Postpartum Therapy
Are You Looking For Support
During the Postpartum Period?
Are you a woman in postpartum and finding all of the changes from becoming a new parent overwhelming?
Maybe you are experiencing the anxieties of motherhood for the first time, which can feel more complicated by the hormonal fluctuations happening in your body.
You may have noticed that you feel irritable, unusually sad or tearful, or like it is hard to connect with your baby, which are signs of postpartum depression. These complex emotions can leave you feeling helpless and disillusioned about motherhood.
Pregnancy and childbirth are already exhausting, and the time after having a child introduces radically different lifestyle changes that can feel like a total whirlwind. You might wonder if postpartum therapy can help you find balance, peace, and a restored sense of self.
Have any questions? Send us a message!
Postpartum Is Often Overlooked Despite How Challenging It Can Be
Parenthood is a huge shift in identity, which can feel like an enormous transition. You will likely experience joy, but that may likely be coupled with worries about feeding your baby, ensuring they get enough sleep, and reaching developmental milestones, among other concerns.
You might feel inadequate and wonder how you can stay on top of all the new demands of motherhood, or how to juggle the rest of your family obligations.
It can also be tricky if you do not feel like your support system is showing up for you or if it is hard for you to ask for help because of shame or guilt. Therapy for the perinatal or postpartum period with Bluestone Counseling Group can provide a non-judgmental, safe space for you to share your story and find support.
It's Easy To Feel External Pressures
As A New Mom
Motherhood can be challenging, and the added pressures from social media on all the ways it should be done “correctly,” and even advice from well-meaning family and friends can weigh heavily on new moms’ mental health.
Breastfeeding issues might come up, and it can be incredibly challenging for so many reasons for new moms. But the pressures mothers get to breastfeed can make them feel like they aren’t measuring up. Moms can also feel pressure to “bounce back” socially but may be too exhausted or overwhelmed to add that back into their lives consistently, despite how isolated they might feel.
The Highs And Lows Of Motherhood Are Tough To Navigate
Motherhood is filled with many big feelings like love, gratitude, and connection. It can also involve other feelings that are uncomfortable or scary, like anxiety, guilt, irritability, and loneliness. The highs and lows of the postpartum period can feel like a rollercoaster that understandably leaves moms feeling unsteady.
In the U.S., postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 1 in 7 women (14 percent), and those with prior depression, low income, or limited support are at higher risk. Alarmingly, up to 50 percent of cases go undiagnosed, and without treatment through counseling or other forms of therapy, postpartum depression can lead to significant health consequences for both mothers and infants. (1)
Having an experienced and understanding postpartum therapist can help you navigate the emotional swings and challenges of the perinatal period. Bluestone Counseling Group can help you feel validated while providing you with the right tools so you can process your experience and heal.
1.https://www.postpartum.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/PSI-PMD-FACT-SHEET-2015.pdf
Postpartum Therapy Can Help You Find Balance And Fulfillment
At our practice, we believe that a mother does not need to be “perfect” to support her child's healthy development, and all new moms could use more support and understanding. When you reach out for postpartum therapy at our practice, we will work together to find proactive support and strategies so that you can adjust to motherhood and connect with your baby while caring for yourself.
We will start by assessing the hardest part of your current experience and then decide together on how you would most feel supported. Depending on your needs, your counselor may focus on ways to improve your sleep or show you ways to engage in other forms of self-care during the postpartum period.
We might look at how you notice when you need help, and then how you reach out for assistance. We may focus on helping you feel less isolated, or if you are partnered, how to balance parenting more equitably. Overall, we will discuss the mental, emotional, and physical load you may be carrying.
Our Therapeutic Approach For New Moms
We utilize targeted therapeutic modalities to support you during postpartum therapy, depending on your needs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides techniques to recognize and challenge any negative automatic thoughts you may have, which can help with postpartum depression and anxiety.
Mindfulness can help you recognize when your anxiety is talking to you, and your therapist can teach you strategies for bringing yourself into the present moment during the postpartum period and beyond. This can help you regulate when you are having a hard time managing your emotions.
Additionally, if you have experienced a trauma of some kind that we find relates to your current mental health struggles during the postpartum period, we can utilize therapy like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This evidence-based, trauma-informed modality can help you reprocess your trauma memories to find relief from your emotional and physical reactions.
We Can Help You Navigate The Postpartum Period
Our therapists are all moms who understand the difficulties, the triumphs, the highs, and the lows of motherhood and have the professional experience and training to support moms in the postpartum period.
You can feel more comfortable and confident in your role as a mother. In therapy, you don’t have to second guess everything you do or feel dysregulated, especially when your baby’s needs are extra challenging.
You can find a balance with your relationships and areas of life that feel like they don’t get enough attention anymore. You can find time for yourself and your well-being. Bluestone Counseling Group can help you see that despite how difficult the postpartum period has been, with help and support you can feel well again, and capable of facing each day with more optimism.
You Might Still Have Questions Or Concerns About Postpartum Therapy…
I am worried that talking
about my issues in therapy
will make things worse.
Talking about your troubles may feel strange or challenging at first, but most people feel a huge sense of relief in having a safe space to discuss them. Postpartum is a developmental period unlike any other throughout your life and attending therapy to process it all without judgment can be a huge support.
Remember that if you are struggling with symptoms of postpartum depression, your mind might be telling you that seeing a therapist is a fruitless effort, but that is the depression talking, not the reality of the situation. Therapy does help and you can feel relief.
I’m worried that I’m not
connecting with my baby
like I thought I would.
Understand that this is more common than you might think, and therapy can be a safe space to explore this without judgment. Together, we can gently uncover what might affect your bond with your baby—whether it’s exhaustion, trauma, unmet expectations, or emotional overwhelm.
Through compassionate support, your counselor can help build coping strategies, reduce self-blame, and explore small ways to foster connection during the postpartum period and beyond. Therapy can also help you understand that bonding may take some time and doesn’t reflect your worth as a mother.
I’m worried that I won’t be
a good enough mother and
I am fearful of the future as
a parent.
Counseling can help you gently explore where your anxiety about motherhood comes from during the postpartum period and offer support without judgment. We’ll work on quieting that critical voice, helping you recognize the love and care you’re already showing, even if it feels imperfect. We can also focus on building self-compassion, realistic expectations, and small, manageable steps to nurture yourself and your baby.
This is a uniquely challenging time in your life, and the thoughts and feelings you have now don't necessarily reflect how you will feel in the future.
We Can Support Your Mental Health During The Postpartum Period
We offer a free, 15-minute consultation to help you determine if we are a good fit for your therapy journey during the postpartum period. Reach out to us by calling 202-505-1454 or clicking one of the buttons below if you are ready to focus on your mental health and wellness as a new mother.