Perinatal psychotherapy is a form of mental health counseling designed to help women during the perinatal period, including pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum phase. This type of therapy focuses on addressing the various emotional and mental health challenges that can arise during this time, from anxiety and depression to the life transition of parenthood. The primary goal is to help women navigate the complex emotional and psychological changes that come along with being a parent. Not only are you managing the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy, but you are also planning for the major life change that comes along with the birth of a child.
Perinatal therapy is especially important because many women experience increased vulnerability during the perinatal period. Of course, pregnancy and childbirth comes along with physical demands, but there is also potential for emotional difficulties, such as postpartum depression or anxiety. A perinatal therapist at Anchor Therapy can give you a safe and supportive space to explore your emotions, process past trauma, and successfully manage the stress of transitioning from pregnancy to parenthood. Perinatal counseling can also benefit women experiencing fears about pregnancy or childbirth, those with mental health disorders, and/or parents struggling with the emotional demands of having a newborn.
Anchor Therapy is a counseling center in Hoboken, NJ with mental health therapists specialized in helping children, teens, adults, couples, and families with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions, and more. Anchor Therapy is accepting new clients and is now providing in-person sessions and teletherapy sessions to residents of New Jersey, New York, and Florida.
What are key changes women experience during the perinatal period?
The perinatal period encompasses:
Pregnancy
Childbirth
The early postpartum phase
These three phases bring about distinct physical, emotional, and psychological changes for women. As you adjust to the demands of pregnancy and early parenthood, these major life changes can impact pretty much every aspect of your life.
First and foremost, women experience the changes within their body, which may be the most visibly obvious adjustment. During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes many physical changes as you begin to birth and nurture a baby. Research shows that one of these changes includes a hormonal shift to support fetal development, such as an increase in estrogen and progesterone. This can impact your mood, energy levels, and general physical welfare.
As your pregnancy progresses, you may also experience a wide range of physical symptoms, like:
Back pain
Nausea
Weight gain
Swelling
Other changes in skin and hair
After childbirth, your body goes into recovery mode. You may also choose to breastfeed which can cause additional hormonal fluctuations.
Just as physical change occurs, emotional and psychological change ensues as well. While pregnancy brings about feelings of joy and excitement, especially in the initial phase, it can also cause anxiety, fear, or uncertainty about the future. Hormonal changes and physical discomfort can add to mood swings which causes many women to experience heightened emotional sensitivity during this time period.
After giving birth, your emotional landscape changes once again. You may feel an overwhelming sense of love for your newborn baby, but feelings of exhaustion, isolation, or sadness can also arise. It is very common for women to experience the ‘baby blues’ or postpartum depression or anxiety after giving birth. Postpartum depression and anxiety can actually affect both parents during the first year after childbirth.
What are the signs of baby blues?
The “baby blues” are very common and occur within the first few days and weeks after childbirth, impacting many new mothers. The main thing to remember with baby blues is that it is temporary and, usually, will resolve within a few weeks.
Some signs of baby blues include:
Anxiety (Take our Anxiety Quiz to find out more information)
Crying spells
Fatigue
Irritability
Mood swings
What are the signs of Postpartum Depression and anxiety?
On the other hand, Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a more severe, persistent form of depression. It develops after childbirth and can last for months.
Some signs of Postpartum Depression include:
Loss of interest in activities
Severe fatigue
Persistent sadness or hopelessness (Check out our blog “Sadness vs Depression: When to Get Help”)
Sleep disturbances (Read our blog “What is the Main Cause of Insomnia?”)
Difficulty bonding with the baby
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt (Our blog “How to Cope with Mommy Guilt” is a must-read)
Thoughts of harming oneself or the baby (Read our blog “How to Cope with Postpartum OCD”) Feeling suicidal? Help is only a phone call away at the free National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988
Clinical research has shown that 13% to 19% of new mothers experience PPD.
Generally, PPD requires the help of a postpartum therapist since it can significantly impact your well-being and the child’s development. For more information, our blog “4 Ways to Cope with Postpartum Depression (PPD)” is a must-read.
Postpartum anxiety often accompanies PPD, but the symptoms have more of a focus on excessive worry and fear.
Signs of postpartum anxiety include:
Inability to calm down
Sleep disturbances
Hypervigilance
Constant worry or fear
Physical symptoms (Check out our blog “3 Ways to Manage Your Physical Anxiety Symptoms”)
For more information and guidance on the baby blues and PPD, check out our blog “The Difference Between Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression.”
What is the purpose of perinatal mental health care?
At Anchor Therapy, our main purpose for perinatal mental health care is to provide women with the support needed to cope with the emotional and psychological changes that occur during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The phase in a woman’s life includes incredible change and transformation! Therefore, you deserve mental health care that matches those changes, and the unique challenges and vulnerabilities that may arise. By providing you with comprehensive care, perinatal mental health therapists can help you navigate the stresses of parenthood, manage mental health concerns, and thrive in your healthy relationships with your children, partner, and family!
Perinatal psychotherapy addresses a wide range of topics tailored to your unique experiences and challenges during the perinatal period.
The specific topics discussed during perinatal therapy differ depending on your needs and emotional well-being, but here are some common topics:
Pregnancy-related emotions
Perinatal mental health conditions (e.g., PPD, postpartum anxiety, mood swings, postpartum OCD, etc.)
Bonding with the baby
Parenting and identity transition
Relationship dynamics (Check out our blog “Building A Stronger Relationship with your Partner Post-Baby”)
Coping strategies and self-care (View our blog “Your Guide to Self-Care As A Parent”)
Family history and expectations
Postpartum adjustments
Practical concerns (e.g., fears about childbirth, planning for the transition of returning to work, etc.)
A key goal of perinatal mental health care is to prevent, identify, and successfully treat mental health concerns. Early intervention is crucial as mental health concerns not only impact you as a parent, but your baby as well. During this time, mental health therapy focuses on exploring your emotions, processing your fears, and developing coping strategies to assist you during this life transition.
Another important aspect of postpartum counseling is developing a strong parent-child bond. The parent-child bond is foundational for your baby’s emotional and psychological development. Specific mental health challenges, such as PPD, can interfere with this bond if left untreated. Specifically, a form of perinatal psychotherapy includes Attachment-Based Therapy where you get help in connecting with your baby, understanding their needs, and building a secure attachment or connection to them. These therapeutic interventions can also create a sense of confidence in your ability to care for your child.
What are the benefits of working with a postpartum therapist near me?
Working with a postpartum therapist offers many benefits to new parents as you navigate the practical, psychological, and emotional challenges of the postpartum period.
Mental health professionals provide important support to serve your unique needs during the perinatal period, offering the following benefits:
Managing postpartum mental health conditions
Emotional support and validation
Improving bonding with the baby
Enhancing relationships and communication (Check out our blog “4 Communication Tips Couples Need to Know”)
Promoting self-care and resilience (Read our blog “The 8 Forms of Self-Care and How You Can Practice Them”)
Reducing isolation and building support networks
Guidance on parenting challenges
All in all, the purpose of perinatal mental health counseling is to make sure that you feel supported, empowered, and emotionally prepared to navigate the transition from pregnancy to childbirth to parenthood. This form of perinatal care not only benefits you, but the whole family will reap the benefits of perinatal psychotherapy. When you receive the care and resources you need during this crucial time, it promotes healthier outcomes for you, your partner, and your child. Therefore, resilience and well-being are spread across generations!
When is the best time to start perinatal psychotherapy- during pregnancy, postpartum, or both?
Truly, the best time to start perinatal psychotherapy depends on your circumstances, individual needs, and mental health history. When support is needed, you should not hesitate to reach out to a postpartum counselor near you.
Starting perinatal psychotherapy during pregnancy can be especially helpful for specific populations. For example, if you have a history of mental health challenges (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma), you may seek perinatal therapy during pregnancy to proactively address specific stressors before your baby arrives.
Also, if you have fears around labor and delivery, you may seek the support of a perinatal therapist to work through these worries about medical interventions or complications. This can especially be important if you still need to process past events. For example, if you previously experienced pregnancy losses or traumatic births, this may be the ideal time to address those experiences.
The postpartum period can also be a critical time to start perinatal psychotherapy, especially if you are experiencing PPD or postpartum anxiety. Postpartum depression therapy offers immediate support to manage sadness, mood swings, or excessive worry. When you are going through such intense mental and emotional challenges, it can be difficult to successfully bond with your baby. If you feel disconnected to your baby, postpartum therapy can help create attachment and address feelings of self-doubt and guilt.
Childbirth involves severe physical strain as well. The recovery process is coupled with intense emotions tied to these physical changes, including grief over a difficult birth; frustration; or feelings of disconnection from your own body. A perinatal therapist can provide strategies so you can successfully balance the demands of caring for a newborn with your own need for self-care.
How will perinatal therapy help me feel more confident as a parent?
Perinatal therapy will help you build confidence by equipping you with practical skills and fostering a sense of self-assurance. The journey into parenthood is not an easy one as it brings a lot of uncertainty. Therapy gives you a safe space to navigate parenthood whether it is for the first time or navigating a unique challenge. Perinatal counseling validates your experiences and empowers you with specific tools that lay the groundwork for confident and mindful parenting.
One major way in which you boost your self-confidence through postpartum counseling is to process your self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. New parents may feel pressure to meet personal or societal expectations which can lead to the belief that they are “not good enough.” A perinatal therapist can help you identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts to replace them with more compassionate, realistic ones. As you learn to focus on your strengths, your confidence in your ability to parent successfully increases.
Postpartum counselors can also provide practical guidance to help you navigate practical parenting challenges with more ease. This may be managing newborn care or creating a routine to cope with sleep deprivation. Regardless of what you are going through, perinatal therapy gives you evidence-based strategies to lessen stress and build competence. Specific tools can alleviate uncertainty and create a sense of preparedness so you can approach parenting with assurance.
At Anchor Therapy, our perinatal psychotherapists are here to support you during the major life transition of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood. The emotional ups and downs of caring for a baby can be overwhelming but perinatal psychotherapy teaches coping skills to handle perinatal challenges. You will also learn the importance of self-care and support systems so you do not have to go through the parenting journey and challenges alone. With a stronger sense of balance and emotional welfare, you can be equipped to take on the perinatal journey!
Victoria Scala
is the Social Media Manager, Intake Coordinator, and Community Engagement Director at Anchor Therapy in Hoboken, New Jersey. She is a graduate of the Honors College of Rutgers University-Newark and is currently studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the graduate level. In her roles, Victoria is committed to managing the office’s social media/community presence and prioritizing clients' needs.
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