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The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast
Birth trauma is the dark and sometimes scary side of pregnancy & postpartum that no one wants to talk about. But, we're here to change that! I'm Kayleigh, a licensed therapist and birth trauma survivor, determined to bring birth trauma out of the shadows and into the light. When we talk about birth trauma, we take away its power and leave space for healing. Your birth trauma does not need to “happen for a reason." Birth trauma sucks and it’s okay to admit that. Join us as we navigate what it means to heal from birth trauma. You’ll hear from experts in the field as well as others who have experienced birth trauma. Storytelling and education are keys to raising awareness and better understanding how we heal trauma. We don’t do toxic positivity in this space, but you’ll definitely hear some dark humor. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry, but, most importantly, you’ll learn that you’re not alone and that healing is possible. Birth trauma is bullish*it, but your healing is not.
The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast
Special Rerelease: EMDR with Dr. Pria Alpern
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✨ Special Rerelease Episode ✨
In this important conversation, Kayleigh sits down with Dr. Pria Alpern to talk about EMDR therapy and its powerful role in healing birth trauma. If you’ve ever felt stuck in intrusive memories, body flashbacks, or overwhelming anxiety after your birth experience, this episode offers both education and hope. We break down what EMDR actually is, how it works, and why it can be especially effective for perinatal trauma.
In this episode, we talk about:
🧠 What EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) actually is
🔄 How trauma gets “stuck” in the brain and nervous system
👁️ Why bilateral stimulation can help reprocess traumatic memories
🤰 How birth trauma uniquely impacts the body and identity
😔 Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and triggers after birth
🫶 What an EMDR session looks like and how to know if it’s right for you
⏳ The difference between retelling your story and reprocessing it
💛 Why you don’t have to live in fight-or-flight forever
🌿 Finding trauma-informed support in the perinatal period
Why this episode matters:
✨ Birth trauma is real—and treatable
✨ Healing doesn’t require reliving every detail over and over
✨ Your nervous system deserves support
✨ You are not broken—your brain adapted to survive
Guest Bio:
Dr. Alpern is the founder of Center Psychology Group. She is an EMDR clinician certified by EMDRIA, the organization dedicated to upholding the modality’s standards. She is also a graduate of the EMDR Clinical Affiliate Program at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP) Trauma Treatment Center in New York City. Dr. Alpern is an EMDRIA-approved consultant and provides individual and group consultation to EMDR therapists. She the founder of the Manhattan Center for Trauma Studies, where she oversees continuing education trainings focused on EMDR and trauma-informed psychotherapy. Dr. Alpern is an Advanced-level Somatic Experiencing practitioner (SEI). She completed specialized training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders from Postpartum Support International, and she is a special adjunct clinical professor at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus, where she earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Rosemary Furman Counseling Center at Barnard College, where she specialized in late adolescence, early adulthood, and trauma. Dr. Alpern holds a B.A. in Psychology and Art History from Georgetown University.
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Alpern offers trauma-related psychoeducation through her TikTok and Instagram accounts.
For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama.
Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.
Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.