In a postnatal CBT group, health visiting appointment or at home between sessions, Mums Matter Workbook 257 gives mothers a structured place to follow the course and record how they are feeling week by week. It is aimed particularly at mums experiencing postnatal low mood, anxiety or emotional difficulties after having a baby, and would also be useful for CBT therapists, perinatal practitioners and health visitors supporting a Mums Matter style group.
The opening pages introduce the Mums Matter course as a 12-week Cognitive Behavioural Therapy based group, with weekly sessions lasting up to two hours. The booklet explains that participants complete short questionnaires to monitor mood and progress, practise change-based tasks at home, and contact the service if they cannot attend. It also sets out what may happen if sessions are missed, which helps make expectations around attendance and engagement clear.
A practical safety page lists options for support between sessions, including contacting a health visitor or GP, calling NHS 111, attending A&E if there is a risk of harm, phoning Samaritans, using the NHS Stay Alive app, and local Dorset or Southampton crisis support options where relevant. There is also a space for writing down useful telephone numbers, making it easier for a mother, partner or family member to find support quickly when things feel difficult.
The group agreement section supports safe and respectful discussion by suggesting guidelines such as keeping phones on silent, joining from a private space, listening to others, respecting different views, arriving on time where possible, and being able to pause the camera to care for a baby. Blank lines are included so the group can add its own agreed rules, which is helpful for facilitators building trust and psychological safety in online or face-to-face sessions.
A weekly mood check table runs from week one to week twelve, with a 0 to 10 mood rating scale and space for comments about changes, problems discussed in therapy and anything significant that may have affected mood. Produced for the Mums Matter course delivered by Steps 2 Wellbeing, with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust branding, it offers a simple way to track progress and support reflection during postnatal mental health work.
