Helping parents & carers to support optimal Infant mental health development & promote healthy parent-infant relationships
Hello! I’m Dr. Bea Birtwell, a Clinical Psychologist specialising in working with parents and carers to support optimal infant mental health development, promote a greater understanding and connection in the parent-infant relationship and to feel more confident in their parenting.
I work with families from pregnancy through infancy to the age of three.
Every family is different, bringing their own unique strengths and challenges, and each intervention is tailored to the specific needs of that family. I’ve had the privilege of working with a wide range of mums, dads and carers, together and/or individually.
I absolutely love the work that I do. You will be met with a warm, respectful, curious and understanding approach.
My Services
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During PIP sessions we would work together to identify and understand the difficulties you are experiencing and consider what could be done to support change for you and your infant.
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In addition to talking therapy, video and live feedback are used during ABC sessions to promote parenting behaviours known to impact positively on the parent-infant relationship and child development.
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I offer expert supervision to groups and individual professionals (in training and qualified) working in Perinatal and Infant Mental Health to develop effective practice by increasing competence and confidence.
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I offer expert consultation to a range of professionals working with parents/carers and their infants, using my specialist knowledge and experience to develop psychological understanding, explore difficulties and problem solve.
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I am an Approved Provider for Adoption South East (Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Surrey County Council) and welcome referrals from post adoption and looked after children teams for Therapeutic Needs Assessment, Therapeutic/Attachment Focussed Parenting Support and Programmes, and Psychotherapy, through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF).
The Parent-Infant Relationship
Many factors contribute to the development of the parent-infant relationship.
The relationship between parents or carers and infants has a profound, lifelong impact and I believe passionately in supporting families to optimise this relationship as early on in life as possible.
Parent-Infant Psychological Therapy focuses on…
Creating a therapeutic relationship where experiences, thoughts and feelings can be shared and understood. This may include thinking about experiences, thoughts and feelings that perhaps we hadn’t previously been aware of.
Thinking about the impact any difficulties may have on you, the parent-infant relationship, your parenting, your baby and their development.
Making links between current and past experiences to make sense of any difficulties you are having.
Developing an understanding of the factors that contribute towards possible difficulties, and the strengths that can then be used to help overcome these difficulties.
Observing and understanding parenting behaviour and how this impacts on the parent-infant relationship and baby.
Developing strategies which may help overcome difficulties.
Coaching in parenting behaviours that positively impact the parent-infant relationship and infant development.
Testimonials
“I felt listened to and my concerns and worries were validated. I never felt judged. We talked through some really tough things and I was supported the whole way.” Ed
“My sessions with Bea helped me to feel normal which is what I needed.” Mary
“I have noticed that my children respond much more positively to me because I have adapted and believe in my behaviours positively. They reach out for me more regularly and lean on me for emotional support.” Mark
“Max feels more comfortable with me, and I feel is such a different character towards me now our relationship has improved.” Sam
“Bea put me at ease with her relaxed, kind and confident demeanor.She was very knowledgeable and supportive.” Lizzie
“The video sessions were such a good idea and I loved being able to look back and see previous sessions and how my son and I interacted.” Annabel
“It really helped with the bond between me and both my girls; Mia's speech has got a lot better recently.” Claire
“I am now not constantly worrying about everything and can really begin to enjoy being present with my baby.” Amanda
“I didn’t realise I was doing such a good job at being a mum until Bea pointed it all out to me and helped me to change the way I think about myself.” Monica
ABOUT ME
I’m Dr. Bea Birtwell (BA, MSc, DClinPsych, HCPC Registered) a highly specialist Parent-Infant Clinical Psychologist specialising in working with parents and carers, supporting them as they develop a greater understanding of and connection with their infants and feel more confident in their parenting. I have worked with babies and their caregivers for over 20 years.
Supporting parents in understanding what they are bringing to their relationship with their child, and why, can help create clarity. Processing of thoughts and feelings that are impacting on the parent-infant relationship can help parents feel more attuned to their babies. In turn, their babies then feel more connected to them, which optimises their development during this critical period of growth.
I understand that the relationship between parents or carers and infants has a profound, lifelong impact, and I believe passionately in supporting families to optimise this relationship as early on as possible in life.
There are so many reasons why parenting a baby is difficult. Being a parent can bring many challenges into focus, some we may have been expecting and others may come as a surprise. As a mum of two myself, I can relate - and I can help.