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Postpartum Depression Therapy in Philadelphia and online in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Vermont
This is not how you had imagined this time going. You knew it would be hard, but thought it would be better than THIS…
You feel like you’re not supposed to feel this way.
You think you should be happy, glowing and cherishing every moment, but feel so far from that
You are overwhelmed by your emotions and the needs of everyone around you
You might even feel frustrated or confused as to why others didn’t tell you it might not be the blissful time society has portrayed it as
Feeling this way does not make you a bad mother or mean you don’t love your child.
What you’re feeling is so common and we can get you feeling more like yourself
Postpartum Therapy can help you step into your a more calm, connected, and centered you
You so badly want to show up as your best self for your child, but no matter how hard you try, you feel like your fuse is short, you feel tearful or can’t shut your mind off. It can feel so lonely when everyone just wants to see the baby and no one sees how much you are struggling. You feel guilty when you are with your child and not enjoying every second but also feel guilty when you aren’t with them. You are overwhelmed or fear all the worst case scenarios.
Oftentimes motherhood brings out parts of ourselves we have worked to bury or suppress. It can strain relationships and family dynamics and feel like there is no time for yourself. If you identify as a perfectionist or high achiever, motherhood can be even harder due to the amount of things out of your control or feeling like you should be able to “work” your way out of the stressors, but having a baby with colic, sleep deprivation and hormone shifts feel different. Maybe you fear judgment from others. Mom/parenting culture and comparison exacerbated by social media these days is WILD and can make it hard to feel confident in your choices.
This is a unique time when the demands put on you can feel impossible. I want you to know that you are not crazy or doing motherhood wrong. The journey into parenthood is transformative and often involves grieving how your life has changed and reconciling evolving roles, responsibilities, and maybe even career shifts. Postpartum anxiety and depression can manifest in so many ways. No matter what you are feeling, I believe every parent deserves a truly nonjudgmental space to share your experiences.
Postpartum depression treatment consists of a building up your support network, asserting your needs, holding space for the flood of emotions that can come on, learning skills to tolerate and cope with emotions, gain insight into thought or behavioral patterns that aren’t serving you, processing past hurts that are bring triggered or exacerbated by your current experience, and approaching your experiences with more compassion.
Whether you are one week or one year postpartum, this is hard. I am here to support you in navigating this complicated journey.
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety is COMMON
AND just because it is common, does not mean you should have to navigate this time on your own.
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Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) refer to mood and anxiety disorders with onset during pregnancy and postpartum. This includes anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, panic disorder, psychosis etc. PMADs have a variety of risk factors including pre-existing conditions, relational or financial stressors, NICU admissions/premature deliveries, medical complications, and trauma.
The CDC reports that 1 in 7 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression. It is reported that 50% of those with postpartum depression were never diagnosed by their health professional or received treatment. This is way too many people suffering in silence.
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Baby blues occur in about 80% of birthing individuals. The onset is usually 1-4 days after birth and symptoms come and go. While the symptoms can be very similar to depression such as sadness/tearfulness, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, lack of pleasure, lack of motivation, insomnia, but baby blues resolve on their own in 2-3 weeks. While the baby blues are very common, don’t let misinformation about what you are feeling like “this is normal” stop you from seeking help. If you are experiencing baby blues symptoms for more than a couple of weeks, you might be experiencing a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder.
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Birth trauma refers to the physical or emotional distress experienced during childbirth. It often comes from feeling a lack of bodily autonomy, feeling betrayed by one’s body or medical providers, feeling alone or powerless, and physical injuries that have lasting effects. Feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, rage, fear and loneliness can be exacerbated by experiencing birth trauma and making the postpartum adjustment more challenging.
Maybe your baby came into this world in a way you never imagined. Maybe emergency medical interventions had to be done and you feared for you or your baby’s life. You are grieving the loss of the calm, beautiful birth you envisioned and can’t help but be reminded of it all the time. Therapy for birth trauma can help you heal from this painful memory, reconnect to your body, and build resilience for moving forward.
Matrescense is the physical, emotional, hormonal, and social transition to becoming a mother.
I will walk alongside you in your unique journey of reconnecting to yourself and this new aspect of identity. It is an honor to bear witness to your stories, healing and growth.
Could I be experiencing postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression therapy is a good fit for you if you…
Have experienced a difficult transition to motherhood
Experienced birth trauma and are grieving not having the birth story you had hoped for
Are struggling with intrusive thoughts and distressing worry
Notice motherhood bringing up old stuff that you thought you had already moved past
Feel stuck, overwhelmed or heavy with painful emotions
Want to better understand your triggers and show up as your best self
What we’ll work on
What can a postpartum therapist help me with…
Reconnect to yourself and others
Learn to prioritize taking care of yourself and crush that mom guilt
Processing and grieving aspects of your birth that didn’t go as planned
Implement new skills to tolerate the big emotions
Gain insight into why you feel the way you do and how to break generational patterns
By exploring internalized beliefs, relational patterns, past experiences, and understanding the systems you are existing in we can create a roadmap for finding your way back to yourself.
My therapeutic approach is warm and authentic. I value understanding your intersecting identities and supporting you in better understanding and embodying your own strengths and passions. In addition to my clinical experiences, I have obtained clinical trainings to further support my ability to show up for individuals in the perinatal period. I became a Perinatal Mental Health Certified (PMH-C) therapist via Postpartum Support International, in addition to taking extensive trainings through The Postpartum Stress Center, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and The Seleni Institute. I am also a member of the Trauma-informed Maternal Health Directory.
postpartum mental health blog posts
For some mothers, the joyful experience of bringing a life into this world can be marred by birth trauma. Birth trauma refers to deeply distressing experiences during childbirth that may leave individuals feeling overwhelmed, frightened, and often betrayed by their bodies and/or healthcare providers. It can result from a variety of factors. Learn more about it and how to cope