Perinatal & Postpartum Counseling
Support Before & After Birth
The journey to parenthood isn’t always easy. In this time of big life changes, past trauma may rear its ugly head, you may experience anxiety and/or depression, and you might be feeling alone. Seeking professional support is brave and I’m here to be your safe place to talk about all of these feelings so we can work together to put you on the path to wellness.
Perinatal Focus Areas
Perinatal Anxiety
The perinatal period is generally regarded as the time during pregnancy and throughout the first year after the baby is born. During this time, a lot of things in your life and body are changing, so you may be feeling anxious. You may be afraid to leave your home or that you won’t be a good parent. You may also experience tension in your body or even an increased heart rate. There are strategies we can work on that can provide you with the relief you need so you can enjoy your new baby.
Perinatal Depression
Crying while pregnant is usually thanks to hormonal changes, but if you’re experiencing this so often that it’s made your day-to-day life difficult, it could be perinatal depression. Other symptoms of depression during pregnancy include, but are not limited to feelings of guilt, severe fear of not being a good parent, disinterest in food, difficulty focusing, and sleeping without feeling fully rested. Several treatment options are available and we can work on the best option for you and your family.
Postpartum Focus Areas
Postpartum Anxiety
If you’ve recently had a baby and have been feeling like you can’t sit still, relax, sleep, or otherwise go about your day without a nagging sense that something is wrong, you may be experiencing postpartum anxiety. Racing, intrusive thoughts that disrupt your life can lead to loss of sleep, as well, but sleep deprivation due to having a new baby in the home can also be a contributing factor to anxiety. There are many reasons you could be feeling this way, but what’s important is that you know can be addressed.
Postpartum Depression
Often, postpartum depression is experienced alongside postpartum anxiety. Symptoms include irritability, fatigue, severe mood swings, frequent crying, feelings of guilt, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, difficulty bonding with your child, and feeling as though you cannot take care of yourself or your child. These feelings can range from mild and sporadic to severe and constant. You may be feeling hopeless, but please know that this is not how life has to be and we can work through it together.
Postpartum Psychosis
A form of postpartum depression that can be life-threatening is called postpartum psychosis. Symptoms are often disorganized thinking or delusions. These can include paranoia, severe mood swings, hallucinations, and difficulty communicating clearly. This is not something you or your loved one should attempt to tackle on your own. With support and treatment, a full recovery is possible.
Additional Areas of Support
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Persistent thoughts that bring repetitive ideas to mind related to your baby could be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It can also lead to compulsions that lead you to perform an action repeatedly to attempt to feel better about these feelings. Parents are usually able to understand the thoughts are abnormal, but feel embarrassed or shameful about having them and can have a difficult time sharing them with loved ones. It may be easier to talk about them with a professional and begin to work through them.
Traumatic Pregnancies & Births
Birth and pregnancy trauma can leave a lasting psychological impact that may result in post-traumatic stress distress disorder (PTSD). Pregnancy trauma may be due to health problems, accidents, bereavement, or any other significant concerns in your life. Emergencies or injuries during birth can result in trauma, as well. Therapy can help you work through these traumatic experiences and move toward reducing your symptoms by establishing healthy coping skills.
Pregnancy Loss
Losing a pregnancy can be devastating and traumatic. The emotional and physical pain can be overwhelming during this time. You may be feeling sadness, helplessness, and grief, among other powerful emotions. I’m here to help you work through this loss and to minimize any potential anxiety or depression, as well as potential fears about possible future pregnancies.
Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
An approach that takes into account a person’s unhealthy, unhelpful behaviors or thought processes is called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). One of the core concepts behind CBT is that our emotions, thoughts, and actions are all connected and inform how we move through life. When these are negatively affecting our lives, these learned patterns and behavior can be unlearned through a combination of counseling techniques.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
While similar to cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) focuses more specifically on traumatic experiences. The specific goals of TF-CBT are related to helping someone reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTSD).
Perinatal Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
The time before, during, and after pregnancy can be full of fears, anxiety, and depression. These emotions may surround traumatic birth, negative body image, breastfeeding, childcare, relationship changes, and more. Perinatal EMDR can help address these concerns by using eye movements or other bilateral stimulation to help work through memories and emotions. The goal of EMDR is to help remove the emotional block keeping someone from beginning the healing process.
Payment Options
Insurance
We accept Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), and Wellmark insurance. If you’d like to go through your health insurance plan, we will directly bill your insurance carrier. You will be responsible for any copays and/or coinsurance, as applicable.
Sliding Scale
Whenever possible, we offer adjusted payment plans, so please feel free to discuss this option with your provider.
Private Pay
You may choose to pay for sessions privately (without going through insurance) and we’re happy to accommodate. Please see our current (as of May 1, 2024) service rates:
Initial Session: $200
The initial session is your first session with us and will include reviewing intake paperwork, setup costs, and learning more about your therapeutic goals. This session generally lasts 55-60 minutes.
*Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Code: 90791
Standard Session (16-32 Minutes): $100
CPT Code: 90832
Standard Session (33-52 Minutes): $150
CPT Code: 90834
Standard Session (53-60 Minutes): $185
CPT Code: 90837
Family Therapy with Client Present: $160
CPT Code: 90847
Family Therapy without Client Present: $160
CPT Code: 90846
Crisis Session: $200 for 60 Minutes
Each additional 30 minutes will be billed at $125 for any additional 30 minutes.
CPT Code: 90839
*Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are used for efficiency and accuracy in medical billing.
Contact Us
If you have questions about what counseling might look like for you or how to best proceed, please call us at (515) 499-4959. If you're more comfortable with email, please connect with us at contactus@bloomwomenswellness.
Insurance & Private Pay Accepted
We accept Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Wellmark, as well as private pay. It’s our belief that mental health care should be accessible and we’re happy to work with you on a sliding fee scale.