Pregnancy and Postpartum Therapist in Seattle Who Uses EMDR and IFS for Mom Guilt and Childhood Trauma

Andrea Wetterau, LICSW, LMHC, is a Seattle-based pregnancy and postpartum therapist who uses EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to treat mom guilt and childhood trauma. Sessions are online and private pay, for women located anywhere in Washington state. We work on the roots of what's being triggered, so you can mother the way you always hoped and work toward not passing the pain on to your children.

What does a pregnancy and postpartum therapist who uses EMDR and IFS actually do?

A pregnancy and postpartum therapist who uses EMDR and IFS helps you find and heal the old experiences behind what you're feeling now, not just manage the symptoms. EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a structured therapy that helps your brain stop reacting to a painful memory as if it's still happening. IFS helps you get to know the different "parts" of you, like the inner critic or the part that wants to disappear.

In my work with clients, this includes mom guilt, childhood experiences resurfacing, birth trauma, food guilt, body shame, and eating disorders. If you've noticed yourself reaching for coping habits that don't help in the long run, we can look at that together too.

EMDR and IFS treat the source of a trigger, not only the symptom.

Why does having a baby bring up my own childhood?

Having a baby brings up your own childhood because your baby's needs can touch a young part of you whose needs went unmet. What I often see is a mom hearing her baby cry and feeling panic, shame, or anger that seems far too big for the moment.

Mom guilt is often an old wound being triggered, not a parenting failure, and EMDR and IFS work on the wound itself. Guilt is usually a sign of how much you care, not evidence you're a bad mother.

Mom guilt can look like postpartum depression, and the two can overlap. They aren't the same thing, and the difference shapes how we work.

How do EMDR and IFS work together for new moms?

EMDR and IFS work together by helping you understand why you react the way you do, then easing the memories and parts driving the reaction. IFS helps you meet the protective parts of yourself, like the critic, the pleaser, and the part that goes numb. EMDR then works on the memories that taught those parts to protect you.

I'm certified in EMDR, Level 1 trained in IFS (the first level of formal IFS training), and have done extensive training in combining the two.

Everyone moves at a different pace, and I won't rush you into anything before you feel ready. I take at least a few sessions to learn about you, what you hope for from therapy, and which coping skills work best for you before we dive into the deeper work.

Protective parts aren't the problem. They're doing a job they learned long ago.

Why see a pregnancy and postpartum specialist instead of a general therapist?

A pregnancy and postpartum specialist treats mom guilt as old childhood wounds resurfacing, not just stress or a need for more self-care. I understand how the early relationships in our lives shape how safe we feel when a tiny baby depends on us. I also work with eating disorders and body shame in pregnancy and postpartum, and I've worked with food and body distress for 12 years.

Rest and self-care help, but they don't reach the young part of you that your baby's cry is touching. Going for walks is helpful, but it won't tend to the part of you whose parents didn't respond when you cried. That's why hearing your baby cry can bring a wave of emotion.

Can I do EMDR and IFS online with a baby at home?

Yes, you can do both EMDR and IFS online from home, even with a baby. Sessions can be scheduled around naps and feedings, and all you need is a private space and a device with video. You don't have to leave the house or arrange childcare.

I've done many sessions with babies nursing or napping, and I work with anyone located in Washington state. I remember how hard it was to get out of my own house in postpartum. You don't have to leave your house to start healing.

How much does private-pay therapy cost, and how do I start?

I'm private pay only and don't bill insurance, but I do provide superbills (itemized receipts) you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. A session is $200 for 55 minutes, and getting started begins with a free 15-minute consultation call. I also offer EMDR intensives, which are longer sessions of 2 to 4 hours at $225 per hour.

My private-pay practice focuses on one thing: pregnancy and postpartum mental health, including birth trauma, old childhood wounds, and food and body distress.

If you're up at night wondering whether your struggle means something is wrong with you, it doesn't. It likely means something old is asking to be heard. You don't have to sort that out alone. If you're in Washington and want to talk about working together, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation call, and we can see whether it feels like the right fit.