Motherhood
Identity
Motherhood is life changing. As your baby or child goes through so many (!) new phases, you are often meeting new versions of yourself in each phase, too. I work with women to make space to process what matters most to you in this transformative shift of identity, values, and priorities. Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we will work together to clarify your sense of self and integrate these new aspects of you into your daily life.
Transitions
Being a parent can lead to a restructuring of work and relationships that you may not have encountered before this season of life. This is completely normal! I support women through these changes by providing tools for self-compassion and social support amidst the mental load of parenting. Using Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), I help women examine what fulfillment looks like during this phase, whether you are figuring out how to make time for self-care, negotiating a promotion, or deciding how to adjust your schedule for work-life balance.
Each new season of parenting comes with its own unique joys and challenges, whether you are a new mom or becoming a family with multiple little ones. In therapy, I provide empathy and education for the psychological chaos of toddler parenting, as well as validation of the challenges of divided attention when your family grows. I help moms work through what can feel like a “roommate phase” with a partner and identify effective tools for coping with the unpredictability of parenting.
“Mom Guilt”
Ever find yourself up at night researching sleep methods, ruminating about parenting style, or wondering if you made the right choice for your kid? While this is typically referred to as “mom guilt,” there is often not actually anything to feel guilty about! Overthinking as a parent is more reflective of the overwhelming amount of new decisions, skills, and thinking pathways that your brain is learning in this role as well as the desire you have for your kid(s) to have a good life. In addition, there is not usually one “right answer” as a parent, which can create an unsettled feeling while straddling the unknown. Our brains will often work overtime (hi, anxiety!) while navigating this uncertainty to feel a sense of control, hence why you may be replaying that interaction with your toddler in your mind over and over again.
Many modern mothers face a chronic sense of not-enoughness due to impossible-to-meet societal expectations and competing demands. There is a constant give and take in life, and this feeling can become even more pronounced in motherhood. If you had a great day with your toddler, did you neglect your newborn? If you are embracing your newborn bubble, are you a bad friend? If you pause work to focus on home life, are you abandoning your career and ambition? If you are thriving at work, are you seeing your kids enough? These cognitive distortions are the kinds of (completely un-answerable) questions many mothers are asking themselves. As a mom myself, I don’t pretend to have any of the answers, but I understand the nuance and complexity of these issues. As a therapist, my role is to support you in defining what authentic motherhood feels like for you, as well and provide you with tools to shift from self-doubt to self-compassion in these moments of uncertainty.
