Caroline Baddiley

I currently have some  availability for new clients.

I offer concessions so please ask about this.

I do not work at weekends.

Compassionate maternity counselling for baby loss and all stages of the journey into parenthood and beyond.

 Experienced counsellor and retired midwife offering In person or online sessions to together look at ways to support you moving forward .

I am an integrative counsellor, meaning that I draw on several different counselling theories; some elements of Mindfulness, as well as bringing myself to our counselling relationship. This means I can adapt our work together to suit your particular needs.

My work is underpinned by Person-Centred theory which trusts people’s innate ability to look at what is troubling them and grow and develop with the counsellor “walking beside them”.

As an experienced, fully trained counsellor and retired midwife I have extensive professional experience in supporting women and/or partners with:

Birth trauma. Any event that left you or your partner feeing afraid, anxious, out of control or helpless can be trauma

Baby loss and stillbirth

Pregnancy following a previous baby loss

Miscarriage – one or recurrent miscarriages

Termination

IVF

Fertility issues – trying to conceive; IVF; feelings around pregnancy following successful conception; not conceiving and feelings around this.

Postnatal depression/ anxiety - both in pregnancy and/or postnatally any time after the birth. 

Fear of giving birth (Tokophobia)

Baby being unwell or in Neonatal Intensive Care either currently or in the past

One or both of you feeling very upset or angry by the birth even if it was considered to be a “normal “birth

Feeling overwhelmed by becoming a parent

Breastfeeding grief - when feeding your baby did not go to plan

I have recently spent a number of years working within an NHS Maternity Counselling Service, providing maternity counselling  as well as within a charitable counselling service offering counselling therapy to all adults.

Previously I worked for over 20 years as a midwife, both within the NHS and within private, independent practice.

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I work with maternity clients and / or their families suffering from baby loss; from any emotional issues during pregnancy and any time after the birth.

You might be pregnant and anxious or experiencing postnatal depression or anxiety or feeling overwhelmed by becoming a parent .

You might be going through IVF or be pregnant or not , following IVF treatment.

 You may  have had one or several miscarriages or your baby or grandbaby may have died.

Together we will look at what brought you to counselling and start to shed light on and explore your current issues.

There are times in our lives as parents when we find ourselves in places of uncertainty or difficulty such as when trying to conceive and having fertility issues; being pregnant, or in the postnatal period any time after the birth when our usual coping mechanisms simply aren’t enough to get us back in balance. Well-meaning friends and family may offer advice or try to console us whereas we may simply want to be heard in a neutral but kind and empathic way.​

 My counselling service can offer you a safe and compassionate space to be truly heard and will give you time to consider what is going on for you in your life currently and look at ways to move forward. I will be beside you every step of the way. 

“Caroline has been a pillar of support for me as I navigated fertility challenges as well as pregnancy, birth and early postpartum. She has seen and accepted me for who I am and made me feel comfortable enough to share what was in my heart without fear of judgement. Caroline has a kind and compassionate style while remaining clear, reflective and insightful. I always felt that she was right there beside me, immersed yet impartial, cheering me on. Her experience as a midwife meant she was able to offer specialised support throughout my journey to becoming a mother.”

 Client P 2024 

I offer an initial free, no obligation 30-minute phone call for you to find out more about me and my service and for us to see if we could work together.

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If we do decide that we could work together then counselling sessions are typically on a weekly basis, lasting 50 minutes.

​In the first session we will look at what brought you to counselling; and I will ask you about your social, emotional and medical history.

I offer in-person sessions in my therapy room within a private practice in Southbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset. I also offer counselling online via Zoom or over the phone, so you could be living anywhere in the UK.

I offer both long and short- term counselling and we will discuss the possible length of your counselling at our initial appointment.

Fees are £60 per 50-minute session, to be paid in advance or at the latest on the day of the session. Card payments taken.

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One week's cancellation notice is required, otherwise the full fee is applicable, including the first session.

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I am fully insured as a counselling therapist with cover provided by Towergate Insurance

“ I have made so much more progress than I ever thought I could have - this is thanks to the safe space created by Caroline to explore thoughts and feelings safely”.

“A”

“Caroline is a caring, thoughtful and compassionate counsellor and has helped me tremendously during the period of counselling”.

​“M”