“Am I good enough?” “Would my baby be better off without me?” “Am I a bad mom if I give my baby formula?” Being a new mom is so much harder than you thought it would be.
Everyone said the bond would be instantaneous but it didn’t happen that way for you. You’re so sad, crying all the time, having scary, unwanted thoughts and wondering if you just made the biggest mistake of your life. You may be wondering if you or your new baby have an attachment disorder or if you need attachment focused therapy to fall in love with one another. You never imagined it would be this hard.
Dad, you’re scared and overwhelmed watching your wife or partner fall apart in front of you and you can’t understand why and don’t know how to help her. You may even be feeling scared and emotional yourself and are afraid to admit it out loud. Dads develop postpartum depression (PPD) too and the number one factor affecting a dad’s likelihood of developing PPD is if the mom has symptoms.
Adjusting to parenthood is hard even when there are no other complications to deal with. If you are experiencing postpartum depression and/or anxiety then you know how it robs you of who you are and makes it hard to be the great mom or dad you want to be. The sleep deprivation is like nothing you have ever known before and breastfeeding may make you feel like a failure and send you into a spiral of guilt, and the anxiety at night is so overwhelming that you don’t even recognize yourself.
You are not alone! You are not going crazy! I can help!
I help moms (and dads) bond with their newborns and address the symptoms of depression and/or anxiety that are getting in the way of adjusting well to motherhood. You will feel better after our first session because you feel seen, heard, understood and validated. You can be your full, perfect, messy self with me and I will see you fully and you will know you can say anything and everything without being judged. I’m ready to help you feel better and be the parent you want to be.
Call me today for a free 15-minute phone consultation or to schedule an appointment. (619) 219-4313 or cara@carafairfax.com
Types of Therapy Available
Infant-Parent Psychotherapy
This type of therapy is done with the parent and the baby together. It is extremely helpful for parents who are concerned about their child’s attachment to them, having difficulty learning to ‘read’ their baby’s cues, and those struggling with feeling confident and successful as a parent. The ‘client’ in infant-parent psychotherapy is the ‘relationship’ between the baby and the parent. The goal is to enhance the joy, comfort, and bond between the parent and baby.
Individual Therapy
This type of therapy involves seeing just one parent. It’s an opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings about being a new parent, discuss ways in which you feel you may not be good enough and address historical trauma that may be getting in the way of feeling good about yourself as an individual and parent.
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is when both parents come to session together (with or without the baby depending on the realities of your lives) and have an opportunity to talk about how they feel about their lives as a family, a couple and an individual/parent. This is helpful because you will feel heard and understood which can reduce stress significantly. We will work together to develop a plan to help you both get most of your needs met, feel connected in the work of being parents, and supported as partners.
Support Groups
Support groups are wonderful to help you feel better! Being a parent to a baby can feel very isolating and parents start to believe they are the only one feeling so badly. When you attend a group with other parents you are reminded that you are not alone. You will feel seen, understood and validated. To learn more about the groups I offer please visit my groups and classes page
Contact me for more info and to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. (619) 219-4313 or cara@carafairfax.com