Perinatal Mental Health

New Parents

I developed a unique interest in all facets of new parenthood after transitioning to motherhood myself. My transition was complicated and messy and motivated me to explore parenthood, motherhood and family transitions from multiple perspectives: the cultural and systemic factors that impact new parents, the relational impacts and transitions, the change in rhythm of daily life, and the mental health impacts. I have a profound passion for working with new parents as they navigate this time of transition which is at once incredibly rich and complex. It can often bring our own histories to the forefront of our minds while also projecting forward our hopes for our own families and selves.  

Sometimes after the birth of our children, and at various points in our parenting journeys, we can find ourselves wondering why the reality of the experience is so different from what we expected it to be. As parents, we often feel isolated. We might feel that parenting is different (harder, less enjoyable, more demanding, more stressful) than we thought it would be. Often, we use a harsh critical lens when reflecting on our experiences and abilities. All parents are dynamic. There are many important parts of us that need to be fed for us to thrive. Together, we will explore who you are as a person, as a partner, and as a parent and uncover what you need to feel nourished in life.

Let Me Come to You

I understand that new parenthood is demanding and for that reason I am able to provide postpartum counselling out of your home to best support you to support your baby. A woman’s postpartum is critical for promoting a healthy transition to parenthood. I want to support you in finding the joy in your parenting life.

Birth Trauma

I have extensive experience working with new mothers who are coping with traumatic births. A traumatic birth can result from:

• A loss or a fear/threat of loss.

• A fear for one’s own survival through the birth process.

• Or, trauma caused by the loss of control during birth and the feeling that something was done to you without your explicit consent.

Traumatic births can lead women to experience postpartum PTSD with symptoms like: flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, panic and fear. PTSD can lead to postpartum depression and anxiety. Processing your birth, whether you view it as traumatic or disappointing or feel a desire to explore the ways in which the reality deviated from your expectations is a powerful step towards healing.

Loss of Pregnancy or Infant

Experiencing the loss of a pregnancy or an infant can leave you feeling sad, angry and disconnected from friends and family. I have worked with families that have experienced miscarriages, still-births and chronic infertility. If you have experienced such a loss, I can work with you to process your feelings of anger, rage, grief and sadness. Together, we will explore ways to reconnect you with yourself and your body, your partner and friends, as well as ways to manage triggers in the world. We’ll explore how to support you so you are able to experience joy after loss.