Psychotherapy for Pregnancy, Postpartum and Parenting in Chicago
Early parenthood is hard.
You might be experiencing mood changes before or after baby arrives: perhaps depression or intense anxiety that doesn’t seem like “you”
You could be knee-deep in negotiating changes to your relationships when you become a parent– whether with your own parents, your partner, your friends, or your employer– even as you are at your most emotionally drained and vulnerable
You might have serious concerns about bringing a child into the world due to the political tenor in our country and/or changes to our planet’s climate and need a safe place to talk this through in all its complexity.
You might find yourself more anxious than you ever were before and wondering whether you’re doing things right. You might even be worried about “screwing up your kid”!
You might find that old memories from childhood are resurfacing, or old ways of coping with stress are popping up now that you are a parent
You and your partner might have new conflicts that feel more intense now that you’re exhausted new parents. Or you might feel solid in your relationship, but want to level up your communication skills and plan to collaborate well as your family grows.
Therapy can help.
Therapy with me starts by making space for as honest an expression of your thoughts and feelings as possible, including thoughts that seem impossible to say out loud socially and feelings you might not even know are there unless someone asks.
Together, we will clarify whatever arises, and notice and name what you are doing and saying to yourself and to others to decide if they line up with how you want to be. From there we make a plan for change: what are you willing to do, and how will you do it?
Your goal may be:
To calm down more easily and get more curious about strong feelings without letting them carry you away
To stop avoiding or downplaying your fears and needs in service of other people’s expectations
To figure out how to express what’s going on inside to the important people in your life
To unpack childhood trauma in a safe and supportive environment
To break intergenerational cycles and give your children a different experience than you had
To understand yourself better, heal from old wounds, and develop self-compassion
I am a licensed clinical social worker with eight years of post-graduate experience in a variety of settings with parents of children under five, pregnant people, couples, PhD and MBA students, and other adults in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. I am Perinatal Mental Health Certified and use an integrative, trauma-informed and attachment-based approach; I am a climate aware, LGBTQ+ affirming, and abortion-affirming provider.