Supporting families throughout their reproductive journey.
{box-sizing: border-box;} .column {float: left; width: 50%; padding: 10px;} .row: after {content: “”; display: table; clear: both;}Integrated Therapy Services offers counseling to address the emotional and relational components of early parenthood. Pregnancy and postpartum counseling can help new, expecting, or planning parents cope with and overcome issues including:
Personal Concerns
Grief Loss of self Feelings of failure Rage Insomnia Racing, intrusive, and/or scary thoughts Intense sadness Isolation Depression Anxiety
Relationship Concerns
Navigating changes in relationship with partner Bonding with the baby Handling adjustments with family
Many parents suffer from depression, anxiety, and an inability to sleep during pregnancy or after the birth of the child. Women frequently struggle with similar symptoms after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or loss of a baby. We are here to help.
ITS recognizes and supports all kinds of families, traditional and non-traditional.
For more information about our Bloom Providers, please see Our Providers.
The following list may help you determine if you are at risk:
You or a family member has a history of:
Depression
Anxiety
Bipolar disorder
OCD
You have experienced:
Premenstrual Syndrome
Eating disorders
Thyroid disease
Insomnia
Traumatic birth
Traumatic experience
Unresolved loss of a child (miscarriage, abortion, etc.)
Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and/or neglect
Recent life stressors
Isolation
Relationship difficulties
Your child has special needs or medical concerns
If you said “yes” to one or more of the above, you may be at higher risk for a perinatal mood disorder. In addition to seeing a counselor to help navigate these challenges, a list at the bottom of the page has been provided to help you understand and navigate your wellbeing.
What are the symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety? How do they differ from “baby blues?”
Postpartum depression is often accompanied by: Despair, hopelessness, anger, irritability, unusual sleep habits, loss of energy and interest, weight change, excessive crying/tearfulness, hypochondria, excessive worries, feelings of guilt/shame, and/or suicidal thoughts.
Postpartum anxiety is often accompanied by: Shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, hyperventilation, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, chest pain, hot/cold flashes, tingling in hands/feet, agitation, fear of dying, irritability, anger or rage, fear of being alone, fears regarding baby’s health, feeling trapped or immobilized, muscle tension, and/or fear of “going crazy.”
“Baby Blues” differ from postpartum anxiety and depression based on intensity and duration. Up to 85% of new mothers experience baby blues, which typically last 2-3 weeks after the baby’s birth and can usually be resolved with self care habits and time. Symptoms exceeding 3 weeks or with increasing severity could be indicative of a more serious condition.
Postpartum Support International – “The purpose of the organization is to increase awareness among public and professional communities about the emotional changes that women experience during pregnancy and postpartum.”
The Blue Dot Project – “The purpose of the Blue Dot Project is to raise awareness of maternal mental health disorders, proliferate the blue dot as the symbol of solidarity and support, combat stigma and shame.”
Additional Perinatal Mood Disorders
Perinatal mood disorders can be categorized as the number 1 complication of pregnancy, due to the estimate that 20% of mothers and 10% of fathers will experience one or more. Untreated disorders in parents are considered to increase the risk of child abuse, neglect, cognitive deficits, and behavioral problems. It can also impact parent-child bonding and create lasting effects in the relationship.
With treatment, such as therapy or support groups, the effects of perinatal mood disorders have been shown to decrease by 59%.
In addition to perinatal depression and anxiety, there are several other mood disorders associated with pregnancy and postpartum. Lesser known perinatal mood disorders include:
3-5% of mothers (and some fathers) will experience symptoms of obsessive/intrusive thoughts, compulsions to reduce the fears and obsessions, a fear of being left alone with the infant, or hypervigilance in protecting the infant. Postpartum-OCD is not the same as OCD, and it is temporary and treatable. You do not have to be diagnosed with OCD to have postpartum OCD.
An estimated 9 % of women experience Postpartum PTSD. Often these traumas include medical complications such as the baby having to stay in NICU, or birth trauma such as prolapsed cord, unplanned c-section, or postpartum hemorrhaging. Postpartum PTSD is experienced more often by those who have experienced previous trauma, including rape or sexual abuse. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of details related to the event, anxiety and panic attacks, and feelings of detachment.
Bipolar Mood Disorders, while independent from pregnancy, can be characterized as related to perinatal mood disorders because many women are first diagnosed with bipolar during or after pregnancy. Bipolar is characterized by two phases, mania (highs) and depression (lows), with symptoms that impact daily functioning and interpersonal relationships persisting for longer than four days. Mania is defined by a period of bettered mood, rapid speech, decreased need for sleep, overconfidence, risky behaviors, impulsiveness, and racing thoughts. Depression often results in symptoms such as excessive fatigue, frequent mood changes, change in appetite, loss of pleasure, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of death. In postpartum bipolar disorder, symptoms may appear closer to severe depression and increased anxiety. Monitoring of moods and overall health are important in recognizing these cycling patterns.
The rarest of perinatal mood disorders, postpartum psychosis is found in approximately 0.1-.02% of mothers, and quickly onsets after giving birth. Symptoms include delusions – including irrational judgement, hallucinations, paranoia, hyperactivity, a decreased need for sleep, and rapid mood swings. Risk factors include a family history of bipolar disorder or a previous psychotic episode. Postpartum psychosis is temporary and treatable, but can be dangerous if left unmonitored. If you are concerned that you may have postpartum psychosis, contact your doctor right away.
Counseling before, during, and after pregnancy can help reduce symptoms, duration, and severity of perinatal mood disorders. Pregnancy and birth are a time of change, and therapy helps provide tools to handle changes, both seen and unforeseen. It also provides an objective party as support throughout the process.
Infertility
Infertility, the inability to conceive or carry a child to term, can be one of the biggest challenges to face as an individual, couple, or family.
It’s not a challenge that needs to be faced alone.
From discussing treatment options and processes, to learning how to ask for support from extended family, to adjusting how you communicate with your partner, a therapist can be an impartial part of your support system.
Counseling can be most beneficial if you are experiencing symptoms such as: Sadness Guilt Loneliness Anger Anxiety Strained interpersonal relationships Increase in conflict and/or Thoughts of suicide or death
There often seem to be no words to describe the grief that accompanies the loss of a child. The experience may not feel real or it may feel too real to handle. You may experience denial, guilt, feelings of helplessness, bitterness, envy, depression, anxiety, and any number of other emotions.
The loss likely has and will continue to impact your relationship with your partner, family, friends, and even yourself. Grief manifests in many, many different ways, so your healing will be as unique as your experience.
Our therapists are here for you. You are not alone in this, and we will help you through.
The loss of a child, whether from a termination, miscarriage, stillbirth, or newborn death, invokes the grieving process. Grieving requires time, patience, and working through a lot of pain; having a place to safely and openly process the feelings and thoughts with an empathetic professional can help you find ways to cope and healthy ways to heal. Therapy can help you process your grief and start asking the questions that will ultimately help you move forward.
No matter where you are at in the grieving process, therapy can help you to take the next step toward where you want to be.
The period of transitioning to parenthood, sometimes referred to as the “fourth trimester,” is rife with changes and struggles. Counseling can help you prepare for and deal with challenges as they come to maximize the wellbeing of you and your family. Transitions may include:
Biology
Hormonal changes
Women – Pregnancy hormones, postpartum hormones, increases in cortisol (stress hormone)
Men – Decreases in testosterone, increases in cortisol (stress hormone)
Neuroplasticity – As the adult brain prepares for new developmental milestones, the neurons reorganize in both parents
The hypothalamus, substantia nigra, and amygdala increase in size
Cortex mediating social processes decrease in size
Health behavior
Eating patterns – With a new baby in the mix, parents often change what and when they eat. First time postpartum women have been shown to have a higher carb and saturated fat intake than non-mothers of the same age.
Physical activity – New parents often have less time to exercise and/or participate in less intensive exercise than non-parents.
Significant sleep disruption – New parents are estimated to lose ~80 hours of sleep per year for the first few years of a child’s life
Loss of sleep may result in daytime sleepiness which interferes with daily functioning
Self
Self-concept and self esteem changes are common in new parents
Daily routines – Incorporating a baby into your daily life causes an upheaval in previously established daily practices that requires adjustment
Relationships
Social roles – As new parents, it may take time and effort to adjust to the concept of being a stay-at-home parent or a working parent. Gender roles in the home are often reevaluated and renegotiated during this time of transition.
Psychosocial stress – Socializing may take on a different role in your life after having a child. Adapting to these changing interactions and social responsibilities often causes unanticipated stress.
Relationship changes – Marital or parental relationships take on a huge responsibility with the birth of a child. Changing priorities, time management, levels of energy, and self-perception can all cause changes in your relationship.
Counseling can help: Create reasonable expectations for parenthood before and after birth including: Personal happiness Marital quality Division of household labor Parental involvement and roles Improve self-esteem and self-image Set goals Manage time and priorities Handle conflict Bond with the baby Cope with exhaustion, stress, and social pressure Maintain personal health – mental and physical Understand biological changes
Baby-proofing your relationship incorporates elements of strengthening your relationship with your partner while going through the changes associated with life with a new baby. It also helps you and your partner work together to enhance the baby’s development.
New parents often find that their relationship becomes stressed when a baby is introduced. You may be experiencing: Increased conflict Decreased emotional and/or physical intimacy Decreased communication Perceived imbalance of responsibilities Social difficulties with friends and family that impacts your relationship Changes in your personal identity and self-perception
Meet our Providers
Our staff is trained to provide a broad range of therapies such as couples therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy for children, teens and adults.
