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Perinatal Therapy

Wondering if perinatal therapy is right for you?

Read through some common questions and information below.

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What are Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD's)?

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders surface anywhere between pregnancy and a year postpartum, (though symptoms can still after 1 year postpartum). They refer to a significant change in your mood or experience of anxiety (ie. depressed, irritable, etc). What brings these on? A combination of things such as hormone fluctuations that occur during and after birth, changes to your sleep, and social support. They are quite common and treatable, occuring in about 1 in 7 women. 

I have heard of the 'Baby Blues.' Is that the same as depression?

Baby Blues are really common and exist within the first two weeks postpartum. They are a direct result of the hormonal shifts your body is making. These 'blues' come and go throughout the day and can include feelings of sadness, irritability, anxiety, but they don't persist for long. Postpartum depression and anxiety persist past that two weeks and typically impact the way you feel about parenting, your relationships with your baby, partner, and your 'typical' functioning. Generally, you "just don't feel good."

I have been having scary thoughts...what does that mean?

Scary thoughts are unwanted images or thoughts which intrusively pop into your head. These thoughts are often very detailed and violent, almost always causing a lot of distress in the person experiencing them. It is common for parents to do anything to avoid having these thoughts come true for themselves or their baby. It often feels unsafe to share these thoughts, but know they are relatively common and can get better with therapy.

I don't feel sad or anxious, I feel angry. What's up with that?

Have you been feeling like you have a "short fuse," or are quick to anger? This is actually really common in the postpartum period with anxiety and depression as they both can surface as irritability. If you are feeling like you are not yourself or much less patient these may be clues that you could use some support emotionally. 

What does therapy look like? Do I need medication?

Working together as partners in therapy is key! We will identify what has an hasn't been working for you in your life, how you would like to feel, what your goals are, and strategies (which include practice in between sessions), so that you can feel like the best you. 

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There are a lot of feelings that come up for people around taking medication and it can be an important decision. As a therapist, I do not prescribe medication, but often work with providers who do. Medication can be a really helpful tool, even for a short period of time, to help improve your daily mood and functioning which can allow you to more easily implement the tools we discuss in therapy. Discussing your thoughts, feelings, and the pros and cons of medication is something we can process in therapy together. 

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Pricing

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In Network with the following Insurance:

Aetna

Optum

Oxford

Cigna

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$150.00 - 60 minute Sessions

 

I also accept Out of Network Insurance

-Can provide a superbill

-Accepts HSA payment

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