Therapy for perinatal depression, anxiety, panic, and OCD in a safe and supportive environment
Pregnancy and childbirth can be exciting and joyful experiences, but they can also be sources of overwhelming stress and anxiety. When these feelings become debilitating and interfere with a new parent’s ability to function and enjoy life, postpartum counseling can help.
Our therapists are specially trained in perinatal mental health and understand the unique challenges and stressors that new parents face.
We provide a safe and non-judgmental space for parents to express their fears and concerns without fear of stigma or shame.
Postpartum counseling aims to empower individuals to develop the skills to thrive during the perinatal period and beyond.
We offer individual counseling both in-person and online as well as virtual perinatal group counseling.
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder
Commonly known as postpartum depression, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) refers to a number of distressing feelings that can occur during and throughout the first year after pregnancy.
Perinatal (in pregnancy or the postpartum period)
Mood (depression, bipolar, psychosis)
Anxiety (general anxiety, panic, OCD, PTSD)
Disorder (gets in the way of daily functioning)
1 in 7 moms and 1 in 10 dads will experience perinatal mental health struggles. PMAD can start at any point from conception, pregnancy, or the first year postpartum and can last even longer if not treated.
Our therapists offer counseling for new parents including perinatal depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD.
Postpartum Counseling for Depression
Postpartum depression is a common but serious mental health disorder that can occur anytime from the time of conception/pregnancy to the first year after childbirth. Symptoms of postpartum depression can include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness, tearfulness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Negative feelings about being a mom
- Feeling shame, guilt, or like a failure
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Irritability, anger, or agitation
- Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or worried
- Having severe mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
These symptoms can interfere with your daily life and make it challenging to care for yourself and your baby. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for postpartum depression. CBT focuses on identifying negative thoughts and behaviors and replacing them with more positive ones, identifying triggers of depression, and developing a plan to manage them.
Postpartum Counseling for Anxiety
Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) is a common type of anxiety presentation that affects many parents during the perinatal period.
Anxiety can manifest in various ways, including:
feeling extremely overwhelmed
experiencing panic attacks
extreme fatigue
a sense of dread about day-to-day things, such as new routines, getting your baby to sleep, or leaving the house
worrying about potential things that can go wrong and being unable to shut off your mind
physiological symptoms like neck pain, back pain, muscle tension, heart palpitations, chest pain or chest tightness
GI issues like an upset stomach
Through cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), individuals can learn to recognize and challenge their negative thoughts, develop effective coping strategies, and manage their symptoms in a healthy and sustainable way.
Postpartum Counseling For Panic Disorder
Many people with panic disorder experience sudden and intense episodes of fear, which can be triggered by a variety of factors such as a thought, an event, or a memory.
For parents, these triggers may be related to concerns about their baby's well-being, feeling incompetent, or not being able to cope with the demands of parenting.
Panic attacks can make you feel like you're losing control, leading to further isolation and avoidance of situations that may trigger the attacks. It's not uncommon for people to avoid going out in public or engaging in activities they enjoy because of a fear of experiencing a panic attack.
During a panic attack, you may experience a range of symptoms such as:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- sensations of choking
- dizziness
- hot or cold flashes
- rapid heart rate
- restlessness
- irritability/agitation
- excessive worry or fear that something bad is going to happen
- a fear of going crazy or losing control
CBT can help identify the triggers that cause panic attacks and develop coping mechanisms to manage and overcome them through methods of exposure
Postpartum Counseling for OCD
Perinatal OCD is characterized by persistent and intrusive thoughts or images that can be distressing for the person experiencing them.
For postpartum or perinatal populations, these thoughts are often related to unintentional harm to the baby, something happening to oneself or the baby, or accidental harm to the baby. These thoughts can cause significant anxiety and distress. The onset of OCD during pregnancy or postpartum does not require any prior history of OCD.
Individuals with perinatal OCD often engage in compulsive behaviors to suppress these thoughts, such as constantly checking on the baby to ensure they are okay or performing order compulsions, sanitizing things or counting. They may also engage in religious practices, such as praying, to soothe their anxiety.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), a specific type of CBT treatment, can help new moms and dads develop the skills to confront their obsessions and learn how to resist the urge to carry out compulsions.
Therapy Delivered With Respect, Empathy, and Compassion
We view all people as unique individuals who are doing the best they can to cope with the circumstances they are presented with. Although we are CBT specialists that help people manage their anxiety using the most current and effective treatments, we also recognize how privilege, power, unequal access to resources, prejudice, racism, and other systemic issues affect a person’s lived experience. We approach each relationship with the respect, empathy, and compassion that all people deserve.
Our practitioners have also received additional training and supervision in culturally competent practices, and continue to do so as part of participating in our group.
There is no “right time” to seek counseling. Try doing something different today.
