MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH | Fleming Family Therapy

Maternal Mental Health Services

Maternal Mental Health & How We Can Help

Pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting are very exciting and joyful experiences. They’re also dramatic changes in both your life and your emotional health. You may feel overwhelmed, irritable, unable to relax or enjoy your developing relationship with your baby and family.

Working with you before, during, and after pregnancy means we can get a solid baseline and are able to more accurately and rapidly identify PMAD symptoms (Perinatal Mood/Anxiety Disorders). Working from an established relationship allows us to give more educated diagnoses.

We frequently help women through the following:

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD)

Depression and anxiety can appear at any stage (before, during, after) of your pregnancy. As your body handles these changes, you may experience emotional or physical issues that affect your energy, behavior, or concentration. The benefit to regular therapy before, during, and after pregnancy means we can quickly recognize and treat your symptoms.

Our clinicians at Fleming Family Therapy are trained and qualified to treat all areas of PMAD, including Postpartum OCD and Postpartum Psychosis.

Preparing for pregnancy

It’s normal to have some worries and fears about the future when you’re planning for a baby. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. We’ll help make sure you’re in the best position to manage the challenges and stressors of pregnancy and life with a new baby.

Path to parenthood

You’re thinking about growing your family. Congratulations! What an exciting time, but it can be a little intimidating, too. New feelings will surface, no matter how you become a parent. We’ll walk through what your new arrival means financially, emotionally, logistically, and professionally. Our sessions are designed to make you feel confident about the right time for baby.

Adoption

Entering the adoption process can be frightening. Especially if there are unresolved feelings as a result of infertility. Seeing a counselor can help give you a sense balance and certainty before you bring a child into your life. We’ll prepare you and your partner for all of the potential challenges that come with raising kids.

During pregnancy

Motherhood is an identity shift and comes with a lot of complex feelings. Maybe you’re worried, having trouble connecting with your pregnancy, or stressed because this pregnancy is difficult or unplanned. The important thing to know is that you’re not alone. These feelings are common. We’ll help you work through these changes and get your mental health back on track before baby arrives.

After pregnancy

A baby changes everything. Even if you thought you were prepared, transitioning to parenting can bring on challenges you never thought you’d face. Life with a newborn is unpredictable, exhausting, and hard! New parents struggle with identity changes, setting boundaries, and managing stress (not to mention sleep!). We’ll help you adapt to life after pregnancy, address postpartum concerns, and adjust to new roles and responsibilities.

Fourth trimester

Caring for a newborn is an all-consuming roller coaster. It’s exciting, fun, boring, overwhelming, wonderful, stressful, and HARD. It’s easy to forget you’re doing a great job (and you are!). You’re going through a great deal of change in such a short time. We offer a special rate of telehealth services to new parents. It’s the same therapy, but without the travel.

Partner support

Pregnancy and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders affect the entire family. Husbands and partners struggle with a pain of their own and their needs are often overlooked. Having a time to talk about what you’re experiencing can be incredibly beneficial. We’ll help you make sense of what’s happening and give you the tools you need to be a supportive and effective partner.

Infertility

This is a tough one. It permeates every aspect of your life and every case is different. Counseling is highly effective, especially if infertility is hurting your quality of life and your relationship. If you feel inadequate, overwhelmed by social pressures, or aren’t sure what to do, we can help. In your sessions, you’ll begin to make sense of and accept what’s happened. We’ll also walk through your options and their financial/emotional stressors so you can make truly informed decision on how to take your next steps.

Pregnancy loss

This is probably the most common experience no one talks about. The loss of a future is an unimaginable pain. It’s deeply personal and individual and brings on a lot of complex feelings. Even though it may not feel like it, healing is possible. We’ll help you acknowledge your loss and find a way to carry your connection with them forward in your life. Outside of your individual grief, we’ll also give you tools to inform family / friends and enforce healthy boundaries when necessary.

Get the help you need.

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