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Hi, I'm Kirstie

I’m a counsellor, trauma specialist, women’s health and wellbeing practitioner and birth professional, supporting women, birthing people and families through some of life’s biggest transitions and challenges.

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For more than 12 years, I have worked alongside families through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Alongside my specialist perinatal work, I also support women navigating the wider experiences that can shape our emotional wellbeing throughout life, from historic domestic and sexual abuse, childhood experiences and late diagnosed neurodivergence, to perimenopause, menopause, identity changes and other women’s health concerns.

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My work brings together therapeutic knowledge, trauma informed practice and extensive experience in women’s health and birth. I offer a warm, down to earth and empathic space where you can make sense of what you have experienced, understand yourself more deeply and move forward in a way that feels right for you.

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How my work has evolved​​

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The Essex Birth Company began from my passion for supporting women and people through pregnancy, birth, early parenthood and loss. As a doula, antenatal educator and birth professional, I have supported hundreds of people through many different experiences of parenthood.

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The longer I worked in perinatal support, the more I recognised that our experiences don't exist in neat compartments.

Birth can bring previous trauma to the surface. Motherhood can change our sense of identity. Neurodivergence may be recognised for the first time in adulthood. Experiences of abuse or difficult childhoods can continue to affect us years later. Transitions such as perimenopause and menopause can bring profound physical, emotional and psychological changes.

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This understanding, alongside some lived experience, led me to expand my work beyond birth and perinatal support and into counselling, trauma and wider women's wellbeing.

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Today, I support women and families across different stages of life, while retaining my specialist knowledge and experience in pregnancy, birth and the perinatal period.

How my work brings these strands together​

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My background as a doula and as a parent gives me a deep understanding of the realities of pregnancy, birth and maternity care, while my therapeutic training allows me to support women through trauma, anxiety, difficult experiences, identity shifts, life transitions and the many emotional layers that can arise throughout our lives.

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Rather than separating mind and body, I work holistically, drawing from counselling, trauma informed practice, psychoeducation and mind-body approaches to support each person in a way that feels safe, respectful and empowering. 

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Whether you're navigating pregnancy and birth, becoming a parent, dealing with loss, moving through perimenopause, making sense of a late neurodivergence diagnosis, or beginning to explore experiences from your past, my aim is to create a space where you can feel heard, understood and supported.

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In addition to supporting clients directly, I have spent many years advocating for improved maternity care and perinatal mental health support. I have served in a number of voluntary roles including within the leadership team at Doula UK, Health Watch Essex and the Mid & South Essex Maternity & Neonatal Voices Partnership, where I chaired the team and worked closely with maternity services to improve care for families.

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Whether you are preparing for birth, navigating pregnancy after loss, processing a difficult experience, or simply needing space to be heard and supported, my role is to walk alongside you with empathic understanding, knowledge and respect.

Experience & Qualifications

Mental health and trauma:

  • Diploma in Psychological Trauma Therapy (CPCAB TMQ level 5, 2027)

  • Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (CPCAB level 4)

  • Certificate in Counselling Studies (CPCAB level 3)

  • Certificate in Understanding Domestic Abuse (CACHE level 2)

  • BTEC Certificates in Life Coaching (EDEXCEL levels 2 and 3)

  • Understanding Autism (Open University)

  • J9 Domestic Abuse Awareness Training (Alpha Vesta CIC)

  • Suicide Awareness Certificate (Zero Suicide Alliance)

  • Safeguarding Certificate (level 3)

  • Bereavement Care Training (Sands Charity)

  • LGBTQ+ Training (The Queer Box)

  • Baby Loss Training (Beyond Bea)

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and Early Trauma

  • Understanding the Infant Microbiome Certificate

  • Anxiety: Helping Young Children to Cope

  • Addressing Postnatal Depression as a Healthcare Professional Certificate

  • Domestic Violence & Abuse (DVA): Identifying & Responding to DVA in Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond

  • Safeguarding Children Certificate (level 3)

 

Doula and birth support training:

  • Birth and Postnatal Doula Preparation Certificate (Birth Bliss Academy)

  • KG Hypnobirthing Facilitator (KGH)

  • TBR 3 Step Trauma Rewind Practitioner (TBR College)

  • Moxibustion for Breech Presentation (Expectancy)

  • Biomechanics for Birth (Optimal Birth)

  • Antenatal Preparation Workshop Facilitator Certificate (Birth Bliss Academy)

  • Waterbirth During Covid-19 – Keeping Midwives, Mothers & Babies Safe, Certificate (Midwife Expert)

  • Aromatherapy for Childbirth (RCM Accredited)

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Childhood and parenting:

  • BTEC National Diploma in Childhood Studies (Chelmsford College)

  • Infant Feeding Peer Support Facilitator with Barnardo’s Virgin Care (Essex Family Centre)

  • Holistic Sleep Coaching Course (Lyndsey Hookway)

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Yoga and mindfulness:

  • Yoga for trauma, depression and anxiety (Anjali Yoga)

  • Pregnancy, Postnatal, and Mother and Baby Yoga Teacher Training (S Parkes Yoga 85hr)

  • Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Teacher Training Essex 200 hours)

  • Advanced Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training (Sally Parkes Yoga 25 hours)

  • Yoga & Mindfulness for Pregnancy & Birth (Nadia Raafat Yoga 100 hours)

  • Hot Yoga Teacher Training (121 Urban Hot Yoga)

  • Anatomy and Physiology for Yoga (Essential Training Solutions)

Inclusivity Pledge

As well as women, birthing people and people assigned female at birth, we also welcome male and non-birthing parents, as well as maternity professionals who may be affected by vicarious trauma or maternity related experiences.

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We are steadfast in our commitment to providing a service that is neuro-affirming, LGBTQIA+ inclusive, actively anti-racist and disability aware. Our aim is to create a safe, respectful and accessible space for all.

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We are also developing a project aimed at improving access to our services for people who may otherwise face financial barriers to support.

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