Feeling more anxious postpartum?

Not uncommon! Postpartum anxiety is a common mental health concern experienced by new mothers, characterized by excessive worry and anxiety about their baby, their ability to care for them, and their own health. It affects approximately 20% of new mothers and can significantly impact both maternal well-being and infant development. Postpartum anxiety is different from the normal feelings of stress and worry associated with new parenthood, as it can be persistent, overwhelming, and interfere with daily life. That’s when it’s important to have support around one of the most significant adjustments in your life. Why does it happen? The rapid decline in hormones after childbirth can contribute to mood changes and increased sensitivity to stress. There will likely be a significant loss of sleep, which can exacerbate anxiety. The intense desire to protect and care for the baby can sometimes lead to overwhelming anxiety. While this can be common among new mothers, seeking support is a vital part of caring for your overall well-being. Addressing your mental health early can positively impact both your recovery and your bond with your baby. You don’t have to face this alone — seeking support for postpartum anxiety is a courageous and powerful step toward healing.

Motherhood & Identity: Finding Yourself Again

One of the biggest challenges that women may face as they enter motherhood is feeling like they may not recognize themselves anymore. Their routines are completely different, their focus has shifted, and their sense of self-care can often be a distant thought. The mom hat becomes the prominent hat, and while there’s nothing wrong with that by any means, it’s not the only part of women that exists. We are still individuals, partners, sisters, cousins, friends, etc. Realizing identity isn’t static — it evolves - can be a helpful reminder throughout this transition. Reclaiming your “and” — you can be a mom and still be creative, sexy, ambitious, adventurous, etc. You can still work, connect with friends, take care of yourself. It might not look the same as it did before your little one arrived, but it can still be fulfilling and it is incredibly important. Embracing the new parts of you that motherhood unlocks (strength, patience, vulnerability) can also be validating and empowering as we redefine our sense of self in this new journey. How can you apply some of this to your own experience in motherhood?

The Postpartum Experience…

If you’re at all connected to mom content on social media, you may have noticed an increasing trend of demystifying the emotional challenges women face after childbirth. For so long, and still to a certain degree today, there has been a stigma around new moms feeling anything but exclusively grateful, happy, and in newborn bliss. The truth is, this is an unrealistic standard that has been set for women and the reality can often be a stark contrast to this bubbly, warm, and joyful image. For me, I oscillated between immense gratitude for a healthy baby boy delivered via emergency C-section and a sense of grief around how his entrance into the world unfolded. Upon returning home from the hospital, I quickly realized this was going to be more of a change than I could have imagined. Over those first few weeks at home, my husband and I tried desperately to figure out a schedule, a plan, to feel any kind of control over a completely new experience that had us both thrown for a loop. Time does pass, you do figure things out as you go, it won’t be perfect. But hormonal changes on top of such significant adjustments can often add a whole new level of stress, worry, fear, sadness, and overwhelm. Even with the best supports in place, this can often be the stark reality of life as a new mom. If this hasn’t been your experience - amazing for you! Truly! I wish every new mom could have an easy transition into this phase of life. But if you’re resonating with anything I’m explaining here, please know that I would be honored to have the opportunity to support you through these challenges.

Let’s talk communication…

Have you ever heard the term “communication is key”? Have you ever rolled your eyes at that idea? I can admit I was that way too. For a long time I believed that if I didn’t have anything remotely not-nasty to say as a response to something - especially something I was not thrilled about - that it was better to stay quiet. I can look back now and realize that was in no way the most effective approach to communicating. That was not communicating at all. I realized I had to share how I was feeling or what I was thinking with others, especially in the relationships I valued. But I also realized there are better ways to deliver these messages. It can be somewhat daunting to consider telling someone exactly how you feel about what they said to you or what they did, but if you don’t share then by default the things that are happening around you become enabled. If your friend calls you and asks you for a ride to the airport at 5am, and you don’t want to do it but you say yes, then how do they know you don’t want to do it? And then they call you again for the next trip? Ugh! But the thing is - you can’t assume other people know your reactions and responses to things if you don’t exercise your power to tell and/or show them. In therapy, we can explore a myriad of different communication skills and styles. You can learn to communicate better and potentially be an example of effective communication in your relationships. So…let’s talk!

What does therapy look like?

I think it’s safe to say people have a certain idea of therapy. In years prior, it was very much the image of an older white male with white hair and a beard holding a clipboard while a distressed individual lay on a couch in a stuffy office. Thankfully, this is a much outdated version of what a classic therapy session entails. And, after the pandemic and the necessity of telehealth rising, it now can look like many different things. A new sitting on her couch while her child naps, a professor taking their lunch break in their office, a new graduate returning to their apartment after a full day’s work - all of these examples show how versatile and convenient therapy can be in this day and age. What kinds of images do you have in your mind when it comes to therapy, and how can they be adapted to what is now available to make therapy more accessible and convenient than it’s ever been?

Thoughts on “growth”…

I initially wanted to name my business after a nickname we started to call my son early on in my pregnancy: Bean. Because of the different vetting processes involved, I wasn’t able to use the name - either on its own or as an acronym related to therapy. In choosing “Growth” for establishing my brand, I still had my son in mind. I have a tattoo on my wrist of a little bean that has a leaf sprouting from it. This, to me, was a way to encapsulate how he will always be my little bean but he has to grow. He recently turned three years old, and I’ve been heavily reflecting on just how much he has grown in this short span of time. I then found myself relating this notion to therapeutic work - how sometimes when we’re focused on the day to day, it doesn’t seem like much is really changing or evolving. But when we give ourselves a chance to look back over time, we may be more likely to see where growth has happened. If we think of ourselves as little beans sprouting with our little leaves, maybe we can practice more compassion and give ourselves more credit where it is due. What do you think?

Let’s talk expectations…

When I first decided to pursue this venture, I had to make sure I was approaching it in the best way possible. What that mean for me was … what kind of expectations do I have about this process? Am I holding some kind of idea in my head and, if so, how rational or realistic is that idea? Do I have any evidence to support my expectation? The answer for me was a resounding “NO" - I have never done anything like this before! How would I really, truly know what was to come? I couldn’t! But at the same time, I held confidence in my ability to figure things out. I did some research, I asked questions, I sought support, and I broke it down in a way that made everything feel more manageable. It was still scary and uncertain and worrying, but felt doable at the same time. I was able to check myself and my expectations, and it helped me reset my overall approach to this journey. I allowed space for the hesitation and uncertainties while finding ways to move this all forward. I think this notion is one that can be applied to different examples and areas in all of our lives. How does this resonate with you?

Welcome! We’re both new here…

For many years, I’ve imagined what it would be like to launch my own private practice. Admittedly, I enjoyed working for groups, agencies, or organizations where others had more responsibility over all of the aspects of running a business. It felt safer to me. And it was for many years. But as time went on and my own life changed, I realized I needed to re-assess my thoughts toward work.

I established Growth Mental Health Counseling, PLLC in early 2025 as a way to fully commit to myself. It is simultaneously scary and invigorating and exciting and…scary. But I’m being honest with myself about those feelings, acknowledging them, and giving them the appropriate space. And doing this anyway.

Ideally, I will continue to connect with young adults - from the elder millenials to the gen Z’ers - and support them in their lives. As a wife, mother, and therapist, I can relate to the challenges of managing multiple roles and responsibilities. I empathize with how difficult it can be to find balance, feel like yourself, and take care of yourself as best as possible given all the balls that can be in the air at one time.

I want us to work together and find ways to think more rationally, feel more fully, and act in ways that are more aligned with who we want to be. Let’s work together toward GROWTH.