Claire Birch

Parenthood doesn't come with a handbook, and sometimes it can feel very different from the picture you had in your head. Hi, I’m Claire, an online counsellor supporting parents through the highs, lows and everything in between that comes with parenthood. Are you a new parent feeling anxious about your baby and can't switch your mind off? You might be struggling with thoughts that scare you, or finding that a difficult birth hasn't left you as quickly as you'd hoped. Maybe your children are older now, but things haven't necessarily got easier. Your teenager's emotions, challenging behaviour, or changing relationship with you might leave you wondering what happened to the child you knew, questioning whether you're getting it right, or what to do about it. Or perhaps you're parenting a neurodivergent child and finding yourself overwhelmed by appointments, school, meltdowns, demands and the sheer amount of thinking and organising involved. You love your child deeply, but that doesn't mean it's easy. My work began with supporting parents through postnatal mental health, and I've since broadened my work to support parents through different stages of family life. I am a mum of two, and I've experienced two very different journeys through parenthood myself, so I understand that there really isn't one version of what being a parent looks or feels like. So if you're finding things harder than you'd expected, you're welcome to get in touch.