Black Mothers' Experiences of Birth Trauma: A Conceptual Analysis and Mixed-Methods Study to Advance Perinatal Mental Health Counseling

Author

• Lisa RickmanFollow

Keywords

birth trauma, perinatal mental health, black feminist thought, relational cultural theory, counseling practice, birth equity

Abstract

This dissertation study follows the manuscript model and consists of two manuscripts, one conceptual manuscript and one empirical study, both focusing on the experiences of Black mothers following psychologically and physically traumatic childbirth. The conceptual manuscript centers birth trauma within the social, historical, and cultural contexts of perinatal mental health disparities and obstetric racism. This framework guides clinicians in centering Black mothers’ needs utilizing Relational Cultural Theory to promote equitable perinatal mental health practice. The empirical study employs a phenomenological sequential mixed methods approach prioritizing interview data collected from Black mothers who experienced birth trauma. This study also explores their ideas for improving mental health approaches within counseling for Black mothers navigating their maternal care after birth trauma. The findings from this study showed that participants’ birth trauma experiences encompass intersectional, historical, and generational layers of trauma across pregnancy and postpartum. They are interconnected with mental health experiences and participants’ needs in response to birth trauma are multi-pronged. For example, participants’ co-construction of a counseling resource revealed an intentional focus on perinatal education, representation and advocacy, technology and counseling-specific support. In extension of these findings, a counseling resource was developed based on interview data and provided to participants and topical experts for assessment. Initial ratings on assessments for acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of The Counseling Research Toolkit Outline were favorable and gave positive direction for continued development and future implementation. From this data, a resource outline was developed, and participants, as well as topical experts in the field, were invited to assess the outline for its acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility for future studies and specific intervention development. Altogether, this dissertation seeks to iv amplify the voices of the mothers in this study who speak for themselves and the nature of care for Black mothers navigating birth, and from this study lay groundwork for continued and actionable changes.

Completion Date

2026

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Joe, J. Richelle

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Community Innovation and Education

Department

Counselor Education

Format

PDF

Document Type

Dissertation

Identifier

DP0053228

STARS Citation

Rickman, Lisa, "Black Mothers' Experiences of Birth Trauma: A Conceptual Analysis and Mixed-Methods Study to Advance Perinatal Mental Health Counseling" (2026). Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026. 161.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/gradstudies_etd_2026/161