Mari Syrad
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Welcome! My name is Mari and I’m founder of Nesting Mind Therapy - Specialist Perinatal Therapy for Mums. I’m a BACP registered Psychotherapeutic Counsellor specialising in maternal mental health and I help women in all stages of matrescence from pregnancy, to postpartum, and motherhood beyond.
I know what it’s like to suddenly find myself confronted by feelings of shock at how incredibly difficult becoming a mother can be, and how lonely that struggle feels. Society doesn’t prepare us for it and as a mum myself, I am so passionate about helping other mums overcome feelings of overwhelm that so often accompany the transition to motherhood.
If you feel anxious, depressed, like you don’t know who you are anymore, or you’re wondering how on earth you’re going to cope when you can barely keep your head above water, you’re in the right place. Therapy designed specifically for mums, with a therapist whose been there, can support you to recognise the incredible strength you already have inside you. We will work together to look at how becoming a parent is impacting you; what’s hurting; what’s working; and help you to cope with your new life and new responsibilities with your child.
Perinatal therapy supports women in:
Pregnancy – this can be a time of great uncertainty where you may be struggling with worries including body changes, fear of birth (tokophobia), financial worries, or past trauma. Therapy can help you feel more prepared and better equipped to navigate the unknowns and nerves in pregnancy and more confidently welcome your baby when they arrive.
Postpartum – the period after giving birth can be a rollercoaster of emotions as you adjust to life with your baby. You may have experienced a traumatic birth or be dealing with the physical consequences of labour; you may find yourself struggling to cope with day-to-day life due to post-natal depression or feelings of sadness or grief for your old life. Relationships can come under strain at this time which can lead to feelings of vulnerability and instability. Therapy can support you to feel looked after when so much is being needed from you at home. It gives you a bit of time to yourself and provides space for you to release the thoughts and feelings that are overwhelming you.
Motherhood – society doesn’t prepare mothers well for the reality of motherhood and this can mean that the gap between expectation and reality leave us feelings as though we’re getting it wrong and that it shouldn’t feel the way it does. Matrescence is the transition that women* go through when they have a child and it fundamentally changes you biologically, psychologically, emotionally, and socially. Every part of your life is impacted. Plus, just when you think you’ve got the hang of it, something changes as your child grows and develops which can lead to a constant feeling of instability, uncertainty and second guessing your ability to parent. There is a lot of societal pressure to be the perfect mum; to never get angry or raise your voice, to love and appreciate every minute, and be grateful at all times that you have your children. The reality is very different and therapy can help you to reconcile the differences between what you thought life was going to be like after you had children and what’s really going on. Loss of identity, time to be who you are, and the relentlessness of being needed all the time take their toll. Therapy provides the support you need to process this and make space for yourself in your life as mum.
In our sessions, you can expect understanding, compassion, and a judgement-free zone from another mum who gets it. I take a gentle, investigative approach which may include looking to your past experiences and early relationships as well as what is happening in the present moment to help you achieve a greater understanding of yourself and feel better able to cope.
I work online and can meet with you wherever you’re based in the UK via Google Meet, or in person in Eastbourne, East Sussex for those nearby. Get in touch to arrange a free 15-minute initial chat or book your first session.
*Nesting Mind Therapy is an LGBTQIA+ ally and provides therapy to all birthing people regardless of gender identity or sexuality. Matrescence and challenges relating to motherhood also affect adoptive parents and special guardians. I am committed to inclusivity and social justice in my work. If you have any questions about whether counselling at Nesting Mind Therapy might be suitable for you, please do get in touch.
Training, qualifications & experience
PGDip Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling - University of Brighton
BA (Hons) English Literature - Royal Holloway, University of London
OCN Level 4 Qualification in Perinatal Mental Health
Certificate in Bereavement Counselling
Certificate in Drug & Alcohol Counselling
Certificate in Online & Telephone Counselling
Advanced Certificate in Email Counselling
Prior to starting private practice, I worked for a perinatal charity supporting women facing infertility, birth trauma, and postnatal depression, as well as a Bereavement Counsellor for St Michael's Hospice, and for Macmillan providing therapy to cancer patients,
I regularly undertake additional training to support my practice.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£60.00 per session
Free initial telephone session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
A limited number of concessionary spaces are available for those in financial difficulty.
Fees are payable in advance by bank transfer or cash at the end of the session.
When I work
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