Specializing in the treatment of Perinatal Mood Disorders, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Infertility, Birth Trauma, and related issues.
Specializing in Perinatal Mood disorders, Pregnancy and Infant Loss, Trauma Recovery, and Women's Therapy
Anxiety & Depression around (during or after) Pregnancy
So you’re going to be a mom. You are about to embark on what many parents say is the best and hardest job they’ve ever had. Perhaps this is your first child, perhaps not. Either way, a lot of feelings and questions are bound to arise. How do I care for myself and my baby during pregnancy? What type of birth do I want to have? How do I juggle all my responsibilities: career, marriage/partnership, my other children’s needs, my own needs? I have my own depression and/or anxiety so how do I care for my own mental health needs during this time?
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The perinatal period refers to the duration of a woman’s pregnancy as well as the weeks and months following the birth of a baby. Although we hope the time leading up to and following a baby’s birth is joyful and exciting, the perinatal period can come with mental health challenges for both mothers and fathers. Perinatal and prenatal therapy can help you navigate the complexities of childbirth and parenthood. You deserve a safe place to explore all of the choices which are available to you and any concerns that arise as a part of your prenatal or postpartum care.
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1 in 7 mothers will experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum. It's not your fault and you are not alone.
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Maybe you have been unable to laugh and see the funny side of things. Maybe you haven't been interested in things that typically bring you joy. Maybe you've been blaming yourself unnecessarily when things seem to go wrong. Maybe you've been panicky, anxious, or worried without being able to pinpoint the reason. Maybe you've felt overwhelmed or had difficultly sleeping. Maybe you've felt more irritable and angry. Maybe you have any had thoughts of harming yourself. All of these symptoms can be normal during pregnancy or following delivery but none should be ignored. If you are experiencing any of these signs and symptoms, let's talk about what we can put in place to get you back to feeling like the healthiest version of yourself again.
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Making the first call for help can be difficult. Women resist it for a number of reasons: You may hope this goes away by itself. You may worry that others won’t understand. You may fear someone will react impulsively and misinterpret what you are saying. You may wonder if you will be labeled “crazy”. You may feel like you are weak if you can’t take care of this yourself. Breathe... Don't let isolation win.
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“Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.” – Albert Schweitzer
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Asking for help is an important first step toward healing. Tell your partner. Tell your healthcare provider. Tell someone you trust. Call me. I can help you decide what you can start doing to feel better. Motherhood is rough enough and sometimes "self care" doesn't cut it. I have a special interest and have received specific training in treating postpartum depression, anxiety, and other perinatal mood disorders. There is no substitute for professional care with a therapist who is trained to provide you with the treatment that mothers and soon to be mothers sometimes need and always deserve.
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You are not alone. With help and the right care, you will be well.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss
Losing a pregnancy or an infant at any stage can be one of the most emotionally devastating life events a person can experience.
Imagining how to go on after such a loss may be incomprehensible. Friends, family and even partners may not know how to understand, embrace, or support your grief. You may feel intense sadness, anger, or guilt. You may have traumatic memories and/or even sweet remembrances. Your emotions and memories deserve attention and care.
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“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, For all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”
― Helen Keller
Allow me to bring some sensitivity, patience, and compassion to your process as you seek to understand and cope with such a significant loss. Every situation is different, and no story is any less important than the other. If you lost your child in utero, or you suffered a stillbirth, if your child had a genetic or biological anomaly, SIDS, or any tragic loss, I will help you create a space of healing, learn to cope, and move forward at your pace. Together we can honor and acknowledge the importance of that precious being and help you find actions toward creating meaning beyond the loss.
Fertility Challenges
When faced with challenges surrounding fertility, our whole lives are scrutinized in the quest to conceive and become pregnant.
This may be your first experience with fertility challenges, or you may be struggling with multiple previous losses and be searching for your rainbow baby. You may be struggling to conceive your first child or you may be surprised to be struggling with secondary infertility. You may have some indecision around family building methods or possible treatment options. These challenges can come to women at any age and at any stage in our lives.
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You may experience relationship difficulties with partners, friends and family members who either don't know or only portions of your story. Many couples feel consumed by the infertility process – ending up physically and emotionally drained. Sadness, anger, disappointment, and worry can all cloud your experience and exacerbate the struggle. You may also experience a loss of faith – in God, goodness, or in yourself. Although it is normal to feel hopeless or even defective, these emotions and thoughts require attention and a great deal of care.
With a baby or without, you are valuable. You are whole. And you matter.
If you are experiencing infertility, I want to assist you by offering support and understanding as you navigate difficult situations and uncomfortable questions. Special attention is focused on the mind-body relationship and the relationship to self and others. I will help you reframe hope and gain resolve around your next steps and possible choices for family building. I can offer you an open, non-judgmental, place to ask questions and visualize your future while putting shame and guilt to the side.
Women's Therapy
There isn’t just one way to be a woman, and as a result, therapy for women should be unique. The sessions you will have with me will be tailored specifically to the needs of the exceptional individual asking for a listening ear. Between work, family, children, relationships, and the inconsistent ups and downs of life, life is dynamic and, at times, can be very challenging. The goal of therapy is to bring to light the enjoyable times in life that don’t always seem present or attainable.
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Society is still evolving from the strongly patriarchal system that placed a lot of emphasis on the ideal of the "perfect woman" and didn’t allow for female empowerment. Today, these expectations of women are perpetuated through social media making women often feel more anxious and have incredibly high, if not outright unattainable, standards for themselves. One goal for therapy for women is helping to develop skills such as assertiveness, self-empowerment, and self-compassion to be able to manifest your inner strength. Doing this can help you find your inner voice, and build self-esteem, also aiding in your search for a job, asking for a raise, building body confidence, creating positive relationships, having your boundaries respected, and being the mother and role model you want to be for your children.
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Some other issues that may be discussed in therapy for women are conditions such as life transitions, postpartum depression, infertility, motherhood, depression, and relationships. Life transitioning, in particular, can mean many meanings. Whether you are a young adult, middle-aged woman, or an older woman, moving into the next phase of life may feel daunting, or like life is moving too quickly. Whether it is the stage where you are getting married, having kids, or starting a new career path, or leaving a long-term career, having your kids leave home, or having the first stages of menopause, these transitions may feel sudden and so therapy could be a useful tool.
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Women have so many responsibilities, so it’s important to take care of yourself, in order to be able to take care of your loved ones, and therapy is a major step in doing so.
Trauma and Abuse
When we experience trauma, sometimes we begin to feel like our pain is who we are. When it comes to abuse, all types can cause pain and psychological distress. Often intense emotions occur long after abuse has ended. The effects can be so severe, they interfere with an individual’s ability to live a normal life. Anxiety, flashbacks, and difficulty establishing trust can get in the way of forming new relationships and happiness. It can be difficult to see past the pain and sometimes it can even be difficult to see the possibility of healing.
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However, these effects do not have to be permanent. You can discover that your pain is not who you are and learn that it does not define you. Recovering is all about overcoming certain challenges and addressing symptoms. Let me help you leave unhealthy relationships or recover from past experiences and restore an emotional stage of well-being. By building trust together over time and moving at a pace that is comfortable for you, we begin to create a safe place for you to begin to process your trauma so that it no longer rules your life.
The focus in this treatment is to help you uncover the patterns that keep you stuck and to promote change, self-awareness, and personal growth. Our goal is to create a nonjudgmental and validating environment that fosters self-worth and empowerment. I believe in creating a safe and nurturing space in which to discuss life’s challenges and uncover what’s holding you back. My approach is warm and collaborative, and I am committed to assisting you in becoming the best version of yourself.
EMDR has empirical evidence to support its efficacy in helping people overcome trauma.
Online Therapy
The Coronavirus has brought about the increased need for better ease and ability to "attend" therapy.
Now, you can schedule and attend a session right from the socially distanced comfort of your own home. It's simple, secure, and it requires little to no technical knowledge on your part.
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Online therapy is not appropriate for everyone but it is a very important tool. Depending on your situation and unique scheduling needs, online therapy may actually be able to break some of the barriers once faced with getting traditional therapy.
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For example the following groups ALL have better access to therapy through online services:
*Individuals living in a remote or rural area.
*Individuals with difficult commutes, tight schedules, and/or very young children.
*Individuals with no specialized provider in their area, such as a therapist trained in perinatal mood disorders and loss.
*Individuals who are home-bound due to physical or health limitations, including Covid, or are at a high risk for Covid.
*Individuals who are home-bound due to anxiety or OCD.
*Individuals wanting the complete privacy of Online Counseling.
*Individuals that lack a consistent means of dedicated transportation.
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