Healing After Pregnancy Loss:

Mental Health Support Through EMDR and Art Therapy

Pregnancy loss, in all its forms (e.g miscarriage, stillbirth, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), abortion, ectopic pregnancy, or even failed IVF) is a deeply personal and often invisible grief. It can happen suddenly or after months of anticipation. Whether it occurs early in pregnancy or late into the third trimester, the emotional impact can be profound.

Many people walk through the aftermath of pregnancy loss in silence. Fears of judgement, political backlash, recent criminalization, medical minimization, the demands of work or other children, and the fast pace of life often leave little room to acknowledge the depth of this trauma.

Support for those navigating loss is essential.

Understanding Pregnancy Loss as a Trauma

Pregnancy loss is not only a medical event; it is an emotional, social, physiological, and in our world, even political. For many, the experience is marked by:

• Shame

• Fear

• Shock

• Guilt or shame

• Anger

• Anxiety

• Panic Attacks

• Depression

• Disconnection from the body

• Dissociation

These emotional responses can be compounded by hormonal shifts, medical complications, and cultural or familial expectations.

Trauma is defined by the nervous system’s response to an event but it is often minimized by healthcare providers or brushed aside with phrases like "at least you can try again."

When the trauma is unresolved, it can manifest in long-term mental health challenges such as perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or complicated grief. It can also affect future pregnancies, relationships, and self-esteem.

EMDR for Processing Perinatal Trauma

EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or stuck. It is particularly effective for experiences where the mind and body felt powerless, or trapped.

How EMDR works:

• EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (through eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories.

• Instead of reliving the memory over and over, EMDR helps the client re-experience it in a safe, contained way, integrating it into their broader life story or a more coherent trauma narrative.

• Clients often report feeling "lighter" after EMDR, as if the memory no longer carries the same emotional charge.

In the context of pregnancy loss, EMDR can help clients:

• Process traumatic medical procedures or hospital visits

• Work through images or memories that feel "stuck"

• Reduce guilt or shame

• Reclaim a sense of safety and trust in their body

• Prepare for future pregnancies with less anxiety
  
  Learn More about EMDR.

Art Therapy for Pregnancy Loss

Art Therapy offers a non-verbal way to express what words often fail to capture. For many people grieving pregnancy loss, the experience is too complex, painful, or layered to articulate clearly.

In Art Therapy, clients can:

• Externalize and honor their grief

• Process feelings that are difficult to put into words

• Reconnect with their bodies

• Explore identity shifts around parenthood

• Access symbolic healing through imagery

• Explore emotions through a visual lens

Art Therapy does not require any artistic skill. The process is about expression, not product. Guided by a trained Art Therapist, clients use materials like paint, clay, collage, or even photography to explore their experiences.

Learn More about Art Therapy.

Grief is Not Linear

Grieving a pregnancy loss is not a straight path. It does not follow a five-stage model, and it cannot be timed.

Some days, you may feel like you're moving forward. Others, a song, a date, or a pregnancy announcement may bring you right back into your grief.

Therapy creates a space where all of these feelings are welcome. Where you don’t have to make sense of your emotions before you speak them. Where your story matters.

You Are Not Alone

If you have experienced pregnancy loss, no matter the circumstances, your pain is real. Your grief is valid. You deserve compassionate, trauma-informed care that honors the full scope of your experience.

You don’t have to carry this alone.

You don’t have to have the words.

You just have to show up.

Together, we can hold space for your story and move toward healing, in your own time, and in your own way.

At Alanna Betts Art Therapy and Counseling, I specialize in supporting clients navigating perinatal loss, trauma, and recovery. My approach integrates EMDR, Art Therapy, and somatic awareness to support healing at every level.

If you are in Virginia and looking for support after pregnancy loss, I offer in-person therapy in Reston, VA and virtual sessions across the state.

Let’s begin your healing journey together.