Perinatal + Postpartum Anxiety Support
THERAPY THAT ADDRESSED THE SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, AND TREATMENTS FOR PERINATAL ANXIETY AND OCD IN PERSON NEAR PROVIDENCE, RI + TELEHEALTH ACROSS RHODE ISLAND AND WASHINGTON STATE
How does perinatal therapy work?
Therapy for perinatal anxiety or OCD symptoms is intended to provide a container for you to acknowledge your experiences, free from judgement. It often feels shameful for women to acknowledge that they are struggling with anxiety through pregnancy or postpartum. Therapy gives you space to explore the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors you have with understanding and empathy. There is nothing wrong with you. You simply need support during a physically and mentally demanding time.
This type of therapy provides you with coping strategies, reframes your thought patterns, and helps you to offer yourself kindness in your process. We also work to enhance your communication skills, navigate relational dynamics that might be challenging, and provide confident parenting support. I come with years of experience, knowledge, and referrals to equip you with everything you need to find joy and freedom through this time.
Hello, 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 navigating anxiety or OCD symptoms that arise during pregnancy or postpartum. I understand how powerless it feels to not have control. I want to help you get present with yourself so that you can find your way to a calmer reality for you and your baby.
Common ways that perinatal anxiety shows up
Constant feeling of being on edge or overwhelmed
Physical symptoms like panic attacks, racing heart, sweaty palms
Intrusive thoughts about something bad happening to your baby
Social withdrawal or avoidance of certain activities or outings with the baby
Obsessions around health or cleanliness as it relates to baby
Restless, inability to relax, or constantly feeling irritable
Compulsive behaviors like constantly checking on baby, cleaning surfaces, or monitoring of other peoples interactions with the baby
If you experience several of these symptoms, reaching out to a specialized and licensed therapist is a great way to gain skills that will help you to get off the hamster wheel of anxiety and find freedom in your experience as a parent.
In fact, everyone who is in the perinatal phase can benefit from therapeutic support, no matter your symptoms.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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There isn’t a bad time to see a therapist. It’s a great way to increase self awareness, grow in the ways you relate to yourself and others, and build valuable skills that will be useful to your throughout your lifetime. If you are in a place where you often feel anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed and your challenges are increasing, that would be a very good time to see a therapist. We all have difficult times in our lives but we aren’t meant to navigate them alone. Reaching out for support is an act of care for yourself and your baby.
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The length of therapy differs widely, depending on the issues you are looking to address. Therapy can be short term or long term. We will assess your need during our consultation call. Therapy sessions are generally weekly or every two weeks. As our work progresses, there are options to reduce frequency as needed.
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Therapy is a collaborative relationship between the therapist and the client. We often start by checking in on how you have been doing since our last appointment, address your goals, explore skills for use in your day to day life, and reflect on your progress. During our first appointment we will identify what you wish to get out of our time together. We will create goals from that conversation, that will serve to orient our work together.