Pregnancy Counseling
Are You Feeling Emotionally Overwhelmed About Your Pregnancy?
Is fear about birth and labor overshadowing the joy of having a child? Perhaps you are experiencing uncertainty about adjusting to your new role as a mother. You might be wondering how to balance life and work after having a baby. If you have always been socially active and independent, you may be worried about becoming isolated from family, friends, and co-workers.
Are you experiencing anxiety, depression, irritability, or an overall sense of not feeling like your normal self? You might be feeling lonely but are too afraid to ask for help from others because they may be judgmental or critical. Or you may be experiencing relationship difficulties with your partner or other children in the home because it is just too hard to keep up with all of life’s demands when you are not feeling at your best.
It could also be that you are dealing withgoing through physical challenges—morning sickness, fatigue, aches, and pains, or lack of sleep—and this is causing additional emotional distress. Or perhaps you are having difficulty coping with body changes, such as weight gain, and you worry about your body not being the same as it was before having a baby.
It Is Normal To Experience Emotional And Physical Challenges During Pregnancy
Becoming a new mom can be challenging. It is normal for some women to experience fears and concerns associated with being pregnant. Prenatal depression and anxiety, especially when it comes to the uncertainty of labor and delivery are common, particularly with first pregnancies. Some women who have created a birth plan beforehand have found themselves feeling disappointed at unexpected pregnancy complications, such as a C-section, or requiring medication as supposed to natural birth.
Others struggle with the guilt and shame caused by unwanted pregnancies, body image, or the challenges of caring for a new baby. Societal pressures about how they should act and feel about their pregnancy can weigh heavily on women’s emotions, especially for those who may not feel as happy about being pregnant. They may wonder what is wrong with them or why they cannot be like everyone else who looks forward to their pregnancy and motherhood.
Fear about motherhood is also normal, especially for first-time moms.
They may experience stress and concern about breastfeeding, swaddling, or bathing their infant child. Adjusting to parenthood and life with a newborn takes a lot of energy and at times it could be challenging to meet all the needs of the rest of the family. Experiencing a wide range of emotions as a result of these concerns—from joy, fear, anxiety, or depression—makes it even more difficult to enjoy being pregnant.
Even if you know you need emotional support, you may fear to share your pregnancy challenges with others because you think they will not understand nor validate what you are going through. Fortunately, a skilled counselor can help you find the validation and emotional support you need to be able to confront, accept, and manage distressing feelings about your pregnancy.
Find Acceptance And Relief From Your Emotional Challenges With Pregnancy Counseling
My primary focus is to provide a safe environment where you can feel comfortable sharing your struggles—both emotionally and physically. It is often difficult to share your deepest thoughts with others for fear they might think badly of you. That is one thing you do not have to worry about during our sessions. You can feel comfortable expressing your feelings, fears, and emotions about your pregnancy challenges without judgment.
Going through a difficult stage in life and struggling with being pregnant does not mean you are a bad person. I am a solutions-oriented clinician with extensive training and experience in perinatal mood disorder. Together we will create an assessment plan to reduce your emotional symptoms, set realistic expectations in regards to childbirth, and manage other challenges you may have with your pregnancy and motherhood.
A safe and comfortable environment
My primary focus is to provide a safe environment where you can feel comfortable sharing your struggles—both emotionally and physically. It is often difficult to share your deepest thoughts with others for fear they might think badly of you. That is one thing you do not have to worry about during our sessions. You can feel comfortable expressing your feelings, fears, and emotions about your pregnancy challenges without judgment.
Going through a difficult stage in life and struggling with being pregnant does not mean you are a bad person. I am a solutions-oriented clinician with extensive training and experience in perinatal mood disorder. Together we will create an assessment plan to reduce your emotional symptoms, set realistic expectations in regards to childbirth, and manage other challenges you may have with your pregnancy and motherhood.
An Overview Of The Process
During sessions, I will begin with listening and acknowledging what you are going through to gain an understanding of why you feel the way you do. Then, I can start helping you to develop coping skills that will allow you to start to manage intense emotions and anxiety-provoking thoughts. I use several therapeutic approaches that can help with navigating through the emotional ups and downs that affect your ability to enjoy your pregnancy.
For example, I used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) along with mindfulness techniques to help you become aware of the present moment and learn to self-regulate impactful thoughts and behaviors caused by your pregnancy challenges. Somatic Bodywork can alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms by exposing past trauma. This helps release and transform distressing emotions from past negative experiences that are preventing you from enjoying the present moment.
I have been helping women manage pregnancy and postpartum issues since 2012. My personal experience with perinatal depression allows me to relate, understand, and validate your pregnancy struggles. I am here to address any questions you may have and provide you with the support you need to make informed decisions regarding your pregnancy concerns.
You May Have Questions
About Pregnancy Counseling…
“I do not know if my symptoms are bad enough to seek help.”
If you are experiencing ongoing symptoms of anxiety and depression related to your current pregnancy, you may need treatment. Prenatal counseling can provide the aid you need to manage your symptoms so that you can find emotional relief and the peace to enjoy your pregnancy and embrace motherhood.
“I feel ashamed to seek help.”
I understand it can be difficult to admit needing support during current challenges. Going through the emotional ups and downs of pregnancy can be hard when you do not know who to turn to or trust for support. You owe it to yourself and your unborn baby to go through your pregnancy with as little complications as possible. And getting help from a pregnancy expert can make it happen.
“I am not sure I can afford counseling.”
Pregnancy counseling can give you a safe space to work through your emotional and physical challenges associated with being pregnant. I can provide you with the help and guidance you need to navigate through this journey. Investing in therapy is investing in you and your child’s health.
Pregnancy counseling can provide the support you need
Do you wish you could share your pregnancy fears and difficulties with someone who can understand what you are going through and will not judge you? Pregnancy counseling can provide the support and validation you will need to get through your fears and worries about challenges and complications.