Why is Matters to Integrate Prenatal Sciences in Psychotherapy

It is not too difficult to get the skeletons out of the closet with people, but to get the gold out is a different matter. That is therapy. Psychology is the Art of finding the gold of the spirit as Robert Johnson says. And the psychotherapists who continue to grow and heal are precious. They are the gold-miners and the soul artists.

THE BENEFITS
Integrating prenatal sciences and psychology into a psychotherapist’s practice can offer several benefits:

1. Comprehensive understanding: By integrating prenatal sciences, psychotherapists gain a deeper understanding of the psychological, epigenetic, physiological, neurological, and developmental processes that occur at conception if not earlier, during pregnancy, at birth and early infancy. This knowledge allows them to provide more informed and effective therapeutic interventions, cutting down the therapy time needed as they skip beating about the bush and focusing on the essential, nuclear and fundamental primal patterns imprinted on the person’s psyche.
2. Addressing prenatal and perinatal issues: Integrating prenatal sciences and psychology enables psychotherapists to address prenatal and perinatal issues that may impact an individual’s emotional well-being. They can explore the psychological implications of events that occurred during the prenatal and birth periods, helping clients resolve potential traumas or unresolved conflicts.
3. Supporting maternal/paternal mental health: Psychotherapists who integrate prenatal sciences and psychology can provide specialized support for maternal/paternal mental health concerns, such as perinatal mood disorders, pregnancy-related anxiety, or birth trauma. They can offer appropriate therapeutic interventions and help individuals navigate the emotional challenges of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.
4. Bonding and attachment: Understanding the psychological aspects of bonding and attachment in the prenatal and postpartum periods allows psychotherapists to help individuals develop secure and healthy attachments with their babies. They can address attachment-related concerns and provide guidance on building strong parent-infant relationships.
5. Trauma-informed care: Integrating psychology into their practice enables psychotherapists to provide trauma-informed care during the perinatal period. They can recognize the potential impact of prenatal or birth traumas on a person’s mental health and implement therapeutic approaches that promote healing and resilience.

THEIR WORK IS DIFFERENT

Psychotherapists who have integrated prenatal sciences and psychology into their practice differ from their colleagues who have not studied even the basics of the findings within the field of Prenatal Sciences. Below you can see some of these differences:

1. Specialized knowledge: Psychotherapists who integrate prenatal sciences and psychology have specialized knowledge about the psychological and emotional aspects of the pre/perinatal period. They are familiar with the unique challenges, experiences, and transitions individuals may face during the primal period or their gestation or if parents during pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. Thus, they can immediately spot the traces of the early primal trauma in the narratives, personal myths, body structure, gestures, behavior etc. and they can easily decode the meanings and respond accordingly.
2. Understanding of attachment and bonding: Psychotherapists with knowledge of prenatal sciences and psychology can better understand the dynamics of attachment and bonding between parents prenates and infants or later on in the quality of relationships they present. They can help clients navigate attachment-related issues, promote healthy bonding, and address potential disruptions in the parent-child relationship.
3. Trauma-informed approach: Psychotherapists who have integrated prenatal sciences and psychology into their practice are equipped to provide trauma-informed care for clients who have experienced prenatal or birth traumas. They can recognize trauma symptoms, facilitate healing, and support individuals in their journey towards post-traumatic and past-traumatic growth.
4. Tailored support care: Integrating prenatal sciences and psychology allows psychotherapists to offer tailored support and treatment approaches that specifically address the unique needs and experiences of clients during the pre/perinatal period. They can develop customized treatment plans that support the mental health and well-being of individuals and families or environments. Having and cultivating a strong person-centred approach, they have the tools to support the client connect with their inner resources, deep wisdom and re-establish the balance lost.
5. Collaboration with perinatal care providers: Psychotherapists who integrate prenatal sciences and psychology can collaborate more effectively with perinatal care providers, such as midwives, obstetricians, or doulas. This collaboration promotes coordinated care, enhances communication, and ensures a comprehensive approach to minimize possible harm or damage on the neonate due to ignorance from the part of health practitioners present during the pre/perinatal stage and at the same time support the parent’s mental health during these transition stages, labor included.

THE CHANGES

To accommodate the understanding that an unborn child is a sentient being and an active participant at the moment of birth, such a psychotherapist may make the following changes:

1. Language and communication: Psychotherapists may adjust their language to acknowledge the presence of the unborn child and their potential awareness during the therapeutic process. They may encourage parents to communicate with their baby during sessions and help facilitate a sense of connection and recognition between the parent and the (un)born child.
2. Preparing for birth and parenting: Psychotherapists can assist clients in emotionally preparing for birth by addressing the unborn child as a participant in the process. They can explore the parent’s expectations, fears, and hopes, promoting a sense of readiness for the baby’s arrival and the transition to parenthood. At the same time, such psychotherapists can bring to the surface the unresolved issues from that stage as they continue to manifest in the client’s life and help the adult client be reborn integrating the golden treasures hidden in the pain experienced.
3. Supporting parental bonding: Psychotherapists can provide guidance and care systems that support the parent-prenate/infant bond both during pregnancy and after birth. This may involve promoting prenatal psychology clinical tools, mindfulness exercises, visualizations, or therapeutic techniques that facilitate a sense of connection and bonding between the parent and the unborn child.
4. Addressing prenatal and birth trauma: Psychotherapists can address any potential prenatal or birth traumas experienced by the client or the unborn child. They may utilize pre/perinatal trauma-focused therapies that recognize the unborn child’s role in the trauma and work towards healing and resolution.
5. Holons into holons approach: Prenatal Psychotherapists see the natural laws as they are in physics and recognize their existence in the ancestral, familial or social systems. They can explore family dynamics, intergenerational patterns, and the impact of the unborn child’s presence on the specific family system in the specific time/ space.

THE IMPACT
Integrating prenatal sciences and psychology in a psychotherapist’s practice can have several impacts:

For the client:

• Most effective psychotherapeutic support as it is fast, accurate, up to the point, saving the client time otherwise spent in pain or fear of pain and re-establishment of the lost balance. The betterment in the psychomental and physical health is obvious, there to stay and the relationship with the self and the other or the world comes back to the positive. Thus, clients are able to revisit their lives and see new meaning where there was frustration, isolation or pain that did not make sense.
• Better management of perinatal mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or trauma-related disorders until healing takes place.
• Improved mental health support during the perinatal period, addressing prenatal and postpartum concerns not only from the point of view of my own pre/perinatal stage but when I become the parent ready to give birth to my children.
• Enhanced understanding and validation of the unborn child’s experiences and emotional needs.
• Increased empowerment, self-awareness, and emotional preparedness for birth and parenting.
• Strengthened attachment and bonding with the unborn child, promoting healthy parent-infant relationships.

For the family:

• Increased emotional well-being and support for the entire family unit during the perinatal journey.
• Enhanced communication, understanding, and empathy within the family system. Parents are soon to be realized not as the bad guys and carriers of misfortune but as those who support us on our evolutionary journey.
• Improved parent-infant bonding and attachment dynamics.
• Addressing and healing prenatal and birth-related traumas that may impact the whole family or professional environment.
• Promotion of a nurturing and supportive environment for the unborn child’s emotional well-being so that epigenetically, our children can have a better chance.

For the society:

• Heightened awareness and recognition of the psychological well-being of pregnant individuals and unborn children.
• Improved mental health outcomes for parents and infants, potentially reducing the long-term societal costs associated with untreated perinatal mental health issues.
• Enhanced family-centered care and support, fostering a positive parenting environment.
• Greater understanding and respect for the emotional needs and experiences of unborn children.
• Promotion of compassionate and inclusive care practices within the healthcare system.

For global peace:

By acknowledging the unborn child as a sentient being and active participant, integrating prenatal sciences and psychology in psychotherapy can contribute to a more peaceful and respectful society as this can lead to increased empathy, understanding, and emotional well-being of individuals during the perinatal period, elements that can foster peace, harmony, and the well-being within families and communities. Reducing violence and disrespect and when already there healing it can gradually release the anger and hatred that is re-activated in wars, conflicts and crises and contribute to the factors that are peace contributors and civilization creators which can only happen when there is enough healing, resilience, and peaceful relationships.

PSYCHOTHERAPISTS MATTER

Psychotherapists play a significant role in supporting mental health and well-being. Here are some reasons why psychotherapists matter:

1. Mental health support: Psychotherapists provide specialized support and interventions to individuals experiencing mental health concerns, helping them navigate challenges, develop coping strategies, and promote emotional well-being.
2. Therapeutic practices: Psychotherapists employ evidence-based therapeutic approaches to address a wide range of psychological issues, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, and more. They help clients explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, fostering personal growth and resilience.
3. Holistic approach: Psychotherapists consider the interconnectedness of an individual’s thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and experiences. They take a holistic approach to mental health, recognizing the influence of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors on a person’s well-being.
4. Personal growth and self-awareness: Psychotherapists facilitate personal growth by providing a safe and supportive space for individuals to explore their thoughts, emotions, and life experiences. They help clients develop self-awareness, gain insight, and make positive changes in their lives.
5. Relationship dynamics: Psychotherapists assist clients in understanding and navigating relationship dynamics. They help individuals develop healthier communication patterns, resolve conflicts, and build fulfilling and supportive relationships.
6. Trauma recovery: Psychotherapists play a crucial role in supporting individuals who have experienced trauma. They provide trauma-informed care, helping clients process and heal from traumatic experiences, and supporting them in their journey toward post-traumatic growth.
7. Mental health advocacy: Psychotherapists advocate for mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and promote access to quality mental health care. They work to ensure that individuals receive the support and resources they need to thrive mentally, emotionally, and socially.
8. Collaboration with other healthcare professionals: Psychotherapists often collaborate with other healthcare providers, such as physicians, psychiatrists, and social workers, to provide comprehensive care for their clients. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that clients receive integrated and holistic support.
9. Supporting life transitions: Psychotherapists help individuals navigate various life transitions, such as pregnancy, parenthood, career changes, loss, and major life events. They provide guidance, emotional support, and coping strategies to assist clients in adjusting to new circumstances.
10. Enhancing overall well-being: By addressing mental health concerns, providing support, and promoting personal growth, psychotherapists contribute to the overall well-being of individuals, families, and communities. They play a crucial role in helping people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Psychotherapists matter because they provide essential support for mental health, facilitate personal growth, and contribute to the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. For all these, we express our gratitude.