Dr. Caitriona King

Hi! My name is Caitriona King and I am an accredited psychoanalytic psychotherapist. I run my own practice in Santry, Dublin 9, called Time and Space Psychotherapy. I am delighted to be lending my efforts to Paul’s holistic vision around pregnancy, childbirth and beyond.

Psychotherapy is primarily talking therapy, but we pay attention also to sensations and what is happening in the body, since these expressions are present long before speech. I have over twelve years of experience working especially with unresolved trauma to help bring healing and freedom from its emotional, physical, and psychological impacts. This includes working with pregnant Mums to help release blocks to their own process of giving birth.

The journey of pregnancy and childbirth is not without psychological challenges. Pre-birth anxieties, perinatal depression, previous birth trauma or loss are some of the more well-known issues. Less obvious is that the instinctual art of birthing is often hindered by expectations and fears derived from the Mum’s early childhood experiences, their own birth history, or a familial childbirth trauma that occurred in the past. Conscious knowledge and wishes can frequently be hindered by unconscious influences coming to the fore.

In this important preparatory time, we bring to awareness anxieties, fears and expectations. We explore early childhood experiences and birth history. A pregnant mother’s unconscious is especially active with vivid dreams, so we integrate dream analysis into the preparatory work. We incorporate the use of relaxation and visualisation exercises that Mum can practice in between sessions and indeed during labour. The approach works in tandem with any somatic work being done by the Mum, such as yoga.

Having worked in the field of genetic diagnosis for many years, I provide a unique service of informed support for those going through genetic counselling for inherited disorders, at all stages of the process. I also work with Mums in the postnatal period, dealing with any feelings of disappointment, failure, disempowerment, or anger. Grieving the ideal birth is very real and is an under-acknowledged process. I also work with postnatal depression and birth trauma.

The pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal journey can also be challenging for Dads. They can often feel helpless, useless, overwhelmed, and very far removed from what is going on. Dads can also experience pre- and postnatal depression but in a different way, so that it often goes overlooked or undetected. I work with Dads in uncovering the root cause of behavioural changes that can disguise perinatal depression.

I look forward to helping clients prepare for and process their pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal journeys.

‍