Pregnancy + Postpartum Therapy for Anxious Moms
HIGHLY SPECIALIZED CARE FOR YOUR MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTHIN PROVIDENCE, RI + VIRTUALLY ACROSS RHODE ISLAND AND WASHINGTON STATE
As a mother, you are shaping the next generation in a profound way. You deserve competent care for yourself along the way.
Most people are familiar with postpartum depression. However, postpartum anxiety or postpartum OCD are very common as well. Today, there is an abundance of information, opinions, and gadgets at your fingertips; all promising to give you the safest and happiest outcome. Who doesn’t want that? But it can be really overwhelming to sort through all the noise without inducing anxiety. Aside from all these resources, it can be difficult to trust that you are doing a good job as a new mom and that your baby is most likely perfectly healthy and well.
I am passionate about helping women who are pregnant or postpartum through the transformation of becoming a mother. Whether you are dealing with depression or anxiety, processing a traumatic birth, or struggling through the early years of parenthood; I see you and I’m here for you.
I’m Rachael
I’m a Licensed Mental Health Therapist. Welcome to my office, where I see clients both in person and remotely. I specialize in working with women who are pregnant, postpartum, or parenting. Whether you are exploring postpartum mood issues or just want qualified support around parenting, I am honored to be a guide along your path. I’ll help you move from overwhelm to peace, equipping you with tools that you can use for a lifetime.
How does perinatal therapy work?
STEP ONEFirst, we set up a complimentary 15 minute consult call to assess if we are a good fit. Then we meet for an intake session where we determine the goals you are looking to meet and how I can help you reach them.
STEP TWO Once we have established a plan for our time together, we begin doing the work of evaluating your thoughts, behaviors, and patterns to determine what in your life is serving you and what isn’t. We gently identify places where change may benefit you and I equip you with tangible skills to practice in your day to day life. We also process experiences that may not be in your control but are impacting you in difficult ways. We learn to make peace with the things you can’t control and shift the things you have choice over.
STEP THREEWe regularly check in to make sure we are meeting the goals we set out to address. Therapeutic fit is one of the biggest determinants of whether or not someone feels successful in their process. I make it a priority to see that we are on the right path. Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. If at any point either of us determines that the direction we are taking isn’t working, we explore ways to pivot in our work together or discuss alternate modalities or providers.
Common Maternal Mental Health Challenges
Feeling on edge, restless but exhausted at the same time.
Difficulty engaging family and friends, possibly even your own children if you have them.
Challenges getting out of bed or completing basic self care, like showering.
Obsessively checking on your infant to make sure they are breathing while they sleep.
Feeling generally frazzled and disoriented, wishing you had your old life back.
Benefits of Maternal or Perinatal Mental Health Therapy
Provides a safe environment for you to process difficult emotions or thoughts that feel hard to say out loud.
Enhances your ability to offer care and kindness to yourself and in turn to your family.
Offers tools and resources to help you move through difficulties and grow confidence in your unique strengths.
Provides support and guidance during the early parenting years.
FAQ’s
Can I bring my baby with me to therapy?
Yes! Up until 1 year of age, I allow babies in session with mom’s, both in person and via telehealth. If the presence of your baby is consistently enough of a distraction to where the time is not constructive, we may talk about finding childcare for that hour. I want you to get the most out of your time and I also want therapy to be accessible to you during a season when it’s often difficult to hand your baby off to another person.
I don’t feel at all like myself. How do I know if it’s just sleep deprivation or something more?
I hear this sentiment all the time. It can be alarming to feel so disoriented during the vulnerability of early parenthood. The good news is that most postpartum mood concerns are predominantly driven by lack of quality sleep. That’s a problem with a clear solution. It might take some time to get to the solution but it tells you that what you are experiencing is likely very normal. Also, it’s important to have support when you’re not feeling great. We will explore your symptoms together and determine what is driving them and how to best address the concerns you are having during our time together. No thought or feeling is too big or small. They are all important as you navigate this time.