Finding a Therapist for Pregnancy and Postpartum
By Allie Loeb, LCSW
Looking for a therapist for yourself can be an overwhelming experience. There are so many platforms and search engines that exist for the sole purpose of finding a therapist, yet they can actually just make the process more confusing! As the world of mental health therapy has grown and more and more providers are offering services, it means that simply searching “therapists near me” doesn’t always lead to finding someone who 1) is actually near you or 2) is going to be a good fit. Particularly during a time like pregnancy or postpartum when stress and anxiety is already heightened and your to-do list can feel never ending, seeking out a therapist who truly gets it can become even more challenging.
Why seek out therapy during your pregnancy or postpartum period?
Many people think that this time in life is going to be filled with joy, excitement, and pure bliss, with days filled dreaming about nurseries and baby snuggles and family and friends showering you with joy, love, and positivity. The reality for many, however, is that this time can also be an extremely stressful or overwhelming one. Beyond the actual tasks of preparing for a baby or navigating the postpartum months, there are countless emotional, relational, and identity changes. The hormonal changes alone that your body is going through are some of the most significant a person will face in their lifetime and can result in increased feelings of sadness, anxiety, tearfulness, stress, and irritability. Working with a mental health therapist can help shift your pregnancy or postpartum from feeling scary, overwhelming, or isolating to one that helps you feel supported, confident, and actually enjoying each day.
Factors to Consider When Looking for a Therapist
Specializations
Looking for a mental health therapist who specializes in perinatal (pregnancy and postpartum) mental health care is especially important during this time in your life. Most therapists do not receive any sort of instruction or training on perinatal mental health while they are in school or initial training. In a time in your life that you’re focused entirely on seeking out care that truly understands the biological, physical, hormonal, and emotional changes that you and your growing baby are going through, finding a therapist who has received specialized training becomes even more important.
At First Light Therapy, providers are specifically trained and experienced in serving pregnant and postpartum individuals, as well as those who are trying to conceive or navigating fertility services. You can also look for providers who have PMH-C in their title, as this signifies they have completed Perinatal Mental Health certifications and trainings.
Location
With telehealth expanding the reach of therapy, it might not feel as important to work with a provider who lives close to your community, however the reality for many individuals who are pregnant or postpartum is that they are requiring more community-based services than ever before. Working with someone who is located in or near your town or city means they’ll likely know other services in your area and can refer you to providers, groups, or events that are relevant to you.
First Light Therapy is based in downtown Hoboken, NJ and holds close relationships with related service providers throughout Hoboken and Jersey City, such as pelvic floor PTs, Doulas, Lactation Consultants, and more. Providers also stay alert to new mom groups, family focused events, developmental supports and resources, and beyond, to ensure that mental health care doesn’t just address anxiety or depression symptoms, but also aims to improve life across all domains, all within your backyard.
When you work with a therapist who is local to you, there is also the benefit that they understand the unique stressors, pressures, nuances, or intricacies of your community. Feeling understood across a variety of levels helps strengthen the therapeutic relationship and improves treatment outcomes.
In Person vs. Virtual
Many new moms (and moms to be) love the fact that mental health care is offered virtually by most providers. Virtual mental health therapy offers so many benefits, including increased accessibility, scheduling flexibility, and reduced time off to attend your appointment. Add in a baby, and virtual therapy also allows for moms to stay at home with their baby with less stress of traveling to an appointment or finding childcare.
In person appointments also offer its own benefits. As our workdays become increasingly more digital, with meetings more often taking place over Zoom instead of in a meeting room, we have less and less face to face contact with actual people. Spending an hour a week with a therapist in the same room can feel particularly impactful in developing the relationship, improving your mood, and feeling human.
At First Light Therapy special care is put in place to ensure that babies are also welcome in the therapy session. For individuals local to the office, they are welcome to attend not only in person, but to bring their child along with them! The office has plenty of room for a stroller, play mat, or bouncer, and whether they’re awake, asleep, needing to eat, or require a diaper change, all is welcome!
Personality
While you’re navigating an exceptionally transformational time of your life and you’re looking for support, it’s important to feel like you like and enjoy your therapist! Do you want someone who challenges you and calls you out? Are you looking for someone who remains serious the whole session? Is humor an important quality to you in a relationship with other people? All of these are valid considerations, so it’s important to connect with any potential therapist first to start to suss out if you think they’re a good personality fit. First Light Therapy offers free 30-minute consultation phone calls for exactly this purpose! Providers believe that treatment works best when there is a strong therapeutic relationship and work hard to ensure that clients feel at ease, comfortable, and heard in sharing their experiences.
Strategies for Finding the Right Fit
There are so many amazing providers out there who would love to work with you. Here are some strategies for finding your next therapist:
Ask your friends if they know of anyone, or if they have any providers who they can ask.
If you already are working with another related-service provider, like a physical therapist or a lactation consultant, ask them! The network of perinatal providers in each community tends to be strong and supportive, and love to share referrals!
Many providers often attend community-based events, aimed at meeting people directly in the community, so keep an eye out the next time your town or city hosts something.
If you’re in Hoboken or Jersey City and are looking for someone local, who specializes in perinatal mental health, and offers both in person and virtual services, contact First Light Therapy today to discuss next steps. We’d love to work with you!
The information and content on this post is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. If you have questions about your mental health, please reach out to your doctor.