Dr Charley Deacon
& The Therapy Collective

Welcome to
Dr Charley Deacon
& The Therapy Collective

Perinatal psychological therapy in Clapham, Battersea and Online

Whilst it can bring much joy, there is no doubt that pregnancy, birth and parenthood can be a challenging time for both mums and dads...

A great number of things can bring people to therapy but on the whole, people come seeking a space to reflect on their experiences and emotions. It might be with fears about giving birth (perhaps as a first-time parent, or following a previous traumatic birth experience); or because of the ongoing impact of a difficult birth experience. It may be that you are struggling to adjust to pregnancy or parenthood, or that your experience isn’t what you had expected or hoped for - this can relate to so many different factors but some examples include your feeding journey, your relationship with your baby, or perhaps your relationship with your partner. It also isn’t uncommon for this time to bring things up from your own childhood and experience of being parented. All of these things (coupled with the lack of sleep and unpredictability of looking after a baby) can easily lead to strong and overwhelming emotions.

If you are struggling with the challenges that can come with pregnancy, birth and parenthood you are not alone and you may find it helpful to talk things through. If you would like to discuss getting some support, please feel free to get in touch.

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Alice and Charley chat about holding onto hope when things are feeling tough in the postnatal period.

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We're here to support you at every stage of your parenthood journey

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be an emotional time. For many women, it brings joy and anticipation, but for others, it can also come with unexpected feelings of anxiety or low mood. Around 1 in 10 women experience these challenges during pregnancy—just as many as after birth—yet it’s something we hear much less about. When others assume you’re feeling only happiness, it can feel lonely and confusing to be struggling. It's important to know you're not alone, and that support is available.

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Birth

Sadly some women have childbirth experiences that are traumatic. They may feel sadness or grief if the birth didn’t go as they had hoped, and they might struggle with fear or anxiety about their baby’s safety or future pregnancies. Partners can also be deeply affected. Many feel scared and helpless during the birth, but try to stay strong and hide their own feelings to support the mother. Talking to a therapist can help both parents work through difficult feelings and move forward.

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Postnatal and beyond

Having a baby brings a huge amount of change and so it's not surprising that it's often an overwhelming time. You may be struggling with anxiety or your mood; perhaps your experience isn't what you thought it would be; this time can also bring up things up from our own experiences of being parented. All of these coupled with sleep deprivation and the unpredictability of a baby can easily lead to strong and overwhelming emotions. Whatever you're experiencing, you are not alone and we're here to help.

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Client Testimonials

"Before meeting Charley I had all but accepted that OCD was an omnipresent feature of my life, but since meeting Charley that has all changed. Charley provided me with an environment where I felt comfortable to express what I was going through and challenge the impact OCD was having on me, as well as allowing me to develop the tools I needed to push back against that impact.

It is an understatement to say that the sessions with Charley have changed my life and I couldn’t recommend Charley highly enough"

"I cannot recommend Charley enough. I was referred to her after the birth of my second child while I was suffering from post-natal depression and, having been diagnosed with long-term recurring anxiety and depression in my early teens, only really expected to be helped to cope with the current flare-up. Charley’s work with me has gone far above those expectations – she has helped me to understand the root causes of my mental health problems and has given me the tools to change my negative thought patterns permanently for the better. I experienced a number of talking therapies before coming to Charley and hadn’t thought it was possible to work myself free of some of the issues I had but Charley has proven me wrong and I couldn’t be more grateful."

“Charley is so warm and caring and has always made me feel extremely comfortable. She has helped me to deal with anxiety and panic in many aspects of my life and I am very grateful for her guidance and support. Charley is so wonderful and my biggest regret is not calling her sooner!”