If becoming pregnant, having a baby, or adopting has left you feeling constantly anxious, sleepless, irritable, angry, and tearful even when you think you “should” feel happy, you may be suffering from symptoms of pregnancy or postpartum depression without necessarily feeling “depressed”
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Are you reluctant to take pharmaceutical medication for your mental health? Have you experienced significant side-effects from medications and given up that you can be helped? I specialize in helping clients develop complementary treatment plans via supplementation
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If you feel that a traumatic childhood history or incident has impacted your day to day life, I would love to work with you.
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I can work with you to identify your fears and behaviors that keep you from getting what you really want in your relationship
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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!
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.