Therapy After Miscarriage
*Currently Providing Online Therapy in California*
You can’t believe it, you’ve been waiting for this!
It finally happened! You follow every direction and instruction. You listen to your doctor’s recommendations and implemented them religiously. This is something that you’ve been looking forward to for a long time. It felt like things were right. Your effort has paid off! Future plans were in the making. You’re going to be a mom! Daydreams of what their childhood will look like fill your mind. Being a parent is something you’ve been looking forward to for quite a while. Your dreams were coming true. Picking a name, thinking about what color their bedroom will be, if they’ll play sports when they’re older. The possibilities feel endless!
And then, the miscarriage happened.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. You did everything right. You’ve never been so protective of anything in your life. This was your baby, inside of you. You felt them, talked to them, even played music for them. This was supposed to be your future. The pain you feel is excruciating, both physically and emotionally. You rack your brain for anything that you could have done differently. And you might come up with a few things. But, nothing that could have led to this. Nothing that should have led to the loss of your baby. This tiny human was already part of you. But now, they are gone. And you didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. If you are living in the aftermath of a baby loss, miscarriage therapy in San Diego, CA can be a helpful resource for you.
Baby Loss is a Unique Loss
Baby loss is far more common than people think. Miscarriages occur between 10-15% of pregnancies. The period following this loss is often accompanied by intense feelings of grief. You find yourself grieving the child you should’ve had and grieving the life they were supposed to have. 
Sadness is a common experience. Many times, women develop depression after a miscarriage. And, find that life is much more difficult than it used to be. On top of that, many women experience worry. Worrying about what they did, or didn’t do. Worrying about what they did to cause this. What’s more, women can feel very lonely going through this process.
But, Not Everyone Understands Your Loss
Some people in your life may not understand that this loss needs to be grieved and that you need support through it. They may not understand the bond you had already developed, no matter how early it happened. Additionally, they may not understand that the physical and emotional pain of miscarriage extends far beyond the loss itself. But, that does not mean that it wasn’t there. The loss of a baby is a real and, at times, devasting experience.
Common Reasons Women Begin Miscarriage Therapy
Every mom that experiences a miscarriage has a very different experience. For some people, it can be extremely difficult to navigate. There are many different factors that can contribute to a person’s experience with a miscarriage. Through our years of providing miscarriage therapy in San Diego, CA, I have seen parents at all different stages in this process. Overall, grieving a pregnancy loss can be a very emotional experience. And, it impacts us all differently.
Here are some of the reasons women seek out miscarriage therapy:
- Processing feelings of sadness at this loss and the bond you had already developed.
- Exploring how this has impacted your expectations and dreams for this season of your life.
- Planning ahead and preparing for what the future may hold.
- Feeling alienated by constant reminders and not feeling like you can move on
- Building a strong support system with people who understand this loss and how it has impacted you.
- Feeling worried about the intense feelings of anger or guilt that may develop.
- Worrying about how to move forward in life after a loss.
- Feeling left behind by others, even partners, in the grieving process.
- Processing the trauma of the miscarriage
Miscarriage Therapy Can Help You Grieve This Loss
This could be the hardest situation you’ve ever faced. Perhaps you cannot imagine what your life is going to look like moving forward. It’s hard to imagine a time that you’ll feel happy again. Or, a time that you’ll find anything to look forward to. These feelings are incredibly normal and are valid. Fortunately, miscarriage therapy in San Diego, CA can help. Having worked with many people navigating the aftermath of a miscarriage means that I have seen parents in a variety of different stages. In the initial stages of a loss, you’ll likely feel intense emotions. For some that pursue miscarriage therapy, they experience disbelief, numbness, shock, guilt, anger, and sadness. And, a multitude of other emotions. Miscarriage therapy can help you process these very distressing feelings. Miscarriage therapy can help you come to terms with no longer being pregnant. It will also help you work through the flood of conflicting emotions that arise as you process the loss both emotionally and physically/hormonally.
The Headway Therapy Approach To Miscarriage Therapy
In miscarriage therapy, the goal is to provide you with the support that you need. Unfortunately, we know that not everyone in your life is offering you the support you need to navigate this loss. Some may not consider the loss to be “real”, since the baby was not born yet. This is not the mindset in therapy. In miscarriage therapy, we acknowledge how real this loss is. We also know how real the connection you had with your baby was.
In Miscarriage Therapy, We Want to Hear Your Story
We recognize that telling your story of conception to loss is an important one. Providing you with the space in order to do this at your pace is essential to the process. Processing the sadness you feel and what this means for you is important. In addition to sadness, feelings of guilt frequently come up for women who have miscarried. Miscarriage therapy can help you reframe these feelings. And, to recognize that the guilt you feel is unearned. What’s more, that this guilt is more likely a symptom of depression. Additionally, miscarriage therapy also focuses on managing feelings of anger and unfairness that often arise as a result of the loss. Finally, accepting this loss is processed in therapy. This will help you arrive at an awareness that despite this loss. Your life still continues, and that you may have changed as a result of it.
Online Therapy for Miscarriage Therapy in California
Through online therapy in California, we’re able to offer you quality therapy anywhere you are in California. On top of that, online miscarriage therapy in California offers added benefits. Most people report that online therapy services are much more convenient than traditional in-person therapy. With online therapy, considering travel time is no longer relevant! Regardless of if you’re in Pasadena, Oakland, or Santa Monica, working together is possible!
Begin Miscarriage Therapy in San Diego, CA
You do not have to go through this pregnancy loss alone. Miscarriage therapy can help you process the roller coaster of feelings you may be experiencing. In person sessions in Encinitas or through online therapy anywhere California. To begin miscarriage therapy, follow these simple steps:
- Contact Headway Therapy.
- Meet with one of our Amanda Freeman, PhD, PMH-C.
- Start to grieve your loss with support.
Other Counseling Services
Miscarriage therapy is not the only service offered in Encinitas. Other mental health services at Headway Therapy include treatment for depression and mood, anxiety treatment, grief therapy, therapy for infertility, therapy during pregnancy and postpartum therapy. I look forward to connecting with you!