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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
Ep. 254: Healing After Birth Trauma: A Conversation with My Former Therapist
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Kayleigh sits down with her former therapist, Hilary Waller, to reflect on the years they spent working together after Kayleigh's amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), birth trauma, and the life-altering experiences that followed. Together, they explore the therapeutic relationship, what healing actually looks like over time, and how trauma recovery often evolves from surviving to grieving to fully living again.
This conversation offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at therapy from both the client and therapist perspective. Hilary shares insights into trauma recovery, attachment, grief, identity, and the ways healing can continue long after the most acute pain has passed. It's an honest, thoughtful discussion about what it means to rebuild a life after trauma, and how relationships can become a powerful part of that process.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
🧠 Why Kayleigh invited her former therapist onto the podcast
🤝 The unique and often misunderstood nature of the therapeutic relationship
💙 How therapists carry memories of clients long after treatment ends
🌪️ Processing life after an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) and severe birth trauma
🪞 Looking back on years of trauma recovery from both the therapist and client perspective
😢 The difference between trauma work and grief work
🌱 Moving from being defined by trauma to integrating it into your story
✨ The shift from surviving an experience to building a meaningful life afterward
👶 Exploring Kayleigh's fears and reflections about how trauma may have impacted her son
❤️ The healing power of finding adaptive and compassionate perspectives on difficult experiences
👨👩👦 The special role family members can play during and after traumatic events
🔍 Why trauma survivors often search for connection with the people who cared for them during a crisis
🏥 The complex emotions that can emerge when relationships with healthcare providers suddenly end
💭 Attachment, loss, and making meaning after life-threatening medical experiences
🌈 The process of integrating seemingly conflicting emotions like gratitude, grief, joy, and loss
🫶 What makes a therapeutic relationship feel safe, healing, and transformative
📈 Watching healing unfold over years rather than weeks or months
🎙️ How Birth Trauma Mama grew alongside Kayleigh's own healing journey
💡 What therapists wish more people understood about trauma recovery
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.