PRENATAL AND POSTPARTUM MENTAL HEALTH

 

Compassionate Support Through Every Stage of the Perinatal Journey

The path to parenthood is unique for everyone. Whether you're pregnant, have recently welcomed a baby, are navigating fertility challenges, experiencing loss, or supporting a partner through these transitions—this season of life can bring both deep joy and emotional complexity. Your mental health and well-being deserve care and attention.

Perinatal experiences often include anxiety, depression, rage, identity shifts, and moments of uncertainty. For some, birth or medical trauma adds another layer of emotional impact. These experiences are valid, and healing is possible.

We offer inclusive, affirming counselling for individuals and families of all backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ parents and prospective parents. Our practice honors all pathways to parenthood and provides trauma-informed care to help you process, reconnect, and find strength during this deeply transformative time.

You don’t have to go through this alone. Our specialized counsellors offer one-to-one counselling, both virtual and in-person, as well as supportive group sessions within the community. We welcome the opportunity to debrief your birth experience, explore how things have changed since baby arrived, or provide space for both you and your partner to reflect and reconnect.

We’re also here to support you through grief, loss, and infertility—with care that meets you wherever you are in your journey. If you're seeking support but aren't sure where to start, please reach out. We're here to help you find the right path forward, with compassion and understanding.

 

VICKI FARNELL
—

adults | parents

Please continue to Vicki’s bio to read about her availability

RISHELLE GRANT
—

adults | parents

Contact Rishelle regarding her availability.

Fourth Trimester Community Circle

 

The first three months after birth—also known as the "fourth trimester"—can be an emotional, physical, and mental rollercoaster. Whether you're a new parent or adjusting to a growing family, join us for this new offering for parents in the first 12 weeks postpartum.

Each week we will welcome guest speakers who will answer questions and share their knowledge about what to expect in the Fourth Trimester. Topics will include:

Feeding options for baby

Postpartum mental health

Newborn sleep

Pelvic health

Developmental milestones

Transitioning to parenthood

Changes in relationships

Car seat safety

Postpartum nutrition

Baby’s health

Thursdays - Subject schedule to change, please check out guest biographies below.

April 3 - Mylo Williamson Woodske (dietician, Hazelnut Nutrition) and Vicki Farnell (counsellor, Lighthouse Therapy)

April 10 - Caity Barrett (physiotherapist, Akin Wellness) and Vanessa Mack (doula, Birth Matters Doula Care)

April 17 - Marina Godard-Simon (sleep consultant, Sage Sleep Consulting) and Shayla Bannan (RN, lactation consultant, Modern Mama Lactation)

April 24 - Mylo Williamson Woodske (dietician, Hazelnut Nutrition) and Kayla Wolfe (doula, Birth Matters Doula Care)

May 1 - TBD (Public Health Nurse) and Vicki Farnell (counsellor, Lighthouse Therapy)

May 8 - Caity Barrett (physiotherapist, Akin Wellness) and TBD (Public Health Nurse)

May 15 - Kayla Wolfe (doula, Birth Matters Doula Care) and Shayla Bannan (RN, lactation consultant, Modern Mama Lactation)

May 22 - Vanessa Mack (doula, Birth Matters Doula Care) and Marina Godard-Simon (sleep consultant, Sage Sleep Consulting)

12:30pm to 2pm (Doors open at 12:30pm, Circle gathers at 12:45pm)

Located at the John Todd Centre Y, 150 Wood St.

In partnership with the Kamloops YMCA BC.

No registration necessary.

If you have questions, please contact Vicki at vicki@lighthousetherapy.info

 
 

Click on the photos below to learn more about Postpartum Services available in our community.

Vanessa Mack (she/her), is a certified Labour Doula, Postpartum Doula, Infant Educator, and Child Passenger Safety Technician... and a mama to 3 of her own little humans! She is proud to be part of the Your Birth Matters Team here in Kamloops. It is both an honor and a privilege to support families as they embark on a new chapter of their lives and help navigate the different stages this season brings

Marina (she/her) is a Certified Paediatric Sleep Consultant practicing in Kamloops BC and virtually across Canada. Her background is in behavioural neuroscience with a specialty in pediatric sleep. She is very passionate about sleep health and sleep education for kids and adults alike. She loves working with families ensuring parents feel confident supporting their child’s naturally developing sleep rhythms (so that everyone gets better sleeps!)

Vicki Farnell (she/her) is a registered clinical counsellor and part owner of Lighthouse Therapy. She has specialized training in working with people in the perinatal period, supporting the pre and postpartum mental health and working alongside people processing their birth experiences. She is honored to sit with birthers and their partners to support them through the transition into parenthood or with expanding their family.

Caity Barrett (she/her) is a physiotherapist with special training in pelvic health and pediatrics. She is passionate about helping families throughout the perinatal period and into the early years. After starting her physiotherapy career working in pediatrics and helping families support their infants’ development, Caity developed an interest in supporting birthing people with the arrival of her first child. With the birth of her subsequent children, she also gained insight into the community’s need for breast/chestfeeding support and underwent further training to support infant feeding. Caity can be found out in nature with her partner and three boys bike riding, hiking, running and skiing!

Kayla Wolfe (she/her) has always been drawn to the power of birth and intrigued by the process. She and her husband personally experienced a strong, supportive network throughout her own births that was a life-changing part of their parenting from the beginning.  Kayla completed her Birth & Postpartum Doula training and certification with ProDoula, and has her DSA Member badge. In her eyes, one of the most fascinating things about birth is that no one knows everything about it, so there’s always opportunities to learn more. This fuels her love for continued education.  

Kayla feels honoured to support you alongside the incredible and passionate team of doulas at Birth Matters.

Shayla (Stanley) Bannan RN, BScN, IBCLC, CPST (she/her) is a Registered Nurse and Lactation Consultant servicing families in Kamloops and surrounding areas. She works with families, infants and children in various roles in our community. Her passion for breastfeeding, infant feeding and lactation grew after having her daughter in 2022 and realizing the need for increased education and supports in our community. She supports families in their infant feeding journeys, whatever that may look like. 

Mylo is a registered dietitian, mom, and creator of Hazelnut Nutrition.

Mylo has been a registered dietitian for five years. Prior to starting her own family, she worked at BC Women’s Hospital where she was passionate about helping parents with gestational diabetes. After having a daughter of her own (and gestational diabetes during the pregnancy!) has only intensified her passion for prenatal and pediatric nutrition. Her private practice, Hazelnut Nutrition, is a project born of Mylo’s love for working alongside families in finding a path to healthy eating that works best for them. 

You can reach her through e-mail myloathazelnutnutrition@gmail.com for instagram @hazelnutnutrition