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Biography

Amy-Rose White LCSW, PMH-C Intuitive, Somatic Psychotherapy

Amy-Rose was born in Australia, raised in the California East Bay, and currently resides in Utah. She is the fortunate mother of two teenage boys and a lover of all things outdoors, spending her free time exploring the mountains year round with her family. As an avid skier, mountain biker, hiker and dancer, she has a passion for movement and the natural world. With a Masters Degree in Social Work from Portland State University specializing in trauma treatment and a Bachelors degree from Humboldt State University in Child Development specializing in developmental psychopathology, she helps clients heal the root cause of distress.

She considers herself a mystical scientist, integrating an eclectic understanding of the psyche and environmental contributors to dis-ease, with deep intuitive and empathic abilities and to create a wellness plan that works for you individually.

Amy-Rose’s career has spanned 25 years in the fields of perinatal mental health, child development, parenting, abuse & trauma prevention, domestic violence, and depression and anxiety treatment. Her expertise as an educator and trainer in attachment, trauma and perinatal mental health has led her speak at over 40 international conferences over the past 20 years.

Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) by Postpartum Support International, Amy-Rose has founded and directed non-profit organizations serving perinatal families in two states and is considered an expert in the field. She has an in-depth understanding of the many signs and symptoms which are often missed or misunderstood as well as expertise on the multitude of treatment options available including both wholistic and prescription options.

 

She has a particular interest in the impact that trauma, body energetics, nutrition, and hormones have on emotional and physical health and works with many other trusted community partners to help clients formulate an integrative wellness plan to meet individualized goals. Her approach combines somatic experiencing, ego psychology and IFS (Internal Family Systems), Emotional Freedom Technique, inner child healing, attachment/trauma informed practices, mindfulness DBT, cognitive behavioral, Jungian/psychodynamic, energy psychology and Gottman Method practices. In a nutshell, she implements what will work best for your individual personality and situation. She approaches clients with intuition, flexibility and creativity and solicits feedback at each session. 

Known as a gentle “straight shooter” with a coaching style, Amy-Rose provides direct, honest, judgment-free, yet focused feedback. She offers concrete tools for managing bothersome symptoms as quickly as possible and welcomes clients of any religious affiliation or none as well as all gender and sexual identifications. Her virtual office is a safe space to be yourself.

“Ultimately, I believe effective psychotherapy is an invitation back to knowing the value of who we are, a reconnection to innate self-worth. My work is essentially about the reclamation of personal power, authority, and a sense of safety, security, and joy in the body. I look forward to working with you!”

Professional Associations:

Postpartum Support International

Utah Association of Women in Psychology

Trauma Informed Care Network

Appointments

Thank you for reaching out. I will respond to you within 24 hours to schedule an appointment.  Thank you.

801-948-8811

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Fees & Policies

Fees

50-Minute Session – Individuals: $155

50-Minute Session – Couples: $185

I am no longer paneled with insurance companies but can offer you a superbill to submit for out of network reimbursement. HSA cards welcomed!

Policies

CANCELLATION POLICY.   Please give 24 hours (1 working day) notice of cancellation. For Monday appointments, cancellations must occur on the prior Friday. For less than 24 hours notice, the full cost of the visit will be charged to you credit card on file.

URGENT NEEDS.  If you feel you are in crisis, you can leave a message on my voicemail and expect a return call, in most cases, within 24-48 business hours.  If your emergency is so acute that waiting for a response is not appropriate, please call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department.  HMHI Crisis Services can also be reached 24/7 at (801) 583-2500.

EMAIL & PRIVACY.  Client information will not be shared, sold or otherwise disclosed to any other party except as requested by the client in writing. The law protects the relationship between a client and therapist with the exception of the following situations:

  • Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
  • If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
  • If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in insuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission that are provided to me by law in order to ensure their safety.
  • Therapists are required by law to report incidences of sexual misconduct on the part of other therapists.
  • Additionally, I may consult with my clinical supervisor and/or consultation group without disclosing any identifiable information.
  • I abide by HIPAA practice standards.

There are limits to protecting your confidentiality over the internet.  Please consider the information you submit over the internet prior to sending.  Please do not use email or “contact us” form to send messages of a personal or confidential nature. Even though I do my best to keep my email confidential, email is copied, archived, and retransmitted continuously as part of normal processing. Because of this, please use email only to request information about my services, or other non-confidential matters.

There are several ways you can communicate with me without having to send information over the Internet: in person, by phone, fax or mail.

Email and texting is intended in my practice for administrative purposes i.e. changing appointment times, contacting me to request an appointment, or confirm appointment times. Please recognize that email or texting is not completely secure or confidential. If you choose to communicate via email, be aware that emails are retained in the logs of internet service providers. While it is unlikely that someone will be looking at these logs, they are in theory available to be read by the system administrator(s) of the internet service provider. Please be aware that any emails received or sent can become part of the legal record.

Perinatal Depression/Anxiety

Treatment Options

Thyroid Tests 

About 10% of women will have thyroiditis during the postpartum period. Thyroid disorders can cause anxiety and depression. In order to rule out thyroiditis, a thyroid test (free T4, TSH, anti-TPO, anti-thyroglobulin) is recommended after six months postpartum if the woman is experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Lowering Inflammation: Key approaches 

Recent research has linked PPD/anxiety and other perinatal illnesses with increased levels of inflammation in the body. Inflammation levels generally rise at the end of pregnancy and chronic stress before, during, or after pregnancy can significantly increase inflammation leading to symptoms of depression and anxiety. The below treatments, including psychotropic medication, help to lower inflammation levels. 

Nutrition 

Deficiencies in major vitamins and minerals can cause symptoms of depression and anxiety. Continuing to take a high-quality food-based prenatal vitamin can help rule out this potential underlying cause. Ask your healthcare provider to test your vitamin D levels as low levels of this hormone can greatly influence mood. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to prevent and treat mild to moderate depression and anxiety in perinatal women at a dosage of 1000-3000mg combined DHA and EPA, and are considered safe for nursing. Some practitioners may recommend up to 9000mg depending on severity. They can be used along with psychotropic medications safely. 

Support Groups 

Social support in various forms has been shown to both prevent and mitigate the symptoms of PPD/anxiety. PPD support groups usually offer education and resources on her symptoms or mood disorders and often friendships formed in these support groups last for a long time. Usually babies are welcome in these groups. For a list of nationwide support groups contact Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net or 805-967-7636. 

Psychotherapy 

It is very important that a mother with symptoms of perinatal mood or anxiety disorders seek treatment from a therapist who specializes in treating pregnant and postpartum women or who is willing to get educated about these issues. A therapist who is well connected to the perinatal professional community should be a member of one of the major organizations that serve perinatal women, such as Postpartum Support International (www.postpartum.net or 805-967-7636). Postpartum depression is different from other types of depression. In fact, the term “Postpartum Depression” is used very loosely to also include postpartum anxiety, panic disorder (panic attacks), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and postpartum OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). The postpartum mother should ask the therapist what type of therapy the person would use. Research has shown that cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal psychotherapies are the most effective modalities to treat postpartum depression. 

Recent research also supports the use of acupuncture, bright light therapy, and yoga as effective treatments of mild to moderate depression in pregnant and postpartum women. St. John’s Wort, has been shown to be effective in treating mild to moderate symptoms in postpartum women but warrants further research on safety during pregnancy. Other approaches include amino acid therapy. Both 5-HTP and SAM-E are evidenced based treatments for depression and anxiety and do not require a prescription. Like many anti-depressants, they have not been well studied in nursing women. Ask your healthcare provider for more information. Postpartum doula care, exercise, massage, homeopathic remedies, chiropractic, hypnotherapy, and nutritional support are all being studied for effectiveness in prevention and treatment and are often helpful options for women to consider as they tailor a treatment plan unique to them. Women should always check with their healthcare provider for safety, as some herbs and illegal drugs can cause serious damage to both mother and infant. Often alternative therapies can complement counseling and/or medication when provided by a licensed healthcare professional.   

Postpartum Depression / Anxiety

Signs and Symptoms

This pages shares common emotional health reactions during pregnancy, the first year postpartum, and for those with a pregnancy loss, who have adopted, and women dealing with fertility challenges. The following can also be signs of Post-abortion Stress Syndrome or “PASS” as well.

Your emotional health during this time is extremely important. Below is a list of distressing emotional reactions that 1 in 5 women will experience during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth/adoption, infertility, miscarriage or loss. If any of these apply to you, please know that with proper support and early detection, most women can begin to feel better rapidly and more fully enjoy their lives, relationships, and the experience of parenting.

  • Baby Blues– Signs include weepiness, irritability, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Resolves or dramatically improves the first three weeks after childbirth. Up to 80% of women will experience the baby blues.
  • Depression/ Anxiety – Symptoms include feeling anxious, agitated, sleeping too much or difficulty “sleeping when the baby sleeps”, excessive worrying, tearfulness, irritability, anger, guilt & shame, feeling disconnected from your family and/or baby, appetite changes, difficulty concentrating, and possible thoughts of harming the baby or yourself. (10-25%)
  • Panic – Signs include feeling worried, anxious or very nervous most of the time. Recurring panic attacks, which include heart palpitations, shortness of breath and/or chest pain, nausea/vomiting or fear of dying. (15%)
  • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – Can occur during pregnancy or following a childbirth which is perceived as traumatic. Usually involves distressing memories, irritability, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, hyper-vigilance, and efforts to avoid reminders of the trauma. Symptoms may be related to a prior traumatic experience or the birth itself. (3-5%)
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – Symptoms include intrusive and disturbing thoughts and/or images of harm coming to the baby, as well as a sense of horror about having these thoughts. Usually includes a preoccupation with keeping the baby safe through repetitive actions to reduce the fear and obsessions. Women disturbed by these thoughts are very unlikely to ever act on them. (3-5%)
  • Postpartum Psychosis – Usually occurs within the first few days or weeks after birth. Includes having strange beliefs, hallucinations, irritability and agitation, inability to sleep, rapid mood changes, and poor decision-making. Women with psychosis are not disturbed by the nature of their thoughts or find them unusual. Women with psychosis are at significant risk for harming themselves and/or their infants, and need immediate crisis intervention. Occurs in 1-3 per 1000 births (.1-.3%)
  • For women with bi-polar disorder. Women with bi-polar disorder are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing psychosis, particularly if they are not taking medication and are extremely sleep-deprived. It is important to develop a wellness plan with a practitioner familiar with postpartum illnesses. Having adequate support is a must.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please call to make an appointment, contact your healthcare provider and/or call Postpartum Support International at (800) 944-4PPD (944-4773)  www.postpartum.net. PSI is the largest perinatal support agency in U.S. PSI’s toll-free WarmLine (English & Spanish) serves over 1,000 callers a month and is staffed by a volunteer team of PSI trained responders who rapidly refer callers to appropriate local resources, including emergency services.