Therapy to support you through your pregnancy and postpartum journey
Through my personal experience of entering motherhood, I was speechless in response to the intense challenges and unexpected transitions that came with it. It is an all-encompassing, world-altering experience that affects you in every way imaginable. As a result, I realized there is a huge gap in care around maternal mental health, and I became determined to provide support in filling this need.
I am certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International. "Perinatal" is an umbrella term that can include infertility, loss, pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond. If you are feeling lost or overwhelmed in this journey, you are not alone. At Ceremonial Counseling, we work together in learning how to manage these changes and the emotions that come with this transition so that you can finally breathe again in your new identity.
Common Perinatal/Postpartum Mood Disorders
Postpartum
Depression
Symptoms may include feeling disconnected from your baby, sadness or emptyness that lasts longer than 2 weeks postpartum, thoughts of suicide or self harm, irritability or rage, consistent crying spells, lack of energy, isolation, and difficulty completing daily tasks such as basic hygiene.
Postpartum
Anxiety
Signs of may include feelings of guilt or intense worry. Physical symptoms may show up in the form of racing heart rate, short or difficulty breathing, racing thoughts, and nausea or gastrointestinal issues. Some mothers may exhibit excessive control due to intense anxious thoughts.
Postpartum
OCD
Postpartum OCD involves two major symptoms: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions can take the form of intrusive or disturbing thoughts that something bad may happen to your baby. As a result, the parent will feel compelled to respond to the obsession with a compulsion, which can take the form of a behavior or mental act in attempt of temporarily reducing the anxious thought.
Examples may include excessively checking if a baby is breathing despite having no risk factors present.