Helping Mothers, Helping Babies: Somatic Perinatal Psychotherapy

By Leslie Ann Costello Ph.D.

Book Overview

For counselors and psychotherapists working with pregnant and postpartum mothers-or women struggling with fertility-Helping Mothers, Helping Babies offers an essential, client-centered approach to perinatal mental health. In this groundbreaking manual, Dr. Leslie Ann Costello introduces somatic interventions that help women navigate the profound psychological and physiological transitions of motherhood.

Drawing on decades of experience in psychotherapy, bioenergetic analysis, and perinatal mental health, Dr. Costello presents a powerful framework that integrates body-based therapeutic techniques into counseling sessions. This book is designed to give therapists practical, evidence-based strategies to support their clients in reducing anxiety, processing trauma, and strengthening their sense of self-all while fostering deeper connections with their babies and families.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, somatic interventions work directly with the body's wisdom. Pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood are deeply embodied experiences, yet many therapeutic models overlook the role of the body in mental health. Helping Mothers, Helping Babies bridges that gap by providing clear, accessible guidance on using somatic techniques to help clients regulate emotions, release tension, and rebuild trust in their own bodies.

Inside, you'll discover:

✅ A foundational understanding of perinatal mental health and body-based therapy

✅ Practical somatic interventions that can be easily integrated into counseling sessions

✅ Case examples illustrating real-life applications of somatic psychotherapy

✅ Exercises designed for both therapist and client, ensuring firsthand experiential learning

✅ Strategies for creating a somatically safe therapeutic space

✅ Specialized approaches to working with infertility, birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, and mother-infant bonding

This book is not just about helping mothers feel better-it's about helping them become the parents they want to be. By supporting maternal well-being, therapists can create lasting change for entire families, strengthening relationships and fostering resilience from the very beginning of life.

For therapists seeking a compassionate, body-centered approach to perinatal mental health, Helping Mothers, Helping Babies is an invaluable resource. Whether you are new to somatic work or looking to deepen your practice, this book will transform the way you support mothers in their journey-empowering them not just to survive, but to thrive.

���� Order your copy today and start bringing the power of somatic psychotherapy into your practice

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1739017056
• ISBN13: 9781739017057
• Release Date: April 2025
• Publisher: Devon Station Books
• Length: 228 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"