My Approach and How I Can Help You:

As a PMH-C who holds a certificate in perinatal mental health, I am specially trained to identify anxiety and mood disorders in those who are wanting to become pregnant, pregnant, or postpartum. At Live Life Therapy, an eclectic approach is taken to meet each individual’s needs. You will learn to focus on your strengths, reframe any negative thoughts, work on building self-confidence and self-esteem and feel more comfortable as you care for your child and yourself.

Here some of the ways that perinatal and postpartum therapy can help:

During Pregnancy

• Emotional Support: Therapists can provide a safe space for women to express their feelings, including excitement, fear, anxiety, and stress about pregnancy and childbirth.

• Managing Anxiety and Depression: For those experiencing prenatal anxiety or depression, therapists can offer evidence-based treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to manage symptoms.

• Stress Management: Therapists can teach stress management techniques, including mindfulness, relaxation exercises, and breathing techniques to cope with pregnancy-related stress.

• Preparation for Childbirth: They can help women prepare mentally and emotionally for childbirth, addressing fears and providing information about what to expect.

• Relationship Counseling: Pregnancy can put a strain on relationships. Therapists can offer couples counseling to improve communication and strengthen the relationship.

• Support for High-Risk Pregnancies: Women with high-risk pregnancies may need additional emotional support. Therapists can help them cope with the added stress and anxiety.

After Childbirth (Postpartum Period)

• Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: Therapists can diagnose and treat postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety (PPA) through individual counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and other therapeutic approaches.

• Bonding with Baby: Therapists can assist mothers who struggle with bonding with their newborns, offering strategies to enhance the mother-baby connection.

• Adjusting to Motherhood: They can provide support as new mothers adjust to their new roles, helping them manage feelings of overwhelm, identity changes, and the demands of motherhood.

• Sleep and Self-Care: Therapists can offer practical advice on managing sleep deprivation and emphasize the importance of self-care.

• Grief and Loss: For mothers who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of a newborn, therapists can provide grief counseling and support.

• Breastfeeding Support: For mothers facing challenges with breastfeeding, therapists can provide emotional support and practical advice.

• Managing Expectations: Therapists can help new mothers manage expectations and deal with the pressures of motherhood, including societal expectations and personal perfectionism.

Techniques and Approaches

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps mothers identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.

• Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Teaches mindfulness techniques to manage stress and enhance well-being.

• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and communication.

• Psychodynamic Therapy: Explores unconscious patterns and past experiences affecting current behavior.

Benefits of Therapy

• Improved Mental Health: Therapy can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, leading to better overall mental health.

• Enhanced Coping Skills: Mothers learn effective coping strategies for managing stress and challenges.

• Better Relationship Quality: Improved communication and support within relationships.

• Increased Confidence: Therapy can boost self-esteem and confidence in parenting abilities.