Meet Amanda

Transformational Parent Coach,
Mental Health Practitioner and Mum

Welcome to You HAVE Got This! My name is Amanda Hunter and I am the mum of a lovely wee boy named Rhys. I have also been offering support for parents for over 17 years.

My greatest teachers have been the parents who I have had the privilege of working with and my son. They have taught me the importance of feeling well in yourself, supported and confident as a parent.

Over 17 years ago, I started working with parents as a birth doula and birth educator. I completed two Masters degrees at the University of Edinburgh – one in medical anthropology and another in psychology. My research focused on parental mental health and birth experiences (particularly birth trauma).

For the last several years, I have been working as a mental health practitioner. I also have experience of working in the field of baby loss and bereavement.

More recently, I trained as a transformational coach, Dancing for BirthTM instructor and to use the TBR 3 Step Rewind method (a form of birth/ perinatal trauma support). I have found all of these supports beneficial during my parenting journey (including during pregnancy and early parenting) and would love to share them with you.

I also bring all of my professional skills and experience when offering these support services to give you the best support possible. I am currently writing a book to share the approach that has supported me with as many parents as possible.

You can see a full list of my experience and training at the bottom of the page.

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My beliefs and values

I believe that supporting parents helps both parents and their children to experience wellbeing and joy. I also believe that improving the wellbeing of families will help to change the world and this is why I started You HAVE Got This.

The name You HAVE Got This was chosen as I find this is the phrase I say most frequently when working with people. You HAVE Got This was also chosen because I believe that parents are capable. And I believe that they are able to care for their child in a way that feels right for them. Even when it feels hard or like they don’t know what they’re doing.

Sometimes we all just need a reminder of what we are able to do. And we all need some support and encouragement at times on our parenting journey.
I feel privileged to support parents during this time in their lives. I know that you deserve safe, sensitive, caring support that is tailored to your individual needs.

That is why I provide this type of high quality support for my clients. In my approach, I work in line with my core values of love and compassion, integrity, connection and joy.

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I want to share what has worked for me and my clients

I feel passionate about supporting you to heal, build your confidence and parent in a way that feels right for you and your family. I believe in you. And I want to share the benefits that my family (and others) have gained from using these techniques that I offer.

How coaching and TBR 3 Step Rewind helped me as a parent

Being coached really supported me to protect my wellbeing and build my confidence during pregnancy and as a parent. Because of the inner work I had done, I was also able to really enjoy early parenting – even though it was also hard at times.

Going back to what I learned has also helped at the times when parenting has felt really tough (often because of the many other pressures that life has thrown at me).

Because of what I have learned, I am more able to choose what I focus on and celebrate my learning and successes (even when things don’t go well).

Through my previous work with parents and my own challenging maternity care journey, I have a good understanding of the importance of healing from distressing or traumatic experiences from your journey to parenthood.

I used TBR 3 Step Rewind to help me release the rage and grief that I felt as a result of poor experiences of maternity and postnatal care.

Releasing these emotions helped me to feel better in myself and I had more energy to give to my son. The TBR 3 Step Rewind technique is not just for trauma but can be used to explore many challenges and fears we may face as parents.

My journey with dancing and movement

Dance and movement have been a huge part of my healing journey in my life and it has brought me so much joy.

Dancing with others has boosted my confidence in myself and my body massively as I forced myself out of my comfort zone when attending dance classes. I now love dancing and expressing myself in my own way.

Dancing and movement help me to release unwanted emotions and tension in my body.

I actively looked for Dancing for Birth classes when I was pregnant. I couldn’t find any in my area so I trained as an instructor. This training helped me to feel so much more confident in my pregnant body.

I found that having this type of confidence in myself and my body benefitted me hugely during labour, birth and parenting.

I now incorporate dance and movement into all of my work. I find that this side of the work helps clients to more effectively release barriers that are holding them back from making the changes they want.

Education and Training

Academic Training

2015-2016: MSc in Psychology of Mental Health conversion program with Distinction (University of Edinburgh), Research Topic: The presence of anxiety in women and their partners during pregnancies following perinatal loss: a meta-analysis
2013-2014: MSc by Research in Medical Anthropology with Distinction (University of Edinburgh) Research Topic: Experiences of intervention in childbirth, healthcare inequalities and birth in urban Brazil and the effects of these experiences on women’s life experiences post birth
1999-2003: Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (McGill University), Honours degree in Anthropology (Dissertation focus on women in India) and Minor in Women’s Studies

Professional Training
CORE TRAINING

2022 – TBR 3 Step Rewind (Part-time), TBR College of Perinatal Emotional Health, Online (Live and E-Learning)
2021 to 2022 – Spectacular School Transformational Coaching Training (Part-time), Dr Sarah Madigan, Online (Live)
2021 – Dancing for BirthTM Instructor Training (2 Days), Dancing for BirthTM, Online (Live)
2011 to 2013 – Birth Educators’ Course (Part-time), Pregnancy and Parents Centre, Edinburgh

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

2021 – Vicarious Trauma Training (Half Day)
2021 – Motivational Interviewing Training (Two Days)
2021 – Safety and Stabilisation Training (Three Days)
2020 – Enhanced Trauma Practice (Level 3) (Two Days)
2020 – Non-Violent Communication (Two Days)
2020 – Decider Skills Training (Two Days)
2018 – Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid (Two Days)
2018 – Trauma Skilled Practice (Level 2) (One Day)
2018 – Good Conversations (One Day)
2018 – ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) (Two Days)
2018 – Introduction to Health Behaviour Change (One Day)
2018 – Trauma Informed Practice (Level 1) (One Day)
2018 – Dyslexia and Neurodiversity Awareness for Managers (Half Day)
2014 – Sands Bereavement Care Training for Midwives (One Day)
2013 – Introduction to Somatic Experiencing (SE) (Two Days)
2010 – Maternity Reflexology Part II Training (Two Days)
2009 to 2010 – Original Ingham Method of Reflexology Training, International Institute of Reflexology (IIR) (Part-time)
2009 – Maternity Reflexology Training (Two Days)
2007 – Doula Preparation Training: Birth Consultancy Doula Services (Two Days)

PUBLICATIONS

Hunter A, Tussis L, MacBeth A. The presence of anxiety, depression and stress in women and their partners during pregnancies following perinatal loss: A meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders 2017; Volume 223: pages 153–164.

Hunter A. Pregnancy Loss and the Death of a Baby: Guidelines for Professionals (4th Edition). 2016. London: Sands.

Hunter A. One chance to get it right: providing bereavement care after stillbirth or the death of a baby. AIMS Journal 2015; Volume 27 (Issue 3): pages 9-10.

Hunter A. Working with postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder: potential challenges for midwives and other health practitioners. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest 2013; Volume 23 (Issue 3): pages 367-372.

Where I offer support

I’m based in Fife, Scotland and can travel to work with clients in the surrounding regions. This includes Edinburgh, the Lothians, Perthshire and Stirlingshire.

I also work online with clients from all around the world.

I also offer retreats in Scotland and abroad.

I look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions or want to enquire about booking sessions with me, please get in touch using the Let's Connect form at the bottom of the page or email me at amanda@youhavegotthis.co.uk