Anxiety
Anxiety
Symptoms of anxiety can present in a number of ways, whether you are ruminating about world events, replaying social interactions in your mind, or worrying about your health. Often times, anxiety is our brain’s way of attempting to help us through uncertain moments, without realizing that this “help” might be harming us or taking us away from the present moment. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I work together with clients to identify which aspects of anxiety are adaptive and which symptoms may not be serving you well to help live a more balanced life.
Depression
Depression can make it difficult to find fulfillment or motivation to do things that you may have previously enjoyed. Many people find these symptoms to be exacerbated during winter months with cold weather and limited daylight. Ironically enough, the very coping skills that can be useful for managing Depressive symptoms are the ones that Depression makes it hard to do (self-care, hydration, movement, time outside, etc.). Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I support clients in understanding their own rhythms and needs when experiencing Depression, while also strategizing how to meet these needs effectively.
Perinatal Anxiety, Depression, and OCD
Perinatal depression affects as many as 1 in 7 women in the US (Darios et. al., 2023). While most people are familiar with postpartum depression when it comes to maternal mental health, people are not usually aware of other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders that can occur before, during, or after birth. It is estimated that about 3 in 4 women will experience intrusive thoughts in the postpartum period (Collardeau et. al., 2019). While experiencing intrusive thoughts during such a vulnerable time can be very distressing, it is usually completely normal and very common. I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to provide women with practical tools for managing these thoughts and coping with day to day anxious symptoms. In addition, I help women discern between baby blues and postpartum depression with practical tools for support in the postpartum period.
Getahun, Darios et al. Trends in Postpartum Depression by Race/Ethnicity and Pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 228, Issue 1, S122 - S123
Collardeau F, Corbyn B, Abramowitz J, Janssen PA, Woody S, Fairbrother N. Maternal unwanted and intrusive thoughts of infant-related harm, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression in the perinatal period: study protocol. BMC Psychiatry. 2019 Mar 21;19(1):94. doi: 10.1186/s12888-019-2067-x. PMID: 30898103; PMCID: PMC6429780.
