COUNSELING FOR PREGNANCY AND POSTPARTUM ISSUES FOR WOMEN IN CHICAGO AND ACROSS IL

Supporting you to and through pregnancy.

 

Does your journey to and through parenthood feel different than you expected?

  • As a new parent, you feel exhausted and run down

  • You feel conflicted about wanting to become a parent

  • Your emotions or thoughts are causing you to worry about yourself

  • Pregnancy and/or postpartum are feeling different than you expected

  • Fearing that you may resent your child if you become a parent

Big life transitions are hard. Parenthood is no different; in fact it may even be harder!

Maybe you are thinking of becoming a parent…

Often after you hit a certain age or milestone like marriage,  loved ones are asking uncomfortable questions about family planning. It can seem like so many people joyfully take the plunge into parenthood that having any hesitations about becoming a parent can feel lonely and scary. You may find yourself wondering “what’s wrong with me”? It’s very normal and healthy to question the decision to become a parent. It is a huge life transition filled with shifting priorities and changing responsibilities. It makes sense that before you take the plunge into a lifelong relationship with a child, that you want to be as sure as you can be.

Maybe you are a new parent…

New parents are repeatedly fed a sunny, joyful fantasy of pregnancy and parenthood about how everything is magical and that you should be enjoying every moment.  It makes sense then that many of those new parents feel incredibly disheartened to find out the reality is far from what they imagined. There might be less emotional or social support than you expected. Maybe your labor experience was frightening and overwhelming. You may be struggling with feelings of uncertainty and regret about your choice to be a parent. No matter what your specific experience of pregnancy or postpartum has been, it is leaving you feeling lonely, overwhelmed, and disheartened.

 

You’re allowed to put yourself first.

You can feel empowered to make the choice about parenthood that feels right for you. Your feelings of detachment can fade into experiencing joy and connection. You can clearly set boundaries with loved ones asking about your family plans. You can learn to identify your needs and ask others for help in a clear way.

Working through feelings of regret and uncertainty can create a deeper experience of love and certainty.

As we help you get to focus on you again, your ability to take care of yourself will improve. Conversely, the more you focus on yourself, your ability to care for the loved ones in your life will also vastly improve.  You will be able to better communicate your feelings to your loved ones and ask for help with more ease. You will feel empowered when you notice feelings of depression or anxiety creep up because you know how to help yourself. 

It can be easy to forget that we cannot pour from an empty cup. Whether we’re busy shouldering life responsibilities, growing a tiny human, or taking care of one outside of the womb, making time for taking care of ourselves is not optional, it is a necessity. Self-care is not always face masks and bubble baths. It is often showering, getting sunlight, eating nutritious meals, and drinking enough water. You can do this! 

Together we will:

  • Create a clear postpartum plan

  • Explore what may be holding you back from becoming a parent

  • Grieve the parts of your non-parenthood life that you may need to let go of

  • Feel connected to your pregnancy and your baby

  • Choose to move forward in this next stage of life feeling empowered and grounded

FAQS

What others have wondered about therapy for parenthood and postpartum

 

  • 1 in 8 women will experience a perinatal mood disorder. 1 in 7 dads will experience a postpartum mood disorder. At this time, there is limited data about males and LGBTQ+ families, however we do know that these folx also struggle with perinatal mood disorders.

  • You are in the right place! Therapy is a great tool to explore whether or not parenthood is the right choice for you. It’s okay to not want to be a parent and it’s okay if you know that you want to be a parent and also feel a little conflicted. We can work together to help you feel supported in exploring what feels like the right for you.

  • Yes, as a PMH-C I have sought specialized training to support women with postpartum depression and anxiety. I have successfully completed the Perinatal Mental Health Training, 2 years of clinical practice, and passed the subsequent exam through Postpartum Support International.

  • Depression can happen while people are pregnant and/or postpartum. Folx can experience feelings of anger or irritability, lack of interest in baby, frequent crying or feelings of sadness, loss of interest in things that previously brought pleasure, and/or thoughts of harming themselves or the baby.

  • I can appreciate that especially in the early weeks of postpartum, separating from baby can be difficult. I encourage parents to bring their children into session as long as they are not impacting their ability to focus. Breastfeeding, pumping, or soothing a fussing baby is encouraged.

    However, just because you can doesn’t mean that you have to. If having a break from baby would feel good, let’s brainstorm some ways to help support that desire.

More questions? Check out my FAQs page.

Start taking care of you.

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