If you are struggling to conceive and carry to term, please know you are not alone. We understand that it can feel really difficult to want to be a parent but have difficulty conceiving. Seeing others in our lives become pregnant and have children can make it even harder. Our therapy provides a safe, non-judgmental space to process these feelings and experiences.
In perinatal therapy, we encourage you to talk as much as you want to about all of your feelings including your fears and anxieties; feelings of jealousy, anger, and sadness and loss of hope. Fertility challenges come with a lot of physical and emotional ups and downs. We are here to help you process all of this along your fertility journey
Sometimes we can get stuck mentally or end up in shock if our birth experience did not match what we had hoped for. We can easily get caught up in the new demands of parenthood, and neglect to fully process our birth experience with someone whom we trust.
We are here to help you talk about your hopes, traumas and difficulties with a compassionate ear.
Often we get stuck believing that the only acceptable way to feel about new parenthood is to feel nothing but complete joy. This expectation, largely placed onto new parents by society, can be quite difficult and overwhelming because it is simply impossible to only feel one way. While joy can definitely be part of the new parenthood experience, joy is probably not what you experience exclusively. Giving birth and being a partner to a birth both bring up a whole host of complicated feelings. In perinatal therapy, we encourage you to express all of your feelings.
It can be very difficult to prioritize yourself when trying to get pregnant, while pregnant or while caring for a newborn. These are the exact times when seeking help will do you and your family the most good. Self-care takes many forms, including talk therapy.
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Like you don't enjoy things you used to?
Like you’re excessively worried about yourself or your baby?
Like you don’t want to eat, can’t sleep, or are eating and sleeping more than usual?
Like you aren’t bonding properly with your baby?
Like you might hurt yourself, or your baby?
Like you’re all alone, with no support?
Like you’re losing it, or you’re out of control?
Perinatal therapy can help you! A safe space to share your feelings honestly, and freely, where you won’t be judged, can help you pin down what you’re truly going through. Support from a therapist can also help you find ways to make change, to help you manage your new life and find ways to enjoy your family.
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Dr. Jen Joseph is a Licensed Psychologist in NY and NJ, a Certified Group Psychotherapist, and a PsyPact approved provider. She offers perinatal therapy using interpersonal, psychodynamic, modern psychoanalytic, cognitive behavioral, and mindfulness techniques.
Dr. Jen has completed training with Postpartum Support International, and is a listed provider. Her specific training has provided her with the exact knowledge needed to support you through your reproductive journey.
Here are some of the most common questions about perinatal therapy. If your question isn’t answered here, please feel free to contact us with your specific question. We want to make sure you understand our service so we can best meet your needs.
Perinatal is a combination of the prefix peri-, meaning “around”, or “near” and -natal, meaning birth. For our purposes, it refers to the period from pregnancy through the first year of a baby’s life. It also includes individuals who experience fertility challenges.
We were never meant to parent alone, or in a lonely way. Bringing people together to help is a key way to navigate the perinatal period. Simply put: parenting is hard. Support through the hard times and the good is something we all need. Perinatal therapy can be a pillar of support, among many pillars, to help you manage symptoms Postpartum Anxiety and Postpartum Depression.
No mood disorders are definitively forever conditions, however if left untreated, mood disorders can last longer, and may become worse with time. The perinatal period is unique partly because your symptoms are related to the large physical and emotional changes around giving birth and caring for a newborn. The key is to get support. Support can come from a perinatal therapist, from prioritizing self-care, and from seeking support from friends and family for the communal task of childrearing (it really does take a village). All of these are critical to helping you navigate the world of perinatal mood disorders.
Check with Dr. Jen about her latest group therapy offerings. Additionally, check out the Postpartum Support International website for online groups. PSI online support groups can be found HERE.
We offer therapeutic support to you in a time of substantial life change for you. The struggles of fertility challenges, postpartum anxiety and depression are worth prioritizing, and we want to help.
Contact Us For Your Free 15 min Consultation