Postnatal anxiety therapy : Online across the UK and internationally
Postnatal anxiety (also called postpartum anxiety) is persistent worry, fear or tension after having a baby that feels hard to switch off. It’s very common, and it is treatable.
I’m Sophie Harris, a BABCP accredited CBT therapist specialising in postpartum and motherhood. I offer postnatal anxiety therapy online across the UK and face to face in Bristol.
If your mind never seems to rest, you’re checking on your baby constantly, or you feel on edge even when everything is fine, you don’t have to keep coping alone.
Book a free 20-minute consultation →
Written by Sophie Harris, BABCP accredited CBT therapist. Last reviewed: 26 October 2026
What is postnatal anxiety?
Postnatal (also called postpartum) anxiety is anxiety that develops or continues in the first year or so after having a baby.
Some anxiety after birth is normal. Postnatal anxiety is when the worry feels constant, out of proportion or hard to control, or when it starts to affect your sleep, your enjoyment of your baby or your daily life.
There are many factors that can contribute towards you experieicing more anxiety, including your background, personality traits and traumas. In addition to this, we are living in a society that actively contributes to this anxiety for new mums, we experience information overload about how we should and shouldn’t care for our babies, which often can leave new mums feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
Despite postpartum anxiety being very common, it’s often overlooked, because people tend to talk more about postnatal depression.
Signs of postnatal anxiety
Thoughts and worries you might notice:
“What if” thoughts about something happening to your baby
Catastrophising about minor problems related to your baby.
Worrying that you’re not doing enough, or doing it wrong (you might be really prone to feeling guilty!)
Difficulty switching off, even when the baby is asleep
Unwanted or frightening thoughts that pop into your head (see Overcoming Scary Thoughts)
Health worries about yourself or your baby
What you might feel in your body:
Feeling like you are in ‘survival’ mode and unable to feel relaxed and in the present.
A racing heart, tight chest or shallow breathing
Feeling shaky, sick, restless or on edge
Panic attacks
Trouble sleeping even when you’re exhausted
What you might find yourself doing:
Using AI or Google to research your anxieties in a hope to get reassurance.
Checking your baby’s breathing, temperature or monitor again and again
Avoiding going out, or avoiding being left alone with your baby
Needing constant reassurance from your partner, family or GP
Snapping or feeling irritable because you’re so wound up
Is it normal to feel anxious after having a baby?
Absolutely. Some worry is a normal part of becoming a parent. It is completely understandable to feel anxious whilst you get used to casting for your new little person! However, it’s worth getting support when the anxiety doesn’t get better over time, or if it feels overwhelming, stops you sleeping or enjoying time with your baby, or you often find yourself doing things (like checking and reassurance seeking) to cope with it.
Different forms postnatal anxiety can take…
Anxiety after birth isn’t one thing. It can show up as:
General, constant worry
Panic attacks
Health anxiety (about you or your baby)
Intrusive thoughts and postpartum OCD
Fear and distress linked to a difficult or traumatic birth [ADD: link to your birth trauma page when live]
My name is Sophie Harris. After becoming a mum and battling my mental health during this time, I decided to use my 13 years of NHS experience to specialise in CBT for pregnancy and postnatal mental health. As well as offering 1:1 therapy sessions, I have created an educational course called How to Calm Anxiety While Pregnant.
I am passionate about supporting mothers to gain therapy skills to manage anxiety during pregnancy. Not only can this help you during pregnancy, but you can take this knowledge with you. This can enable you to confidently step into your new role as a woman and a mother.
Who am I?
How can I help you manage your pregnancy anxiety?
I offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you manage anxiety during pregnancy. Sessions are held online via a secure video conferencing platform.
The session length is 50 minutes and can be offered short-term (approx. 6 weeks to longer-term (20+ weeks). Details of this can be discussed during our initial consultation.
I aim to ensure that you get value for your time and money. Investing in yourself during pregnancy will help provide the foundations to best support yourself now and in the future.
Therapy is aimed at helping you manage your anxiety so that you can enjoy and be present as you enter this new stage of your life. There are often therapeutic tasks to complete in between sessions. These tasks will be negotiated between us so that it feels manageable to fit into any busy schedule.
What you want to get from the sessions is up to you, and we will decide this together in the first session. Some ideas based on what I have helped clients achieve in the past are:
Understand your emotional reactions to situations that trigger you. I can help you to feel more confident and in control as you improve your ability to navigate tricky situations.
Help you to manage anxiety around the health of you and your baby. I can help you figure out what is a helpful level of precaution to take when noticing changes in baby movements and other physical symptoms. This can help you trust yourself more through your pregnancy and postpartum journey.
Prepare for childbirth... Overcome birth anxiety to help you feel strong and confident as you enter your birth.
You can develop ways to have healthier communication with a partner. This can allow you to manage your emotions during stressful conversations.
Help you work through any resolved issues or trauma from previous pregnancies or other life events. Breaking free from this trauma can help you feel more in control and ready to enter motherhood.
Develop kindness towards yourself. You may need an extra supportive nudge to go easy on yourself while pregnant. Therapy can be a supportive space that can transform how you see yourself during pregnancy.
What can you achieve from pregnancy anxiety treatment?
How helpful is CBT for pregnancy anxiety?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the most evidence-based form of treatment for anxiety during pregnancy. This style of therapy aims to support you to become your own therapist.
Together, we practice tools and strategies to effectively manage your anxiety and support your well-being during pregnancy.
You can learn the skills necessary to interrupt negative or self-critical thought patterns, find techniques to manage anxiety or practise ways to manage conflict with a partner.
As well as the emotional and cognitive impact of anxiety, we will focus on ways to heal the physical effects of stress. This will help your body feel more relaxed to better cope with pregnancy stress.
I can help you make positive changes in your pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. You will be held accountable for doing what is necessary to move forwards and get to where you want to be.
How much does it cost?
£90 per 50-minute session
I offer a free 30-minute consultation to consider whether this is the most useful treatment option for you. During this conversation, we will discuss the length of support you are likely to need and tailor the support for your specific requirements.
What my clients are saying….
Therapy with Sophie helped me feel less anxious about becoming a mother. It also helped me process issues I had leftover from past relationships which has helped me be more present with my current partner and communicate better. At the start of therapy I was anxious and I was teary all the time. Now I feel less anxiety and when I do feel anxious I have the tools to cope better. I feel so much calmer and happier in myself.
Client treated for anxiety during pregnancy.
What’s next?
If you are interested in working together then I offer free 30 minute phone consultations. This is a great chance for me to get an understanding of where you are at and whether this will be a good fit for you. Phone me on 07900887111 or e-mail info@sophieharris.co with any queries or to arrange an assessment.
What my clients are saying…
“Take the plunge. Having the courage to admit what you are struggling with and share your worries is really cathartic. Sophie really helps you to understand how to think differently about your anxieties and that time and consistent practice can help you to overcome them or learn how to manage them. I left it late in my pregnancy to deal with my problem and wish I had done it sooner because it has massively helped me. Best decision I made!”
— Client treated for birth-related anxiety.
Already had your baby?
If you're navigating motherhood and looking for support, find out more about how I can help you here.