Therapy for Pregnant Women in Philadelphia and online in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Vermont
Get Support during this challenging transition
Sound like you?
Struggling with your pregnancy experience not going how you envisioned
Tired of feeling like you are jumping to all the worst case scenarios
You worry what life will be like after your baby comes
You want to break generational cycles and be your best self going into this stage of life
You’re tired of feeling like you have to act like you are “glowing” and everything is great.
It’s one of the most challenging times of your life and everyone assumes you are elated and maybe you are at times, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t hard
Society tells us the process of becoming a mother is joyous and seamless, but this is often not many individuals’ experience. The road to motherhood can be rocky and overwhelming whether you are thinking about growing your family or already pregnant and navigating the challenges of hormone changes, anxiety around upcoming lifestyle changes, and relational challenges.
Maybe you have always identified as an anxious person and pregnancy has created the perfect storm where the anxiety feels unbearable or is starting to wreak havoc on your ability to enjoy things or straining certain relationships.
Maybe you are struggling to feel like yourself with the physical symptoms and changes you are experiencing. If any other person was experiencing nausea, fatigue, heartburn, moodiness, bloating, headaches, and more, we would tell them to go to the doctor because that sounds awful, but for pregnancy you are supposed to continue working and act like its great!? Not loving your pregnancy experience doesn’t mean that you are not excited to be a mom or don’t love your baby.
Studies show that up to 20% of women experience perinatal depression and 50% of all perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) develop during pregnancy. Anxiety and depression can’t be wished away, but they are treatable with the support of a trained maternal mental health therapist. Prenatal depression counseling can equip you with the tools to cope throughout your pregnancy, promote mental well-being and prepare for postpartum. Studies show that those who receive treatment in pregnancy can reduce their odds of developing postpartum depression. We will use various techniques in combination with authentic connection and empathy to foster a sense of calm in this time of massive change.
Here’s what we’ll do together
Perinatal Therapy can help you feel grounded during this time of transformation
You might be experiencing unwanted people touching your belly or asking invasive questions. People might be offering unsolicited parenting/birthing advice or sharing negative experiences you are working so hard to not think about. While you can be excited about the upcoming transition, it is also common to grieve the life you had before whether that was without kids or with the kids you already have. This time brings unique challenges that deserve to be acknowledged and processed.
Hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and after childbirth can exacerbate mood changes and make emotions feel overwhelming, but they aren’t the only factors in struggling with depression or anxiety during this time. Previous trauma, family of origin struggles, and relational stressors and others are risk factors for struggling with perinatal anxiety or depression.
Get specialized support you need for your mental health before, during, and after pregnancy. Maternal mental health therapy often involves learning to make space in your life to prioritize yourself, collaboratively working to increase and utilize your supports, process past hurts that get triggered in parenthood, nurture your confidence in your self and ground yourself in the present. In perinatal therapy, we make space for all parts of your experience.
Therapy for Pregnancy Loss
Maybe you experienced an unimaginable loss
The loss of a baby, no matter how far along you were, can be one of the most painful life events. Its common to have envisioned what life would look like with your growing family and you are grieving the loss of your baby and the loss of what could have been. Grief can show up in different ways for everyone and there is no one right way to grieve. You might find it difficult to talk about your loss, enjoy things you used to enjoy, connect to your partner, focus at work or on your current relationships. Maybe you avoid reminders of the loss or struggle with the idea of trying to grow your family again. You may be left with questions about why or how this happened, making grief even harder to sit with. Grief can be exhausting and come in waves that feel overwhelming at times.
If you are experiencing infertility, miscarriage, or stillbirth, please know that you are not alone. Many people don’t realize 1 in 4 pregnancies end in some form of loss.
I would love to support you on the journey of healing. Therapy cannot take away your loss, but together we can make space to mourn, for moments of peace and joy to re-enter, and reconnect yourself and loved ones while honoring your loss.
you are not alone:
Perinatal depression is the most underdiagnosed obstetric complication in America (Earls, 2010).
Prenatal anxiety treatment
How can a perinatal mental health therapist help you?
Learn to prioritize taking care of yourself
Feel empowered and confident in this big life transition
Manage and cope with big emotions
Clarify your values and how to embody them
Deepen your understanding and connect with the of the many parts of yourself
Gain insight into patterns that are no longer serving you
Process past experiences that are impacting you
Explore how your culture and family of origin impact your experience and expectations of parenthood
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.
Pregnancy mental health blog posts
It is normal for expecting mothers to feel anxious during this significant time in their lives with the upcoming life changes in addition to the hormonal and physical changes occurring in their body. Sometimes the anxiety might reach levels where it feels distressing or too much. This is not uncommon and there are tools, resources, and support available.