The choice to become a parent is a deeply personal decision, and it affects more than one person. People may have different timelines or feel uncertain if they really want children, doubting their ability to parent. Some women choose to become a single mother rather than wait for the “right relationship”. Deciding if parenting is right for you or your relationship can be challenging. If you choose to become pregnant, you may experience a variety of feelings while trying to conceive. This can be a joyful time, though it can also feel something like a rollercoaster. People can feel pressure to conceive and sometimes lose their connection and sexual intimacy when sex becomes a “baby making” project. Once pregnant, it’s natural to have some fears. People may worry about the risks associated with pregnancy or childbirth. It is an important time to explore together the dreams you have for your child, the values you share, and explore how you will parent together as a team.
Growing as a Parent
Parenthood is journey filled with wonderful adventures, uncertainty, and powerful transformation. As your child grows, every day offers unexpected moments that can trigger questions, insecurities or self-doubt. Parents discover that childhood memories of how they were parented often show up in their own actions and words. We can’t help but parent in ways that are informed by our earliest experiences. Most parents have the goal to parent in a way that is unique to their child and wish to parent in some ways differently than how they themselves where parented. Parenthood creates endless opportunities for growth. During early parenting you will be discovering your unique style and approach to parenting.
Early parenting is often filled with lots of questions. Everything is new and happening so quickly. Early childhood development is a fascinating time filled with wonder. Parents may experience fears about whether development is on target or how to potty train their toddler. It is a significant stage in which families establish the foundation of their bond and develop a secure attachment to one another.
In our work, we will focus on your inner experience of parenthood as well as the questions you face in your daily interactions with your child. Working together, we will create a safe space for self-exploration, self-acceptance and transformation. We will also work towards facilitating not only your self-confidence but also the development of new parenting skills, leading you to become the parent you want to be.
Preparing for Parenthood
and Early Parenthood
Fertility Concerns
Difficulties with getting pregnant can be one of the most heartbreaking experiences. Feelings of sadness, frustration, and resentment are common. People often wonder “what is wrong with me?” or develop a sense of shame and self-doubt. Struggling with fertility can start to strain your relationship. Confusion may emerge about how you see yourself or your partner as a woman or a man. Infertility can touch all areas of your life and you may experience difficulty thinking about anything else. If you are considering fertility treatment, it is natural to feel anxious and a bit overwhelmed during the decision making process. Therapy can help you make the decisions that feel right for you to move forward.
Baby Blues
Motherhood, while joyous, is an incredible life change. Did you know nearly 85% of new mothers experience sadness after childbirth?
The Baby Blues generally last 1-2 weeks and are characterized by tearfulness, sleep difficulties, and anxiety. The Baby Blues are considered a natural response to the fluctuating hormones following childbirth. While unsettling, they usually improve on their own.
Postpartum Mood Concerns
Nearly one in seven women will go on to develop something more severe than Baby Blues. Mothers who struggle with depressed mood for several weeks following childbirth may experience Postpartum Depression. PPD can include: feelings of hopelessness, irritability, sleep disturbances, poor concentration, withdraw from friends and family, doubting her ability to care for her infant, lack of interest or difficulty bonding with her baby, loss of ability to feel pleasure, endless worry, and in extreme cases, thoughts of harming herself or about her baby.
Postpartum mood concerns are related to social, emotional and biological factors, which can include: fluctuating hormones, lack of social support, a family history of depression, a previous history of depression, emotional stressors like job loss, illness or the loss of a loved one, a history of repeated pregnancy loss, and medical complications during childbirth. Unfortunately, PPD does not resolve on its own. When left untreated, it can worsen over time.
In the past, new mothers have felt ashamed of feeling depressed at what society has long considered the happiest time of her life. When a new mothers doesn’t feel gratification in her new role, and doesn’t feel a connection with her baby, she can feel even further isolated from help. With more awareness, women and their families are recognizing the reality of postpartum depression. Creating networks of support and seeking out therapy are instrumental in helping mothers heal and rediscover a loving bond with her new baby.
I have always had a deep commitment and interest in the area of women’s and children’s health. As a maternal child health fellow, I completed advanced training and specialized in therapeutic approaches to assist in reproductive health and early childhood development. I integrate this specialized knowledge into my work as a therapist.
As a therapist, I help parents navigate the decision-making process related fertility choice. I support parents as they prepare for the identity shift and new responsibilities of parenting. Parents develop insight into the style of parenting they received and develop their unique approach parenting. I educate parents about the developmental needs presented in the earliest years of development. Parents have the opportunity to have sessions with their young children to promote bonding and to practice ways to stimulate development. I often coordinate care with other providers helping the family to encourage an integrated and holistic approach to care.