Pregnancy and Postpartum Therapy in Albany, NY

Is therapy for pregnancy or postpartum right for me?

If you are pregnant, postpartum or trying to conceive, you are in a time of massive upheaval. You may be feeling excited, scared, confused, happy, overwhelmed, anxious, overjoyed….all at the same time. You may be wondering if what you are feeling is normal, or how you are going to cope with the logistics of caring for a baby without losing sight of your own needs and mental health. You may be coming to terms with your new identity, in a way that feels profound and yet unrecognized by society.

And if you are one of the:

one in four birthing people who has experienced a pregnancy loss
45% of birthing people who have a traumatic birthing experience
1 in 5 birthing people or 1 in 10 partners who experiences a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder
10% of NICU parents
or you are facing systemic oppression based on your race, gender identity or sexual orientation

Even in a typical, “uncomplicated” parenthood journey, the identify shift that comes with having a baby can cause a huge amount of psychic distress. Adding a baby to your life in any way is a huge change, which can cause all that unresolved “stuff” from childhood to come roaring to the surface. Parenting is not easy work, and in a society that devalues the work of women and mothers, managing the stress and overwhelm can feel nearly impossible without losing your mind.

well, no wonder things are feeling harder than they used to.

book your free consultation

Common Experiences in pregnancy and postpartum

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most commonly recognized perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, impacting 1 in 5 to 7 birthing people. Anyone is susceptible to postpartum depression, which does not discrimaite based on gender identity, sexual orientation, income, or race; although individuasl with a prior history of depression or anxiety are at greater risk of developing PPD. Signs of postpartum depression include:
- loss of interest in things you normally enjoy
- feeling down depressed or hopeless
- feelings of excessive guilt or failure
- inability to take care of yourself
- feeling disconnected from your baby and others
PPD is different than typical “baby blues” which impact nearly 80% of birthing people and resolves within 2 weeks after giving birth.
Anxiety can feel unavoidable in pregnancy and postpartum. Part of this is adaptive - when pregnant or caring for a newborn there is an urgent need to be highly attuned to our baby’s needs. However, especially for folks with a predisposition to anxiety, this can create a level of anxiety that feels unmanageable and unsustainable. If you are noticing yourself feeling preoccupied with thoughts of your baby’s safety to the point that it feels difficulty to engage in self care, sleep when you have time to sleep, disturbing thoughts leading to rituals to temporarily reduce anxiety, you could be experiencing perinatal anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder. Either way, if you are struggling you do not need to apologize for reaching out for support.
Experiences of trauma in the perinatal window are unfortunately common. 45% of people who deliver a baby describe their birth as traumatic. 1 in 4 people trying to grow their family will experience loss. Roughly 1 in 6 will experience infertility. Other issues in pregnancy such as hyperemesis gravidarum, pre-eclampsia or other health conditions can lead to trauma, as well as complications in pregnancy or birth and NICU stays. Symptoms of PTSD in postpartum include
- hypergivilence around your or baby’s health
- intrusive thoughts about the traumatic experience
- inability to sleep when the baby is sleeping
- avoidance of medical appointments or other experiences that remind you of the trauma
- detachment and difficulty connecting to your baby, or potentially avoiding caring for your baby as it can be too distressing
- dissociation or numbing
- substance abuse or other harmful coping skills
If you experienced trauma in pregnancy or birth, or if you have a prior history of trauma, and are experiencing any of these symptoms, you are not alone, it is not your fault, and therapy can help.

Important information about postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is not a common experience in postpartum, but it does occur and it is a real psychiatric emergency

If you or someone you love recently had a baby and is experiencing active thoughts of suicide, or symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, racing thoughts, or decreased need for sleep, they could be experiencing postpartum psychosis which is a psychiatric emergency and requires immediate evaluation. If you need immediate help or are not sure, please call 988 or go to your nearest hospital right away.

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious postpartum complication that is not the same as postpartum depression, and just as deserving of empathy, care and support. 1 in 2000 birthing people will experience postpartum psychosis (roughly 7000 birthing people in the US each year), and typically emerges in the first two weeks after giving birth. Having pre-existing bipolar disorder or episodes of psychosis are risk factors, although nearly 50% of people with postpartum psychosis will have no mental health history. Postpartum psychosis is an emergency that requires immediate evaluation and intervention for the safety of the birthing person and baby. Postpartum psychosis is treatable and many people will recover from psychosis with no future episodes, although having experienced postpartum psychosis in a previous postpartum can make someone more likely to experience it again. Either way, if you are worried do not delay seeking help.

If you think you or your loved one is experiencing postpartum psychosis call 988 or your local emergency services right away for immediate support.

Imagine feeling more centered, grounded and present

Recalling your birth story without distress
letting go of mom guilt
feeling more present with your baby and kids
reconnecting with your partner
able to take care of yourself

book your free consultation

FAQs

Can you support me through?

Yes. My approach and clinical training is trauma informed, and a pregnancy loss is a traumatic experience that can feel extremely isolating. Navigating loss can lead to disenfranchised grief, feelings of guilt and shame, negative beliefs about yourself and feelings of hopelessness. Many people who experience miscarriage will become pregnant again, and history of loss can exacerbate anxiety in subsequent pregnancies. EMDR and talk therapy can be extremely helpful in reprocessing the loss and navigating anxiety around present and future pregnancies.
Absolutely. Having to make a decision to terminate a pregnancy for medical reasons is a heartbreaking decision. Unfortunately, parents having to make this choice will often face stigma and lack of support, that can make it difficult to talk about. If you are going through this, know that you are not alone, it is not your fault, and that this is an impossible position to be in. Therapy can help you come process your grief in a safe, non-judgmental space.
Yes. When you have complications in pregnancy or birth, a baby born prematurely or with other health conditions requiring a NICU stay, you are more at risk for developing symptoms of PTSD, depression and anxiety. You may be grieving the loss of your imagined birth or newborn experience, managing daily stress of NICU visits while recovering from birth, and coming to terms with the reality of caring for a medically complex infant. NICU experiences can stay with parents after discharge. Therapy can be very helpful in helping to process your experience, manage stress, and reprocess the trauma of your experience.