Postpartum Therapy
*Online Therapy Services Currently Provided*
This is NOT what you were expecting
The “congratulations!” that you have likely heard over and over again is in stark contrast to how you might be feeling. Even though you may want to feel excited and happy, you just feel tired. You’re worried about everything. And, you feel inexplicably sad. You may have heard of postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety, but never expected it would happen to you. In addition, you’ve likely heard of baby blues. You knew this happened to other people. You’ve even heard of people starting postpartum therapy in California. Now, suddenly, you’re one of the people looking for answers.
You thought postpartum depression wouldn’t happen to you. You never dreamed that you would need to start postpartum therapy.
And even worse, you may feel really confused and frightened. Unfortunately, all of the emotions and worries that you are experiencing are making you feel even worse. You most likely never anticipated just how much your world would be turned upside down when planning and/or bringing a baby home. Your thoughts sometimes seem to take on a life of their own and can often be quite upsetting. If this sounds familiar, starting postpartum therapy in California could be a great option for you.
Common Reasons Parents Seek Postpartum Therapy
After having a baby, there are often a lot of intense feelings. Some of these are quite common. Many women feel conflicted, worried, and upset while pregnant. And, they can feel this way after delivery and in the postpartum months. All of this is quite common. However, there are some exceptions to this. Our postpartum therapists have worked with many women navigating postpartum depression and anxiety. New moms and dads have sought out support from our postpartum therapists for many different reasons. Some of the reasons expectant and new parents seek postpartum therapy in California include:
- Understanding the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression or anxiety
- Out of control anxiety and scary thoughts
- Feeling overly concerned about the safety of your baby, yourself, or others
- Feeling terribly sad and tearful all of the time
- Experiencing a sense of disconnection from, or a feeling of numbness toward others, even your baby
- Struggling to maintain your relationship with your partner
- Adjusting to this new season of life
- Navigating the changing roles and expectations in your family of origin as well as your partner’s family of origin
- Moodiness
- Feeling lonely
Postpartum Therapy in California Can Help
This is a very special and unique season of your life. And, talking to a postpartum therapist in California helps you to feel seen, heard, and supportively held. Having a safe space to share your thoughts, worries and feelings can provide much-needed relief. More than that, developing the tools and strategies to manage can be empowering as you grow into your new parenting role. Beginning postpartum counseling with Headway Therapy can help give you these tools.
Our Postpartum Therapists Understand The Struggles You’re Going Through
Through providing postpartum therapy with many expectant and new parents, we’re familiar with the dynamics. Our postpartum therapists know that letting the doubt, concern or worry fester, can become all-consuming. And, our postpartum therapists know how big of an impact this can have. This may affect not only your well-being and happiness but may also impact other significant relationships. And, this can include your developing attachment with your baby.
Postpartum therapy in California can help you work through these conflicted feelings. And, the multiple adjustments you’re navigating so that you can work toward integrating all of the new changes required of you.
The Headway Therapy Approach to Postpartum Counseling
Our primary goal when you initially come into postpartum counseling is to help you feel better as quickly as possible. Our postpartum therapists want to help you acknowledge that it’s okay that you’re struggling. In fact, it’s actually quite normal that you’re struggling with your new role. Our first step is to help you remove the shame and anxiety that you’re feeling. Our postpartum therapists know how heavy feeling shameful and anxious can be. And, they will help you realize that it’s not your burden to carry.
Our postpartum therapists draw upon multiple skills and tools to provide you with relief so that you can begin enjoying this special season of life. In addition, we offer support in postpartum counseling to help resolve your struggles around postpartum depression and anxiety. And, we strive to guide you through the uncomfortable feelings that have arisen so that you can enjoy your baby and parenting experience.
CBT and Mindfulness in Postpartum Therapy
After we’ve stabilized and normalized the experiences you’re having, our next step in postpartum counseling is to develop coping skills. These coping skills have components of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based therapy. Our purpose behind this is to help you feel more connected to your baby and your partner. For new moms and dads, this can be a piece that’s missing and can lead to increased symptoms of postpartum depression. Once that connection is established, you’ll work with your postpartum therapist to identify the aspects of your situation that “made you feel worse.” This could be external pressure or expectations. Or, it could be from feeling like you didn’t have the support to handle the stress of having a baby while you were pregnant. Whatever that looks for you, our postpartum therapists will work with you to identify those triggers and work to make sure they don’t resurface later on.
In addition, we often bring in the other partner when it makes sense. For some couples, this can be helpful to work through the issues that are showing up in their relationship. We have found that postpartum therapy can be a good place to work through issues that new parents come across.
Postpartum Support Group in California
Additionally, we offer a weekly postpartum support group in California mothers. This is primarily a support group for mothers struggling with postpartum depression and/or anxiety. In this postpartum support group, you will learn the importance of coping skills and self-care. In addition, we want to understand how you have changed. And, to help you improve your relationship with your partner. We also work to help you develop your attachment with your baby.
Book Recommendations
Becoming a parent brings many changes to who you are and what you are experiencing. There are many, many books describing this. Here are some of our book recommendations.
Begin Postpartum Therapy in California
You don’t have to struggle with postpartum depression or anxiety. Our Encinitas, CA clinic has caring postpartum therapists who specialize in perinatal and postpartum therapy. To start your counseling journey, follow these steps:
- Contact Headway Therapy to schedule your first appointment.
- Meet with one of our expert postpartum therapists.
- Begin enjoying your baby and this season of your life.
Other Counseling Services at Headway Therapy
Postpartum therapy is not the only service we offer in our Encinitas therapy group. Our other mental health services at Headway Therapy include depression counseling, anxiety treatment, teen counseling, therapy for children, counseling and support for infertility, and marriage counseling. We look forward to working with you!
