using coaching tools with parents to help them manage their mental health, mindset, and nervous system regulation. I am an experienced facilitator of ‘ The Work of Byron Katie’ which is a transformative thought enquiry practice. 'The Work' helps us to question our stressful thoughts and find meaning and opportunities for growth in every situation, including parenting. It invites us to reframe our experiences, no matter how difficult, as valuable lessons, catalysts for change, or stepping stones toward our personal evolution. I tailor coaching sessions to meet the needs of each family and I will always put the parent- child relationship and the ‘Invisible Thread’ of connection between you, at the heart of any solutions. You can come individually to sessions or come together as co-parents.
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For more information visit: www.invisiblethreadpc.com
Olivia Seck
~ Havening ~
Pregnancy, Birth and early Parenting have been a passion of mine for ever it seems. I attended my first birth at 17, ran my first workshop for expectant mamas at 34 and was a Birth/postnatal doula and doula trainer for over 2 decades.
During that time I also trained in many modalities such as Counselling, Eft,TAT, HypnoBirthing, Hypnotherapy and Coaching and offered those skills in my groups and one to one sessions.
I eventually specialised in pregnancy coaching, facilitating pre and postnatal support groups and supporting women and couples who had experienced Birth trauma.
I discovered Havening at the beginning of the Pandemic, a time when there was so much trauma and mental health challenges in the Birthing Community, whether for expecting and new parents or the professionals attending them. Havening felt like the missing key. So much powerful healing in this gentle tool! It completely changed my practice.
I have been especially touched by the impact of Havening in the field of Birth trauma, but also in promoting resilience in Pregnancy and Motherhood, better births experiences and more harmonious relationships between parents.
Havening, counselling and coaching are now some of my main tools and I use them to create more resourced and happier families for a more peaceful and loving world.
I live in Devon with my older son and his cat, regularly visited by my 3 other grown up children.
I offer one to one sessions in person in Devon, and on Zoom internationally.
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For more information visit: www.oliviaseck.com
Romilly Keen
~ Counselling ~
Pregnancy and the postpartum period can be life-changing, bringing a mix of emotions that are often joyful, challenging, and everything in between. My role as a counsellor is to provide a warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where you can explore your feelings, no matter how complex or overwhelming they may feel.
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I specialise in supporting individuals through the unique challenges of pregnancy and early parenthood. This includes processing decisions around pregnancy choices, navigating the emotions surrounding termination, coping with pregnancy and baby loss, and adjusting to life after birth.
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My approach is Person-Centred and integrates mindfulness, gestalt and CBT techniques to meet you where you are and help you find a way forward that feels right for you. I work gently and collaboratively, creating a space where you feel truly heard and supported.
Whether you’re experiencing grief, anxiety, or a loss of connection with yourself, I’m here to walk alongside you, helping you to process, heal, and rediscover your inner strength.
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Whatever stage you’re at, you don’t have to face it alone. Together, we can navigate these tender and transformative times in a way that brings meaning, support, and hope.
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For more information visit: www.romillykeencounselling.co.uk
07386 707118
romillykeen@gmail.com
Marta Gemma
~ Counselling ~
I am a Transpersonal Arts Counsellor trainee, practising a holistic, client-centred approach to counselling and creative therapies.
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I facilitate and encourage self-discovery, mental and spiritual health, and wellbeing by drawing on a wide range of creative resources connected to our senses, art, crafts, nature, cycles, and story. I have been developing skills and knowledge in working with clients and groups, including areas such as life transformations, grief, loss, the effects of prejudice, trauma, and life transitions, to name a few.
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I have a varied background in arts and design. I was a designer and maker for puppet theatre and worked as a community artist for many years, which led to me becoming a leader and facilitator of creative workshops for community groups with people of all ages.
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I have been working as an Arts for Health and Wellbeing practitioner with groups of young people and am continually creating new groups and workshops.
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I also have experience in mindfulness, herbalism, breath and movement. I believe in compassionate communication and connection, and in the power of relationship — to self, others, nature, art, and mindfulness — for healing.
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Qualifications:
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Currently studying the Level 7 Master’s Degree in Transpersonal Arts Counselling (City & Guilds)
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BA (Hons) in Modelmaking from the Arts University Bournemouth
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Wild Herbal Medicine course with Rhyzome
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Level 1 Award in Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development
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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course
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Peer Group Facilitation Course
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Art and Design Diploma
I work in line with the BACP guidelines and framework. I hold a current enhanced DBS check and attend regular clinical supervision to ensure ethical and professional practice.
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I am passionate about supporting individuals on their unique journey toward self-discovery and healing. I provide a safe, inclusive, and non-judgemental space where clients can explore their emotions and create ways to understand and manage their lives.
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Please feel free to get in touch to find out how I might be able to support you, and to book a free chat.
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Mobile: 07932 942697
Email: marta_gemma@hotmail.com