Maternal Mental Health
You're a mom who needs to share honestly about her experience of pregnancy, birth and/or parenthood. You've changed. Sometimes you wonder if you'll ever feel like yourself again.
Pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood are some of the most extraordinary and complicated experiences of a lifetime. But we often don't share the full truth about how parenthood impacts us. When we try, we are often invalidated or shamed in social circles. While the birth of a baby can bring precious moments of joy and profound love, it can also bring up intense anxiety, confusion, rage and grief. Women often still bear the full burden of many unrecognized societal responsibilities and expectations, living in a culture that tells them they need to be and do it all. It's no surprise that many women feel weary, overwhelmed and angry.
And the truth is that anyone-- regardless of economic, ethnic or personal background-- can be struck with postpartum anxiety and depression, including fathers and non-biological parents. While there are risk factors, it still often catches families by surprise. In fact, recent studies indicate that as many as 1 in 5 women experiences PPD. Experiencing these debilitating symptoms while sleep-deprived, trying to care for an infant can make each day feel like you are swimming upstream, fighting a strong current that is pushing you down. Without the right support, symptoms will often worsen and sometimes become quite serious.
Support provided:
Birth Trauma
Rage
Identity Struggles
Anxiety
Depression
It doesn't have to be this lonely. Therapy will be the space just for you.
With me, you can tell it like it is. We may explore how pregnancy and parenthood have impacted your life and identity. We may talk about how tired, confused and worried you are since you had your baby. Perhaps your struggles are actually a normal reaction to the profound adjustments of parenthood in a society that does not support families enough. Maybe your symptoms are also a sign of postpartum illness. Regardless, my perinatal training and 20+ years of experience working with mothers will enable me to quickly determine what steps we need to take to give you support and relief. If there is trauma in your story, rest assured that I am trained and skilled to attend to it. I will take great care to provide a space to where you can begin to feel safe, find your voice, and tell your story. Because I believe that it takes a village to support a family, I often collaborate with lactation consultants, pediatricians, doctors and other involved providers.