Areas of Expertise
Birth Trauma
Not every birth story goes as planned. Almost 45% of new mothers experience birth trauma and this experience can have lasting impact on the birthing person's mental and physical health including flashbacks, feeling alone or isolated in your experience, poor self care, postpartum depression and/or anxiety. Therapy is a safe space to process your birthing experience to move through the trauma instead of being stuck in it. I will work with you to understand how your trauma manifests, build strategies for regulation and coping, and use Brainspotting to help you feel less "stuck".
Role Strain
Role strain is experienced when the many roles we play demand more resources than we have (eg, time, skills, finances, and/or energy). We’re juggling parenthood, careers, caregiving, relationships, partnerships, a growing business, hobbies, self-care. You want to do it all, and you want to do it all with style and ease. Something’s gotta give - and it’s probably your mental health. In sessions, we will look at the many roles and responsibilities you have, identify your priorities and values, and make choices in alignment with what’s important to you.
I often say, you can't have it all - but you can come pretty darn close.
The Therapy Savvy
You’ve been in therapy before and you’re ready to pick up where you left off. Maybe you graduated but new life events happened and you can use a tune up. Or you’re a therapist yourself and struggling with burnout or secondhand trauma. You’ve got the coping skills, you know your love language and attachment style, you know how your body is keeping score, and you’re ready to dive back in.
Perinatal Trauma
Many parents who experienced childhood trauma, complex trauma, or trauma to become a parent (IVF, high risk pregnancy, birth trauma, NICU stays) face an increase in trauma symptoms during the perinatal period. This could look like increased anxiety or constantly feeling like you're in survival mode (fight, flight or freeze), reminders and flashbacks of your trauma, or a renewed awareness of how you were parented and wanting to do differently for your child. Therapy is a great place to sort through your symptoms and your narratives. In sessions, we will build awareness around how your past trauma impacts your daily life, learn about how trauma impacts how you show up for yourself and loved ones, learn regulation and coping skills for managing symptoms, and use brainspotting to heal from trauma.
Healthy Communication
Having good communication skills is crucial for maintaining relationships with co-parents, family, friends, and your support systems. This involves calmly and assertively asking for help, sharing your values, setting boundaries, as well as actively listening to others and respecting their perspectives. In therapy, we will identify your communication patterns and learn strategies to be more open, honest and receptive with the people who matter most.
Postpartum Depression and Anxiety
1 in 5 moms and 1 in 10 dads will experience postpartum depression. If you find yourself experiencing postpartum depression and/or anxiety, early intervention can help. In therapy, I will hold space for you to get to the root of understanding what is contributing to your depression and/or anxiety. Risk factors include (but are not limited to) predispositions to depression and/or anxiety, a history of trauma, poor social support, unfulfilled or unrealistic expectations around pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding or parenting, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, or birth trauma.
For more information about postpartum depression and anxiety, please visit Postpartum Support International.