Counselling support for loss of identity
Becoming a parent can change everything, including how you view yourself.
See if it’s right for you, request a callback from myself.
A space to reconnect with yourself
We can gently explore the emotional challenges that emerge that may be affecting you, including:
Feeling disconnected from the person you were before becoming a parent
Grieving your old identity, independence, or way of life
Struggling to balance your needs with the demands of parenting
Feeling pressure to "be it all" or meet unrealistic expectations
Changes in confidence, self-esteem, or sense of purpose
Relationship shifts and feeling misunderstood or unseen
Questions around who you are beyond your role as a parent
Becoming a parent can change everything, including how you view yourself.
Finding your way back to yourself
Using an integrative counselling approach, I offer support to help you make sense of this transition and reconnect with yourself with compassion. This may include:
- Creating space to talk honestly about what you are feeling, without guilt or judgement
- Exploring how parenthood has changed your sense of self
- Understanding the emotional impact of identity shifts and life transitions
- Rebuilding confidence and reconnecting with parts of yourself that feel distant
- Finding ways to care for your own emotional needs alongside parenting
- Supporting you to move forward feeling more grounded and more like yourself again
Related support: you may also find it helpful to read about postnatal depression counselling, postnatal anxiety counselling, or explore all the ways I can help with support after birth. When you feel ready, you can book a counselling session or start with a free introduction call.
Have a space to be heard and supported throughout every part of your journey
Your identity can transform when you become a parent, but it does not have to mean losing yourself. You can reconnect with who you are, whilst honouring who you have become, to feel whole again.
Loss of Identity - FAQs
I don't feel like myself anymore, how can counselling help?
Becoming a parent can make you feel like you aren't yourself anymore. Counselling can help you explore what has changed, how you're feeling, and begin to reconnect with who you are now.
Why do I feel like I've lost my identity?
There could be a variety of reasons why you feel like you have lost your identity. Major life changes from becoming a parent, fertility struggles or trauma can all shift how you see yourself. Counselling can help you make sense of this.
What happens in counselling for identity loss?
Sessions give you space to talk about who you were before, what feels different now, and what you might want for yourself moving forward.
Can counselling help me feel more like myself again?
Yes. Counselling can support you in rebuilding confidence, reconnecting with your values, and rediscovering parts of yourself that feel lost.
Is it normal to feel disconnected from myself?
Yes. Many people experience this during big life transitions. You don't have to figure it out alone.
What if I don't know who I am anymore?
That's okay. Counselling doesn't require you to have answers, it helps you explore and slowly rebuild a sense of self at your own pace.
What if I'm experiencing a mixture of different feelings or difficulties?
You do not need to have everything figured out before starting counselling. Many people experience a combination of anxiety, low mood, intrusive thoughts, birth trauma, identity changes, overwhelm, or simply a feeling that something doesn't feel right. You can find a safe space at Parent Perspective to explore your experience without needing to label or fully understand it first.
I don't feel like myself during pregnancy or after having a baby, can counselling help even if I don't know why?
Sometimes people can sense that something has changed emotionally, mentally, or physically, even if they can't explain it clearly. You can explore gently what has changed, understand how you're feeling, and reconnect with yourself with support and compassion.