Therapy for Pregnancy & Postpartum

Bringing a child into the world is beautiful, joyful, and extraordinary. It can be a time of excited anticipation and planning. It can also be a very challenging time. Many individuals feel ashamed if they feel anything other than happy.

In reality, most women and pregnant people feel a complexity of feelings about pregnancy and birth, including anxiety, excitement, worry, joy, fear, regret, guilt, or sadness.

While experiencing mood changes or “baby blues” is extremely common during the perinatal period, as many as 15-20% of women experience clinically significant anxiety and depression during pregnancy or after birth. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also common following birth.

Pregnancy Loss

About 10-15% of pregnancies result in miscarriage or loss. This experience can be shocking and traumatic, both physically and emotionally. Often, women may feel that they cannot speak about it openly, as society may not recognize the loss. Miscarriage is hard to talk about, and yet it needs to be so that women do not feel that they have to burden the experience and grief on their own.

It is okay to ask for help.

I understand it can be hard to ask for help or add one more thing in your schedule. It can also feel lonely to seek treatment when our culture values happiness during this time. However, the majority of women and pregnant people experience changes in their mood and temperament. You are not alone in this experience. The earlier you can develop skills for managing your symptoms, the better the long-term outcome and less likely the symptoms become a clinical diagnosis.

If you are feeling….

  • exhausted

  • angry

  • resentful

  • excessively sad or anxious

  • overwhelmed

  • grief

  • “crazy”

I hear you. Let’s work together to find more joy and contentment in your life.

FAQs

  • I take an integrative approach using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

    Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a treatment that identifies difficulties with how we think about things and how that may affect our behavior (what we do) and emotions (how we feel).

    Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a treatment that fosters acceptance of our innermost thoughts and feelings and a commitment to moving in a direction of our values. It emphasizes acknowledging our difficult thoughts and feelings, rather than trying to deny them, and changing our reaction to those thoughts.

    Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a treatment that emphasizes mindfulness and distress tolerance for our intense and, at times, overwhelming emotions.

  • I am based in Dayton, Ohio, but I am also able to see clients in other states that are part of PsyPact:

    Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

  • I primarily offer telehealth therapy, but I also have limited availability for in-person therapy (depending on scheduling). Please give me a call or send me a message through this website and we can discuss scheduling.

  • I take Aetna insurance.

    If you do not have Aetna insurance, you can use your out-of-network insurance benefits. I can provide a superbill that you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement.

  • Individual therapy session (50 minutes) $175

    Initial intake session (75 minutes) $200

  • I accept all credit cards and health savings account (HSAs).