You are not alone and you do not have to keep feeling this way!
Whether you're dealing with overwhelming difficulties or just struggling some of the time — I can help.
The truth is that Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD's) are a whole lot more than just postpartum depression, and they can look different from person to person — they can even look and feel different from day to day.
Maybe some days you're making it, even feeling okay — and other days, the sadness or anxiety or intense and scary thoughts feel all-consuming, like you're drowning.
It can be really hard to reach out for help when part of you keeps telling yourself some version of the following: This isn't SO bad; I should be able to figure this out. I felt okay yesterday, so this can't be postpartum depression. All parents feel like this — this is normal. If I ask for help, people will think I'm a bad parent.
Unfortunately, these thoughts keep people just like you from getting the help they need, and PMAD's remain severely under-diagnosed.
Almost everyone will experience the "baby blues" for up to two weeks after delivery — but for one out of every five people, these difficulties persist, warranting extra support.
And PMAD's don’t just affect the person who gave birth; one in ten partners will suffer from PMAD’s.
You can feel better and I can help.
I create a safe space, where it's okay to talk about your experience — even the thoughts and feelings that scare you or make you feel ashamed.
Together, we'll come up with a plan to help you adjust to and thrive within your new normal. We'll figure out what's working and what's not, and I'll share tools to help you navigate difficult moments and feelings.
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and hold a Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) from Postpartum Support International. I’m a also mother to young children. This means that research-based best practices will guide our work, and I also bring first-hand experience of this challenging life transition.
I also have specialized trauma training, which can be particularly helpful when your baby’s birth was difficult or scary, your baby had to stay in the NICU, or you experienced trauma earlier in your life, and it’s feeling heavier now that you’ve become a parent.
You can feel better, and and you can find joy in motherhood; you just have to take the first step and reach out to someone who knows how to help.
Take that first step toward feeling better and finding the happy moments in motherhood!