A Transactional Analysis of Motherhood and Disturbances in the Maternal

Book excerpt: Grounded in research and clinical experience and with plenty of case examples, this book provides a relational Transactional Analysis diagnosis and treatment strategy to give immediate relief for maternal mental illness. Maternal mental illness is common, painful, poorly understood, misdiagnosed and often unspoken. For many years this condition has been known as postnatal depression. Yet it is so much more than this with countless women experiencing a multitude of different types of distress in pregnancy and for many years post birth. This book covers not only those conditions commonly known but also explores other factors such as Artificial Reproductive Techniques, miscarriage, termination for fetal abnormality, birth trauma, and infertility and how to treat them. It highlights the true breadth, depth and costs of the maternal journey and emphasises the struggles all parents can experience, no matter where in the world they live. Written in a clear and concise style, this book will be valuable reading for TA psychotherapists and students, and anyone wanting to enlarge their knowledge of motherhood and parenting.