A team of clinical psychologists and parent infant psychotherapists offers brief psychological interventions for parents expecting a baby and parents with a baby in the first year who are finding the transition to parenthood challenging.

The service provides a safe place for parents or expectant parents to share in confidence their thoughts and feelings about becoming a parent. It aims to improve the emotional wellbeing of parents, enabling them to develop positive relationships with their baby.

Appointments are usually offered individually, with an average of six to 12 sessions.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

Mothers and/or fathers with:

• low mood and depression that is having an impact on coping and feelings about being a parent
• anxiety in the form of worries, panic, fears, obsessions or sleep difficulties
• issues to do with parent/baby bonding
• losses and gains, such as change in role and loss in relation to work, socialising or other aspects of life
• parents' own memories of being parented that may be difficult or upsetting, and hopes for parenting differently
• babies up to two years old

Exclusions

• parents with severe postnatal depression or chronic or severe mental health problems should be referred to the North London Partners Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (SPMHS).

How to Refer

Locations

Parent & Baby Psychology Service