Anxiety is more than stress — it’s a mental health condition involving persistent fear that affects your body, thoughts, and daily life. Learn more in our blog on conquering anxiety with therapy: https://www.serenitycounsellingbc.com/blog/conquering-anxiety-with-therapy

What causes anxiety in BIPOC women?

Anxiety in BIPOC women often stems from intersecting factors like cultural expectations, racial trauma, high-achievement pressures, and systemic stressors, which can intensify feelings of fear and overwhelm.

How can therapy help BIPOC women with anxiety?

Therapy offers a safe, culturally sensitive space to explore anxiety’s roots, develop coping skills, and heal from trauma related to race, identity, and cultural pressures.

What types of therapy work best for anxiety in BIPOC women?

Approaches like EMDR, somatic therapy, and culturally affirming talk therapy are effective for anxiety, as they address both emotional and physical aspects of stress.

How can I find a therapist who understands the unique challenges BIPOC women face?

Finding the right therapist means looking for someone who specializes in culturally responsive care and has experience supporting clients through racial trauma. Therapists like Zahra Lakhdhir (https://www.serenitycounsellingbc.com/therapists/zahra-lakhdhir) and Suki O’Huallachain (https://www.serenitycounsellingbc.com/therapists/suki-o-huallachain) offer tailored counselling services that honor the lived experiences of BIPOC women.

Is anxiety different for BIPOC women compared to others?

While anxiety symptoms can be similar, BIPOC women often experience anxiety shaped by racial discrimination, cultural pressures, and generational trauma, requiring specialized understanding and support.

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Counselling for Postpartum & Pregnancy

Therapy Sessions in Port Coquitlam

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THERAPISTS SPECIALIZING IN THIS AREA:

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Common Experiences During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Emotional

Mood swings, irritability, guilt, or feeling numb, tears that seem to come out of nowhere

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Physical

Tension headaches, fatigue, or panic symptoms, changes in appetite or stomach pain

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Cognitive

Racing thoughts or constant worry about the baby or future, feeling “on edge” or unable to relax

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Behavioural

Trouble sleeping even when you’re exhausted, avoiding friends, family, or activities you used to enjoy

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Are You Feeling Overwhelmed, Disconnected, or Like You've Lost Yourself Since Having Your Baby?

Everyone told you this would be the best time of your life. And some moments are. But a lot of moments aren't, and nobody warned you about those.

Maybe you're pregnant and instead of glowing you're anxious, overwhelmed, and quietly terrified. You love this baby already, but you're also grieving a version of your life you're not sure you'll get back. You lie awake running through worst case scenarios you can't stop your brain from generating. You smile when people ask how you're feeling because the real answer is too complicated to explain.

Or maybe you've already had the baby and you expected to feel this rush of joy that everyone talks about, but instead you feel exhausted in a way you didn't know was possible, disconnected from yourself, and sometimes from your baby too. You're doing everything right on paper. And you still feel like you're drowning.

You might be snapping at your partner and then feeling terrible about it. Scrolling Instagram at 3am comparing yourself to mothers who seem to have it together. Wondering if something is wrong with you for not loving every minute of this. Feeling guilty for missing your old life while simultaneously loving your child more than you thought possible.

Nobody talks about how complicated this period actually is. The pressure to feel grateful all the time. The identity shift that happens practically overnight. The way your body feels foreign. The loneliness of being surrounded by people but feeling completely unseen.

What you're feeling doesn't mean you're a bad mother. It doesn't mean you made a mistake. It means you're going through one of the biggest transitions a person can go through, and you're doing it without enough support.

That's what we're here for.

book a free consultation

Why Do So Many Women Struggle After Having a Baby But Never Talk About It?

Because the pressure to be grateful is enormous. Because everyone is focused on the baby. Because admitting you're not okay feels like admitting you're failing at the one thing you're supposed to be doing.

So you say you're fine. You push through. You tell yourself it will get easier and wait for the fog to lift on its own.

But here's what actually happens when women get support during this period. They stop white-knuckling it. They start sleeping a little better. They feel less alone in what they're carrying. The guilt loosens. The connection they were waiting to feel with their baby starts to grow. They begin to recognize themselves again.

You're not supposed to do this alone. The fact that so many women do doesn't mean it's the right way.

The Baby Has a Doctor, a Schedule, and a Village. What Do You Have?

At Serenity Counselling, you have us.

A space where someone asks how you are and actually wants the real answer. Where you don't have to perform okayness or explain yourself before you're ready. Where what you're going through is taken seriously,whether that's postpartum anxiety that won't let you rest, grief from a pregnancy loss, a birth experience that didn't go the way you hoped, or simply feeling like you've disappeared into motherhood and can't find yourself anymore.

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We work with women through every stage of the perinatal period. Trying to conceive. Pregnancy. Postpartum. Infant loss. The messy middle of figuring out who you are now that everything has changed.

You've been taking care of everyone else. It's your turn.

What to Expect in Perinatal and Postpartum Therapy Sessions at Serenity Counselling

At Serenity Counselling in Port Coquitlam, your first session is a conversation, not an assessment. We want to understand what this period has actually been like for you, not the highlight reel version. What's been hard, what you're scared of, what you're hoping feels different.

From there, we work on what you actually need. For some women that means practical tools for managing anxiety and overwhelm in the day to day. For others it means working through a birth experience that didn't go the way you hoped, or processing grief after a pregnancy loss. For some it means figuring out who you are now that everything has changed, and how to build a relationship with that person.

We also work with the relationship side of this period when it's relevant. Becoming parents changes the dynamic between partners in ways that are hard to anticipate. If you and your partner are struggling to connect, communicate, or feel like a team, that's something we can support too.

For women whose perinatal experience is connected to trauma or past difficult experiences, our team is trained in EMDR and Brainspotting. These approaches can help your nervous system process what's been holding it in a state of alert, often reaching places that talk therapy alone can't get to.

We offer in-person prenatal and postpartum counselling in Port Coquitlam at Serenity Counselling, and virtual therapy across British Columbia.

Read More: Debunking Myths: The Truth About Depression and Mental Health

Are You Ready to Move Past These Symptoms?

Becoming a parent changes everything. It can bring joy, excitement, love ,and sometimes worry, sadness, or guilt.

If you’re planning for pregnancy, expecting, or already caring for a new baby, you might feel pressure to “keep it together” when inside you’re running on empty.
You don’t have to go through it alone.

At Serenity Counselling in Port Coquitlam, we support you through every stage, from planning for parenthood to postpartum recovery and everything in between.
You deserve care too.

Book a free consultation

LOOKING FOR MORE ANSWERS?

Frequently Asked Questions

You might benefit from perinatal counselling if you often feel anxious, sad, or overwhelmed during pregnancy or after birth. It’s common to struggle with sleep, mood swings, or feeling “not yourself.” Counselling helps you understand what’s happening, build coping tools, and feel more grounded as you adjust to parenthood.
Yes, counselling can help after a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. It offers a safe, caring space to talk about your grief, guilt, or anger without judgement. There’s no right timeline for healing — therapy helps you process the loss at your own pace and find moments of peace again.
If you’re pregnant and feeling anxious, you’re not alone. Many parents-to-be experience worries about the baby, birth, or future changes. Counselling can help you manage anxiety, calm your body, and prepare emotionally for the transition into parenthood.
Yes, partners are welcome in perinatal counselling. You can come together or have your own sessions. Therapy helps couples strengthen communication, manage stress, and feel more connected as they adjust to new roles and routines.
Yes, postpartum anxiety and the “baby blues” are different. The baby blues usually fade within two weeks after birth, while postpartum anxiety or depression can last longer and feel stronger. If you’re still feeling sad, irritable, or restless after a few weeks, counselling can help you recover and feel like yourself again.
In many cases, perinatal counselling is covered by insurance if your plan includes Registered Social Workers (RSWs). Check your extended health benefits to confirm. We can also provide detailed receipts for insurance or tax purposes.
Yes, perinatal counselling can help with attachment and bonding. Sometimes after birth, it can take time to feel connected to your baby, especially if you’re exhausted, anxious, or healing from a difficult delivery. Therapy helps you understand what might be blocking connection and gently rebuild trust and closeness between you and your baby.
If you don’t feel like yourself since becoming a parent, that’s something counselling can help with. Many parents feel lost or disconnected after birth. Therapy provides space to rediscover who you are, find balance, and feel more grounded in this new stage of life.
Yes, past trauma can affect your pregnancy or postpartum experience. Old memories or body sensations can resurface when you’re vulnerable or under stress. Counselling, especially body-based and EMDR therapy, can help your nervous system feel safer and more at ease so that past pain doesn’t overshadow this chapter.
If you feel distant from your partner after the baby arrived, you’re not alone. The early months can strain even the strongest relationships. Counselling can help you both express needs, rebuild emotional closeness, and create a shared sense of teamwork in parenting.