Tender Beginnings
In the context of our Tender Beginnings group, we use the term perinatal trauma to name the distressing or overwhelming experiences that can occur during pregnancy, birth, or the early postpartum period—experiences that may leave a lasting imprint on your body, your mind, and your sense of safety as you enter motherhood.
This can include a medically complex pregnancy due to fetal or maternal health diagnoses, a birth that felt frightening, rushed, or out of your control, feeling unheard or dismissed during labor and delivery, or a NICU stay that brought separation, uncertainty, and fear. It can also include the quieter but deeply impactful experience of prolonged stress, anxiety, isolation, or grief when early motherhood doesn’t unfold the way you imagined.
For many mothers, these experiences are not just memories—they live in the nervous system. You might notice this as feeling constantly on edge, anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected from your body or your baby, or as a sense that it is hard for your system to fully settle into rest and safety.
This group offers space to gently name these experiences, understand their impact, and begin to support your healing in connection with others who truly understand.
Frequently Asked Questions
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While the term perinatal trauma can feel validating for some mothers who experienced their pregnancy, birth, postpartum period, or early parenting journey as traumatic, we also recognize that not every challenging experience is experienced or identified as trauma.
You can move through a medically complex pregnancy, a difficult or unexpected birth, a NICU stay, or an emotionally overwhelming postpartum period without necessarily defining those experiences as traumatic. All of these responses are valid.
Tender Beginnings is a group for moms who have navigated challenges during pregnancy, birth, or the early postpartum period—regardless of how they make sense of or name their experience. There is no requirement to identify your experience as trauma in order to belong here.
This space is for mothers seeking support, connection, and understanding as they process what these early experiences have been like for them in their own words and in their own way
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We would recommend our Still Holding group for those who have experienced traumatic perinatal or infant loss.
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Each group session is 90 minutes in length.
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Consistent attendance is an important part of the group therapy experience, as it helps foster trust, connection, and continuity within the group.
While we understand that not every group will feel like the right fit for every individual, we ask that you attend for several weeks and discuss any concerns with us before deciding to discontinue participation. This allows both you and the facilitators an opportunity to explore whether adjustments or additional support may be helpful, while also giving group members time to get to know one another and develop a sense of safety, trust, and connection within the group.
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The cost of the group is $75 per session.
We believe support should be accessible. If cost is a barrier to attendance, please reach out. We may have reduced-fee options available and would be happy to discuss them with you.
Get In Touch
If you are interested in joining one of our groups, learning more about The Motherhood Collective, or are seeking support around a motherhood experience, concern, or challenge that is not currently represented in our offerings, we would love to hear from you.
We are always considering how to best serve the needs of our community and regularly explore new group offerings based on interest and need. If there is a topic you would like to see addressed, please let us know—we are grateful for the opportunity to create meaningful spaces of support for mothers and families.