“There is no such thing as a baby, there is a baby and someone.” – Donald Woods Winnicott
Pregnancy is a developmental stage that bring change to everyone around the experience. Motherhood and Fatherhood start very early, when a person decides to become a parent or they find themselves involved in the process of becoming a parent without really expecting it. The process brings an array of feelings, many of which are pretty normal, but have a specific meaning for each person, depending where the person is developmentally and their cultural background and environment.
Many women experience some mild mood changes during or after the birth of a child, and 15% to 20% of women experience more significant symptoms of depression or anxiety. Perinatal (prenatal and postpartum) mood and anxiety disorders can affect the person, partner, and the relationship with their new baby. Trauma affects not just the emotions but also the body. People exposed to trauma sometimes feel overwhelmed by past feelings or memories triggered by the pregnancy.
One of the most important goals during pregnancy is to help the expecting mother be prepared to welcome her new baby.
I support families with:
- Life Transitions such as pregnancy, birth of a new baby, returning to work after having a baby, or supporting older siblings to this adaptation.
- Pregnant women with past traumatic experiences or difficult experiences during pregnancy or delivery, such as the loss of a baby or traumatic birth.
- Prenatal and Postpartum anxiety and/or depression in mothers and fathers.
My approach:
I use an attachment, developmental, psychodynamic, strength-based approach. I draw upon my trauma training to understand how past experiences might influence the present feelings, perceptions and thoughts about the pregnancy, baby and self. I include the baby as an important member of the work. Psychotherapy prenatally and postnatally could be with just the mother, or include the father or partner as well.
Please feel free to call me at 925-446-1967 for a free 20-minute phone consultation or email me to ask any questions you have. I look forward to speaking with you.
