Perinatal Mental Health

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Trying to have a baby should be a fun experience, but this isn't the case for many people. It can be an incredibly stressful situation with highs and lows. It can feel overwhelming, stressful and very very isolating. So many feelings can come up, including resentment and hurt that it seems so easy for everyone else. Often those going through fertility struggles are met with unhelpful or hurtful comments from those around them. Safe and compassionate infertility counselling/ counselling through the trying to conceive process.

I can help with:

• Addressing individual and relationship concerns, enhancing the relationship during these difficult times
• Manage expectations about fertility treatment/the trying to conceive process
• Processing all the emotions, thoughts, and feelings that come up - even the ones we're not proud of or that are sticky
• Identify life stressors and find opportunities for support
• Discuss areas of emotional vulnerability
• Learn coping tools and strategies
• Mentally prepare for procedures
• Acknowledge and normalize the grief process

Pregnancy and postpartum is an amazing time of transformation and growth. But with that transformation comes a lot of pressures, hormones and changes that can be difficult to navigate. 1 in 5 new parents struggle with some sort of mental health challenge during pregnancy and postpartum, including postpartum depression. It is the number one complication of childbirth. You don't need to go it alone. I offer a caring and warm space to support you through your journey towards wellness. I can and will get better. Please reach out!

I can help with:

• Emotional preparation ahead of giving birth
• Support with the transition into parenthood and all the (often contradictory and confusing) emotions that come with it
• Depressed mood or mood swings, feeling hopeless and overwhelmed
• Anxiety, intrusive or scary thoughts ("What if I drop my baby? What if I snap and hurt them?" "Mothering is so hard—I don't know if I really want to do this anymore. Gosh, I'm so terrible for thinking that.")
• Anger and rage
• Processing traumatic or difficult births
• Grieving the loss of your previous life while finding space to enjoy the possibilities moving forward 
• Supporting your partner through pregnancy and postpartum
• Postpartum depression or other mental health concerns in the non-birthing partner
• Struggles with feeling like we're doing a "good enough" job at this whole parenting thing; support around guilt and shame

What is the difference between baby blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum anxiety? Read more here to find out! Read more about intrusive thoughts here. 

It can seem insurmountable to move through the grief after any kind of loss, but especially a pregnancy or infant loss. Whether it is from miscarriage, termination, abortion or stillbirth, strong emotions can arise. It can be overwhelming and crippling. Confusing emotions may arise, especially if you are deciding between keeping the pregnancy or termination. I offer sensitive and skilled pregnancy loss counselling, walking with you through whatever arises and helping you envision the future - whatever that looks like.

I can help with:

• Processing all the emotions, thoughts, and feelings that come up with a pregnancy loss
• Creating a safe place to grieve, alone or with your partner 
• Addressing the impacts on the couple's relationship/family dynamic
• Discuss areas of emotional vulnerability
• Acknowledge and normalize the grief process
• Learn coping tools and strategies
• Identify opportunities for support
• Healing from the trauma/medical process
• Figuring out what moving forward looks like
• Honouring the loss through ceremony or other meaning-making opportunities