Prenatal/Postpartum Counseling
All families face challenges with the arrival of a new baby.
You are not alone!
Have you ever asked:
"Why can't I sleep even when baby sleeps?" "Am I a bad mom?" "Is it normal to not feel happy after having a baby?" "Why am I crying all the time postpartum?" "Do I have postpartum depression?" "Why don't I feel connected to my baby?" "Is something wrong with me?" "How long does postpartum depression last?" You're not alone. And nothing is wrong with you. Postpartum is hard. You don't have to bounce back, perform, or pretend. You just need support - and a space where you can be honest about what you're really feeling.
You will feel better with time, rest, education, and good support!
We provide holistic prenatal and postpartum mental health support for new parents and their families. In a culture that has mostly lost our wisdom about how to care for new moms and dads, let's re-create the village you are so desperately aching for.
Examples of ways we can help:
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Provide reliable information about perinatal mental health, PMADS (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders), and hope for the road to recovery
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Normalize common postpartum experiences and symptoms as well as the stages of recovery
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Develop/reinforce your support system
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Address your physical wellbeing and support you in pursuing medical evaluation/treatment to rule out any medical reasons for your present psychological and emotional state
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Provide a compassionate therapeutic relationship in which to safely process challenging thoughts and feelings
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Teach effective communication and relationship skills, and provide information that will help you and your partner better navigate this time of transition
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Provide tools for relief (i.e. coping skills, anxiety-reduction techniques, mindfulness tools, and crisis management)
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Support parent-baby bonding
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Support meaning-making and new identity development as a mother or father
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Process the natural grief inherent in all transitions
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Help build your confidence as a new parent
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Reprocess trauma from pregnancy, labor/delivery, or postpartum experiences
We are usually given comprehensive care during pregnancy and childbirth. Unfortunately in this culture, there is little attention given to the mother (and father or partner) in the crucial time after birth, which is really the beginning. The more you take care of yourself early on, the better you will be able to care for your baby and your family as time goes on. We believe this is actually a movement that can bring to light the critical importance of quality postpartum support and mental health care, for the health of your family and all of our communities!
Did you know? 1 in 5 mothers nationwide, experience serious depression or anxiety (both treatable) during pregnancy or the first year postpartum (and 1 in 10 fathers)! Also, 80% of all new mothers experience normal "baby blues" in the first few weeks after the baby arrives (Statistics provided by Wendy Davis, PhD, from Postpartum Support International, 2017).
To learn more about common postpartum mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety, visit Postpartum Support International.
From the International Journal of Women's Health:
"Research supports both psychotherapy and other psychosocial interventions are effective in mitigating symptoms of PPD. Interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy and other supportive interventions such as telephone-based peer support, counseling by a health visitor, and partner support have also shown benefit(s)..." (Fitelson, et. all, 2011).