The Mental Health Doula
Guidance, education, counselling and doula support from pre-conception to 1 year postpartum and beyond.
The transition to motherhood, also known as matrescence, is both the most exciting and the most challenging time of a woman’s life.
There is more pressure on the mental health and emotional wellbeing of new mothers, than at any other point in a woman’s life.
The pressure on mothers to ‘get back to normal’ is huge, and too often, women are expected to navigate this major life change largely unsupported.
It is time to let go of the expectation to ‘get back’ and instead, lay new foundations for mothers to go forward.
It is time that ‘Well Supported, Well Mothers’ became the priority.
‘I take care of parents, so that parents can take care of their babies.’
Hi, my name is Emma Holdsworth. My dream is to see babies thrive. In my 20+ years of working with families I have learned that the best way for babies to thrive is for new mothers to thrive!
New mothers thrive when their internal experiences are heard and validated.
New mothers thrive when they are given genuine, loving care and support during the early years.
New mothers thrive when they understand their own needs and are supported to meet those needs.
New mothers thrive when they know what to expect and how to communicate in their relationships.
This is why I became The Mental Health Doula, so I could walk alongside families, providing both the mental health and practical, nurturing support they need to thrive, from planning a family to pregnancy, birth and the first years postpartum.
I have over 20 years experience of working with parents, babies and children in care-giving, mental health, counselling, disability and support roles.
I may be the right choice of support person for you if;
You are scared or worried about pregnancy, birth or becoming a mother.
You are experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns or have risk factors for post-natal mental health concerns.
You are a mother or mother to be who is neurodivergent.
You are a mother or mother to be who has a disability.
You had a traumatic childhood or are a survivor of abuse or violence.
You have struggled with unhealthy relationship patterns or negative core beliefs.
You have a strained or non-existent relationship with your parents or childhood caregivers.
Support options from pre-conception to postpartum
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Completely Cared For
Let me take good care of you with a focus on your mental health and emotional wellbeing.
In these nurturing 3 hour home visit sessions, you can surrender to being completely cared for by me. Using a therapeutic approach, I will focus on YOUR needs on each visit.
Visits include a combination of;
Counselling, coaching and sandplay therapy.
Heartworks Lomi Lomi massage / bodywork.
Breastfeeding and newborn education, care, support and guidance.
Whatever practical support you may need on the day to facilitate your rest, reduce feelings of stress and overwhelm, feel joyful and connected to your baby and family.
$300 for an individual session.
$1997 Full care package
*postpartum planning session
*6 x completely cared for sessions
*8 weeks of chat based support.
(can be tailored for pregnancy, postpartum AND pre-conception support and care)
Individual sessions can be booked directly below or to discuss a package, please book a free chat about working together.
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Deeply Heard
For those families that have the practical support they need but are seeking more focused support for their mental health, relationships or education.
These 90 minute sessions can be delivered by home visit in the Southern suburbs of Adelaide (travel fees may apply) or online to anywhere.
These sessions can be helpful through fertility challenges, for pregnancy support and across the first year postpartum.
The focus of the sessions can include
Individual or relationship counselling.
Talk through fertility or pregnancy challenges.
Breastfeeding counselling or support.
Education/coaching for all elements of birth, postpartum, parenting.
1st year motherhood transition support and coaching eg - returning to work, starting a business.
$180 for an individual session (online)
Home visits available locally, may incur a travel fee.
Individual sessions can be booked directly below or to discuss a tailored package, please book a free chat about working together.
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Labour and Birth Support
Labour and Birth is a time of great vulnerability and birthing parents deserve to feel emotionally and physically safe while they birth a new baby in to the world.
My birth support offerings are focused on supporting the birthing person and their family to feel emotionally safe and held, while honouring all of their preferences and needs.
As a mental health focused doula, I can stand beside you during your labour and birth, focusing or your safety and comfort, understanding your unique needs and the needs of your family, during this sacred and vulnerable transition. Allowing you to feel safe and held so that you can surrender to birthing your baby.
Birth planning and preparation.
Pregnancy support and counselling.
Labour and Birth Support.
Immediate post-birth support.
Postpartum support.
Currently taking enquiries for planned home births in Southern Adelaide for babies due after October 2024.
Birth packages are individually tailored and quoted.
Please book a free chat about working together below to discuss your birth needs. I have some amazing birth doulas to recommend if I am unable to support you myself.
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The Roots of Parenting Couples Workshops
Becoming parents can be both the greatest blessing of your life and the greatest strain for your relationship and your mental health.
Get to the root of what you really need to become the best parents you can be, before your baby arrives
In this 3 hour workshop for expectant couples, co-parents or individual parents, you will learn;
*The unique needs of new mothers / birth parents and how to make sure they are met.
*What both parents can do to prepare for the changes to your mental and emotional health.
How to tune in with your baby and your partner to create secure attachments and nurture your intimate and family relationships.
How to cope with 'The Big 3' for new parents - Feeding, Sleep and Settling.
In what ways your own experience of being parented and cared for as a child, will impact on the parent you become.
This workshop has been designed to give you the foundations you need to create deep, strong roots for your baby to grow from.
For expectant parents - The earlier, the better!
See dates and book tickets here
Private workshop is also available on application.
Book an appointment
About Me
I’m Emma, mother of two, parent focused Counsellor, Early Parenting and Breastfeeding Educator and Perinatal support professional with over 20 years experience working with families.
There is nothing I love more than providing loving care and support to new parents so that they can provide loving care and support to their babies.
Supporting you to become the parents you truly want to be, the parents your baby needs to thrive in the world is what I was born to do!
I support parents through all the aspects of pregnancy, postpartum and early parenting, providing a ‘continuity of emotional care’ model to new families.
I believes that a change is needed in the outdated and often unsupportive way that families are offered emotional care in the foundational years of parenting. That is why I offer a ‘Wrap my arms around you’ model of support.