How to Find Postpartum Therapists in Denver
Becoming a parent is a life-changing experience. There are so many moments filled with joy, excitement and love. But many new parents struggle mentally during the perinatal period, which begins during pregnancy and lasts through your first year after having a child. This can look like postpartum depression or anxiety, experiencing trauma symptoms after a difficult birth, struggling with grief after a miscarriage, or general new-parents anxieties and stress. Many new parents aren’t aware of the resources available to them, or feel overwhelmed at how to get help. Putting the work into finding a therapist can be the last thing you want to do when you are inundated with dirty diapers and bottles or wash, or in the throes of sadness and grief. You are certainly not alone in feeling this way, and many therapists specialize in helping people deal with the emotional challenges that come up during family planning and beyond. As a postpartum therapist in Denver, I want to share some insights as to how to go about finding the right provider for you.
What Kind of Postpartum Therapy Are You Looking For?
Within the community of perinatal mental health providers, different therapists specialize in treating different conditions. The first step is to think about what you are looking to get help for, and make sure you are looking at therapists that advertise experience with the issues you’re facing. Here are some of the common issues that people are looking to get help with when starting postpartum therapy:
Postpartum Depression Counseling
Postpartum depression is a condition that impacts up to 1 in 8 women who have given birth. People experiencing postpartum depression deal with intense feelings of sadness, exhaustion and sometimes anxiety. They typically have a hard time enjoying the things they used to love to do before having a baby, and may have a hard time bonding with their newborn. It usually begins within the first few weeks after delivery (but does sometimes take longer to show up), and both lasts longer and is more intense than the “baby blues” that many new moms experience in the first two weeks after childbirth due to abrupt changes in hormones. Counseling can help you to feel less alone, access your support system and find joy in your life again.
Postpartum Anxiety Counseling
Postpartum anxiety is also a very common condition that occurs after childbirth. It can look like feeling on edge, excessive worry, dealing with persistent feelings of dread and fearful thoughts related to your baby’s wellbeing. Other symptoms can include panic attacks, irritability, difficulty sleeping and difficulty letting go of control. Sometimes it occurs at the same time as postpartum depression, but the focus is more on worry, fear and anxiety as opposed to sadness. Meeting with a postpartum anxiety therapist in Denver can help you to find ways to better manage your anxiety, feel less fearful and make space to more fully enjoy this season of life.
Postpartum OCD Counseling
Postpartum OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a type of postpartum anxiety where the birth parent experiences intrusive and unwanted thoughts, which are usually very distressing in nature. They typically focus around the baby’s safety and wellbeing, or fear of harming the baby. These thoughts usually go together with “compulsions”, or things that you do to try and decrease the anxiety caused by the intrusive thoughts. This can look like obsessive checking, cleaning/sterilizing or reassurance-seeking. Postpartum OCD counseling can help you to change your relationship to intrusive thoughts so that they no longer feel as overwhelming or distressing, allowing you to focus more on being present for this experience and bonding with your baby.
Birth Trauma Therapy
What is experienced as a traumatic birth can vary widely from person to person. Examples are a long or difficult labor, dealing with a life-threatening emergency, or generally feeling disregarded and powerless during your child’s birth. Many people who experience birth trauma identify with feeling afraid, alone or unsupported during their birth experience. Afterwards, you may develop some symptoms of PTSD like intrusive memories, flashbacks, panic attacks or fearful thoughts. Birth trauma therapy can help you to grieve the loss of the experience that you had hoped for and identify ways to feel empowered postpartum.
Prenatal Therapy
Prenatal therapy helps you to cope with challenges and stressors that come up during pregnancy and prepare for childbirth, the newborn days and beyond. Many women experience anxiety, stress or challenges coping with changes in their bodies during pregnancy, and a prenatal therapist can help you to better manage your anxiety, build your confidence and set expectations for this exciting new chapter in your life.
Therapy for Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss
Going through a pregnancy loss can be an extremely difficult, and often heartbreaking, experience. Many women deal with feelings of sadness and grief, difficulty coping with hormonal changes and anxieties regarding future pregnancies. Each person’s experience is unique and personal, and sometimes it can be hard to feel supported, even by others in your life who have gone through the same thing. Therapy for pregnancy loss can help you to make space for your unique experience of grief, set boundaries with others in your life about what you need during this time, and mentally prepare for the next steps in your family planning journey.
Therapy for Infertility
For people struggling with infertility, the path to conception can feel exhausting and full of unexpected hurdles. Maybe you are even struggling with how family planning has impacted your identity and sense of self. Therapy can give you a nonjudgmental space to process these feelings and cope with uncertainty.
Anxiety Therapy for New Parents
Anxiety is a normal part of the new-parent journey, however when it starts to feel overwhelming or all-encompassing, anxiety therapy for new parents can help you to create context for the challenges you’re facing, change your relationship to anxious thoughts and make space for uncertainty and change in your life.
Counseling for Moms
Even if you are not in the immediate postpartum period, motherhood creates a unique set of challenges in your life that can leave you feeling exhausted, spread-thin and even guilty at times. Counseling for moms an help you to find balance in your identity, better manage your stress and feel empowered to speak up for your needs again.
Couples Therapy for New Parents
Having a child can put immense strain on your relationship with your partner. Having a baby takes up a lot of space in your life, and being intentional about communication, quality time and compromise can fall to the wayside. Working with a couples therapist can help you to reconnect to your partner, better understand their experience of this huge life change and find ways to help each of you feel fulfilled and supported.
Where to Find Postpartum Therapists in Denver
There are many different places that you can find a postpartum therapist in Denver. Here are a few places to start:
Try doing a Google search for a therapist in your area. Make sure to include the type of therapy that you are looking for and location (ie “postpartum anxiety therapy in Denver” or “prenatal therapist in Denver”). Don’t be afraid to scroll through a few pages of search results until you find someone that looks like they could be a good fit!
Online Directories
There are several online directories that are great places to search for a postpartum therapist:
Postpartum Support International (PSI) - Online directory for providers in your state who have completed training in perinatal mental health.
Psychology Today - Popular online directory that allows you to search for providers in your area and sort by specialty.
Referrals
Referrals can be a really helpful way to get connected to a therapist who has been vetted by people you know and trust. A few great sources of referrals are:
Providers, such as your OBGYN, PCP, acupuncturist, dietitian, pelvic floor therapist, etc.
Friends can also be a great referral source, as long as you are comfortable seeing a provider who also treats a friend of yours. Mental health providers are of course bound by confidentiality requirements.
Other local groups, like neighborhood associations, mom groups and facebook groups for your area
What to Consider When Searching for a Postpartum Therapist
Now that you’ve found some profiles for postpartum therapists in your area, maybe you’re wondering “these all look great! How do I choose?” Some questions to ask yourself are things like, do you like the feel of their website? Do they specialize in what you’re looking to work on? Do you relate to any of their blog posts? If you find a therapist who checks these boxes, it’s time to reach out and schedule a phone consult.
Online Postpartum Therapy in Colorado
Another factor to consider is if you want to see a therapist online or in-person. This is really a matter of personal preference. Benefits of seeing an online postpartum therapist in Colorado include being able to have sessions in the comfort of your own home, with your baby present if need be, and not having to worry about childcare or commute time. Postpartum physical recovery can also be a struggle, and attending sessions over video allows you to start getting emotional support from your therapist even before your body has physically healed.
How Do I Know if a Therapist is Right for Me?
After you’ve had a phone consultation, it may still feel hard to decide if a postpartum therapist is the right fit. Some things to consider are:
Did you get good “vibes” from this person? Did you enjoy talking to them?
Did they ask you thoughtful questions, and make you feel seen and heard?
Did they treat you as the expert, rather than passing judgment or telling you what to do?
Did you end the call feeling optimistic about how they can help you?
Postpartum Counseling at Root to Rise Therapy
Victoria at Root to Rise Therapy is a Denver postpartum therapist trained through Postpartum Support International. She works with clients experiencing postpartum anxiety, depression, challenges with pregnancy or miscarriage, trouble adjusting to parenthood and more. Her goal as a therapist is to help her clients feel less overwhelmed and calmer, more present and joyful on their family planning and parenting journeys. Reach out today for a free 15 minute phone consultation!
Other Mental Health Resources for New Parents in Denver
There are so many resources that can be helpful for new parents in Denver including support groups, postpartum care providers and places to hang out with your new baby. Check out Root to Rise Therapy’s resource guide to learn more about mental health resources for new parents in Denver.
Postpartum Therapy in Denver Can Help
You don’t have to live with constant anxiety, sadness or overwhelming thoughts. Therapy can help you to learn to trust yourself and both your brain and body’s abilities to heal. Through postpartum counseling you can get out of your head, be more present in your life and find joy and connection. Get in touch to talk to a postpartum therapist today.
Other Services at Root to Rise Therapy:
Other mental health services at Root to Rise Therapy include Therapy for Anxiety, Therapy for Perfectionism, Therapy for People-Pleasing, Cultural Identity Counseling, ADHD Therapy, Counseling for Moms and Postpartum Counseling. I see clients located in Colorado, New York and New Jersey. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you overcome anxiety and reclaim your life!
