Women’s health therapy is a broad term encompassing a type of therapy focusing on the unique needs of a woman, largely related to her sexual health. This may mean she is struggling with pregnancy concerns, birth trauma, infertility, a postpartum mood or anxiety diagnosis, sexuality after childbirth or mastectomy, or pregnancy loss. My background in both psychology and women’s health nursing provides a unique lens for my work within this area. Many of these issues can feel isolating and personally stigmatizing, but with the right tools to manage these intense feelings, I know you can find your strength and power through these difficulties.
Pregnancy and Family Planning Concerns
Whether your pregnancy is planned, unplanned, or pending agreement, this is a pivotal moment in a woman’s life, and it is important to understand and acknowledge your feelings surrounding motherhood (or choosing not to be a mother). Sometimes preexisting health conditions can wreak havoc on pregnancy planning. Other times, it can be difficult for a couple to come to an agreement about starting a family, whether this means simply delaying pregnancy or choosing not to have children. Pregnancies can also be complicated by maternal or fetal health concerns, triggering anxiety or depression for one or both parents. In large part, pregnancy and family planning concerns center on gaining clarity about the issue at hand and relinquishing control of the outcome (if it truly cannot be predicted or controlled).
Birth Trauma
Once the day comes to deliver your baby, many people expect what they see in the movies: short, intense, and over! Unfortunately, most labor patterns are not as predictable as we would prefer, and sometimes, deliveries can be complicated by unforeseen circumstances, such as emergency C-section, postpartum hemorrhage, or problems with the baby leading to admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Though most mothers (seemingly) rightfully choose to focus on their babies rather than their own needs, traumatic birth experiences can have lasting repercussions if left unaddressed. In particular, women are at an increased risk for postpartum depression or anxiety after such a traumatic experience, or they may feel confused, scared, or unsure of what happened to them, potentially resulting in posttraumatic stress disorder. I feel it is important to address these concerns, to process the difficult emotions brought about by the complications faced during delivery, and to resolve the underlying guilt, fear, confusion, rage, or any number of emotions which might occur in the aftermath of such an event.
Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders
While the “baby blues” is a common phenomenon occurring within the first two weeks after birth (upwards of 80% of mothers will experience the baby blues), postpartum depression affects approximately 15-20% of women, and postpartum anxiety affects approximately 10% of women. Difficulties in the postpartum period can also affect fathers! Though postpartum depression (PPD) is more widely known and discussed, many mental health providers now refer to a range of mental health issues in the postpartum period as perinatal mood disorders. Common manifestations of mood disorders during pregnancy or the postpartum period are depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (or OCD, another form of anxiety), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and (far less common) postpartum psychosis. Risk factors for perinatal and postpartum mood disorders may include a prior history of mental health difficulties; stress due to financial, housing, or marital problems; medical complications during pregnancy or the postpartum period; or lack of emotional support. If you are experiencing worsening symptoms of depression or anxiety, it is important that you work with both your obstetrician and a mental health provider to determine the best course of treatment. Typically, both medication and therapy are essential to making a full recovery from postpartum mood complications. You are not alone in managing these difficulties.
Fertility Complications
More and more women are waiting until they have established careers and relationships to start a family, often resulting in increased difficulties in getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. While fertility complications can happen at any age, the bottom line is that most women do not expect to encounter difficulties and can be stunned, frustrated, and demoralized when their bodies do not respond to attempts to become pregnant. The additional factor of the cost of fertility treatments can complicate emotional strain and put stress on both partners and sometimes the relationship. Friends and family may struggle to understand or “say the right thing,” which often leads to women and couples keeping their struggle private, not knowing with whom or how to discuss their issues. Therapy can be helpful in processing the complicated emotional repercussions of fertility treatment and helping you to acquire coping skills and strategies to manage these emotions.
Sexuality after Childbirth
Whether your body is still healing from a difficult childbirth or you are too physically exhausted to think about sex, it is not uncommon for women to shy away from sex after giving birth. Maybe you want to be sexually intimate with your partner, but you are in pain, or you no longer feel sexy. Sex after childbirth can be a complicating matter within a partnered relationship. Understanding each partner’s expectations, considering modifications, and simply making time for intimacy (whether physical or emotional) can lead to an enhanced sex life. If you feel that your sexual relationship needs to be reevaluated after having a baby, it is important for you to talk about it. Communication is key to having a healthy, satisfying sex life, and learning how to communicate your desires, fears, and frustrations with regard to sex can help guide you and your partner into the vulnerable space required to improve intimacy.
Pregnancy Loss
After working as a labor and delivery nurse for nearly two decades, I can tell you from experience that the loss of a pregnancy at any stage is always difficult and never expected. A multitude of emotions and confusing thoughts and ideas can be stirred by such a loss, and it is difficult for family and friends to know how to help. Parents often feel alone in their grief — sad, angry, and worried that they might have missed something that could have prevented the loss. It is often rare for any known cause to emerge, causing many women to blame themselves, their health and lifestyle choices, or even their partners or doctors. Therapy can help you to process and understand these complex emotions and responses. Partners might also need a safe place to discuss their feelings or learn how to be more supportive. It is normal and healthy to grieve the loss of a baby, but it is important that you have the right support and coping strategies to help you manage the difficult emotions that are likely to surface.
Call: 512 402 3465