Postpartum Counselling

“One of the worst parts about the symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety is that they don’t feel like symptoms. They feel like who you are.”

— Karen Kleiman

What is postpartum counselling?

Often, we’re told that becoming a mother will be a joyous occasion and to enjoy every moment as it passes. While this can be true at times, the transition to motherhood can also feel lonely, overwhelming, and scary. You may miss your old life, and feel that motherhood isn’t what you expected. You may not feel the intense bond with your baby you were always told about and you haven’t felt like yourself for months. Having these feelings doesn’t mean you aren’t a great mom to your little one. If you’re struggling with adjusting to motherhood, are finding it difficult to move on from your birth experience, or your body feels stuck in anxiety mode, counselling can help you start to feel like yourself again.

It is common for parents to struggle after having a baby and postpartum counselling can offer you hope. With counselling, you can improve your mood, rid yourself of guilt, and start to feel more fulfilled in your role as a mother and more confident in who you are and how you show up in your life. Counselling can also help create the space for you to grieve the postpartum experience you thought you would have.

Areas of Focus

Postpartum Stress & Anxiety

Postpartum can often lead to elevated stress and anxiety levels. You may experience constant worry, physical agitation, and even panic attacks. Your lengthy task list only adds to the pressure and your go-to methods for relaxation aren’t working anymore. Fortunately, postpartum counselling can help in creating new coping mechanisms and self-care routines to manage stress and anxiety.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD) can involve feelings of detachment from your baby, anger and frustration, difficulty connecting with others, and persistent sadness. These symptoms can lead to feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of escape. It's important to note that PPD is treatable. Counselling can provide a supportive environment for you to express your feelings and develop compassion for yourself.

Birth Trauma

Labour and delivery rarely go as planned. Some women may experience feelings of stress, loss of control, or fear for their own or their baby's safety. If you are struggling to move past your birth experience and/or experiencing nightmares, anxiety, or panic, counselling can help. Processing birth trauma in a secure setting, can aid in your healing process and enable you to come to terms with the experience.

book postpartum

How can I help?

Together, we will identify and explore the underlying causes of your areas of concern. My goal is to understand the root of your distress during your postpartum experience, by providing a safe space for you to express your worries and fears, learn new techniques to reframe negative thought patterns and address any previous pregnancy loss or trauma that may be impacting your emotional well-being. Our work together may also include education about why you feel the way you do, providing practical coping skills, learning to set boundaries in relationships, and creating a postpartum experience that feels nurturing and supportive. I also incorporate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as a complement to talk therapy in order to process and overcome trauma. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a healthy outlet for emotional release and to empower you with the tools to manage your emotional well-being.

 FAQs

  • I charge $170 per 50 minute session. Payment is accepted via Credit Card and will be charged following completion of each session.

  • The first session is an opportunity for you to share more about your story and what you’d like to gain from therapy. This is also the time to decide if we are a good fit to work together. Do you feel comfortable with me? Do you feel like you can trust me? A great therapeutic relationship leads to better outcomes in therapy. My goal is to create a welcoming space where you feel heard, supported, and challenged to meet your goals.

  • Each session is 50 minutes in length. I generally recommend meeting weekly or bi-weekly to start, decreasing in frequency as you progress through therapy.

  • While I don’t do direct billing, I will issue you an invoice and receipt after payment which you can submit to your insurance provider. Before commencing therapy, it is recommended that you check with your insurance provider to make sure they cover social work services (MSW, RSWs).

  • At this time, I only provide online therapeutic services.

  • I require 48-hours notice of cancellation or you will need to pay for the appointment. An occasional exception may be made in the case of an emergency. It’s important that we meet consistently in order to make progress in therapy.

  • Yes. I only work with individuals who are 18 years of age or older. I do not provide treatment for eating disorders or psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, etc). I also do not provide couples therapy. Due to licensing laws, I am only able to provide therapy in the province of Ontario.

Book a free 15-minute call.

Becoming a parent can feel overwhelming. I’m here for you.

Click below to book your free 15-minute call to learn more about my services and approach to perinatal support.