Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

     Explore the changing moods, feelings and emotions related to becoming a new mother and recognize when it's more than just the "baby blues". Learn how to regain control and feel like yourself again.

Postpartum Adjustment

       Acknowledge your own adjustment into motherhood and how it has changed your definition of self, changed your identity, and impacted your relationships and life as you once knew it. 

Grief & Loss  ~  Infertility, Miscarriage, Stillbirth, Neonatal Loss

          Losing a child anytime during pregnancy or after birth is a traumatic experience which requires a great deal of time to grieve. Not only is it a physical loss, but a loss of hopes, dreams and wishes. There are times when you feel alone, depressed, sad, envious, jealous, shameful or guilty. We will process your grief in a supportive, safe, and nurturing environment.

Birth Choices

     Explore your birthing options such as Doula Support, Bradley Method, Hypnobirthing and hospital childbirth education classes. Develop your birth plan and discuss your hopes and dreams for your birthing experience as well as your fears and anxieties.

Fertility

         Infertility can impact every aspect of your life, it can make you feel anxious, guilty, lonely or angry. Counseling can help in coping with stresses of ongoing medical treatments and the uncertainty of its outcome or help you decide if fertility treatment is the right choice for you. The inability for you to become pregnant can also be do to these intense feelings and counseling could help you process your feelings sometimes helping the fertility process naturally. I have been trained at the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health with Alice Domar author of Healing Mind/Healthy Woman. 

Mind/Body for Infertility

         Mind/Body Program for Infertility teaches relaxation strategies, stress management skills, and offers support. Research shows that the level of distress may impact the success of treatment. Women who are anxious and depressed prior to treatment are 93% less likely to conceive than the least distressed woman. Change lifestyle habits which can have a negative impact on fertility. Learn cognitive restructuring, self-nurturing skills, along with numerous relaxation strategies and stress management skills. 

Birth Trauma Resolution

        For some, the birthing experience can be rather traumatic, or your expectations of the birth process were not as you had hoped and dreamed. Grief, sadness, anxiety, and trauma may result. Exploring these feelings encourages healing and growth and may help you reframe the experience to make it a more positive event.

Mind/Body Psychology

     Learn how your mind and body affect your feelings and emotions. We will discuss and practice relaxation response, cognitive behavioral strategies, movement, nutrition, and belief to increase your humor, optimism, and ability to cope with trauma and suffering.

Teen Pregnancy

     Being a teen is hard enough and becoming pregnant adds additional stressors and anxiety, especially managing taking care of yourself along with keeping up with school and friends. Together we will explore what parenting means to you, discuss the transition into motherhood, maintaining and embracing relationships, and your own feelings regarding your pregnancy. 

Attachment & Bonding

     Explore your own values of parenting and how attachment and bonding impacts your child from infancy to adulthood. Discuss your fears and anxieties to help you foster and develop strong attachment based parenting skills.

Anxiety & Depression

     Examine how your anxiety and depression impacts your relationships and your well-being. Identify key support systems you need in your life and learn effective ways to obtain what you need. Explore your habits of thinking and behaving that contribute to your moods and develop healthy thoughts and behaviors. Learn effective relaxation techniques to cope with situations that are causing your anxiety and depression.

Bipolar Disorder

     It is essential that your recovery from Bipolar Disorder include medication management from a psychiatrist. Therapy will help you learn to cope with problems it has caused in your life, repair your relationships, manage stress and regulate your mood. We will explore and educate you about bipolar disorder in order to prevent complications and manage your symptoms. Exploration of your current lifestyle and maintaining regular sleep, avoiding drugs and alcohol, exercising, minimizing stress will be discussed along with developing a strong support system.  

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

     Repetitive thoughts and mental images related to your baby can be very upsetting, you may find yourself doing things over and over again to reduce your fears and obsessions, fear being left alone with your child or be extremely overprotective. Learn healthy and effective ways to respond to your obsessive thoughts without resorting to your compulsive behavior.