The journey through pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and motherhood is deeply personal and often unpredictable. The perinatal period, which includes pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum phase, often brings a mix of joy and uncertainty, along with anxiety, stress, and physical demands. Many women face struggles they never anticipated—prenatal or birth trauma, postpartum depression and anxiety, or difficulty adjusting to the new realities of motherhood. At Peaks and Valleys Behavioral Health, I offer specialized therapy for women in this season of life, providing a safe space to navigate these experiences with care, compassion, and understanding.
Therapy for Pregnancy, Postpartum & Motherhood
Challenges in the Perinatal Period
Each stage of motherhood, from pregnancy to the postpartum period, presents a unique set of challenges. These may include:
Prenatal and birth trauma: Pregnancy and childbirth don’t always go as planned. It is not uncommon for women to experience chronic stress or trauma during a pregnancy, and the impact of that stress can lead to poor health outcomes for both mom and baby. Some women experience birth trauma, which can arise from a difficult or complicated delivery, a sense of powerlessness during the experience, or medical interventions that didn’t align with their birth plan. This trauma can leave lasting emotional scars, impacting how you feel about your birth experience.
Postpartum anxiety and depression: After childbirth, many women face postpartum mental health challenges. Postpartum depression may manifest as overwhelming sadness, irritability, or detachment from your baby. Postpartum anxiety can show up as obsessive worries about your baby’s health or your ability to parent. These struggles can make it difficult to bond with your baby and enjoy early motherhood, leaving you feeling isolated and unsure of yourself.
Adjusting to motherhood: The shift from pregnancy to motherhood is profound. From the exhaustion of sleepless nights and the constant demands of a newborn, challenges to reconcile your old sense of self with your new role and responsibilities, the pressure to “bounce back", and struggles to take care of your own needs without feeling guilty or like you’re not doing enough for your child can create stress, uncertainty, and frustration. It’s common to feel lost in your new role or to question whether you’re doing it “right.”
Therapeutic Process
The perinatal period can bring a wide range of emotions and challenges that can feel isolating, but you do not have to navigate this alone. Therapy provides a supportive space to process your emotions, explore the challenges of the perinatal period, and rediscover a sense of balance. Together, we’ll work toward healing and finding a path that allows you to thrive as both a mother and an individual. Here’s how therapy can support you:
Creating a safe space for healing: Whether you’re dealing with prenatal or birth trauma, postpartum anxiety and depression, or identity issues, therapy can offer a space where you can talk openly about your experiences without fear of judgment. Together, we’ll process your experiences, emotions, and beliefs and begin to heal the wounds that are affecting your well-being.
Developing coping strategies: For those struggling with postpartum depression or anxiety, I utilize evidence-based techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and mindfulness to help you manage intense emotions and feel more in control of your mental health.
Addressing identity and self-care: We’ll explore how motherhood has impacted your sense of self and work toward reclaiming parts of your identity that may feel lost. We’ll also focus on building healthy boundaries and self-care routines that allow you to care for both yourself and your family.
