Dana Goldenberg Counseling

Is Parenting Stress Overwhelming You?

Are you in a difficult stage of motherhood? Is anxiety about your child’s well-being and future keeping you from being relaxed or present? Have perfectionist tendencies crept into your parenting?

No matter where you are on your journey, motherhood is a lifelong transformation. And like any complex transition, becoming a parent—though incredibly rewarding—can often involve stress, worry, and questions about your identity.

Perhaps you’re pregnant or trying to conceive. This process typically involves grappling with a range of emotions and uncertainties. In addition to the hormones impacting your mood, you may be struggling to adapt to your body’s physical changes and have possibly developed a negative self-image. With frequent bouts of exhaustion, you may become easily overwhelmed.

On the other hand, you may be well into your parenthood journey. Whether your kids are elementary-aged or nearing young adulthood, there is an element of grief to watching them grow and slowly individuate from you. If they encounter obstacles at school or with their peers, you might blame yourself for their setbacks. And if there is tension or relationship challenges at home, you may be concerned that the connection with your kids is weakening in some way.

Regardless of your kids’ age(s), motherhood constantly shapes and challenges your identity. You may feel like you have lost a part of yourself along the way or battle a nagging feeling that your family dynamics are not what you envisioned.

Perhaps You’re Experiencing A Perinatal Or Postpartum Mood Disorder

Though most women—at 80 percent—experience temporary “baby blues” following the birth of a child, some new mothers can develop more severe mood disorders that can intensify the stress of parenthood. Perinatal or postpartum depression and anxiety can generate feelings of dread, despair, and a loss of interest. And many women seeking maternal mental health support during or following a pregnancy have reported deep feelings of failure, negative self-esteem, and conflicting feelings about parenting.

If left untreated, anxiety and depression can extend beyond the postpartum period. Without proper coping skills, the long-term stress of parenthood can begin to feel unmanageable at times. But counseling can help.

By working with a therapist who specializes in maternal mental health, you can learn to stop blaming yourself and enjoy the journey of parenthood.

Parenthood Pushes Our Limits And Challenges Our Self-Perception

Our society places unrealistic and unfair expectations on women, especially when it comes to being mothers. We’re supposed to remain positive and strong in the face of adversity, naturally having all of the answers about this life-changing transition. Nevertheless, questions surrounding pregnancy and parenthood can quickly become overwhelming—between maternal leave from work, childcare, breast and bottle feeding, the division of labor at home, and maintaining healthy relationships within our families.

On top of it all, we live in a toxic comparison culture perpetuated by social media. Seeing peers or influencers that seem to immediately “bounce back” after pregnancy and flawlessly execute motherhood can cause us to perceive our own parenting abilities negatively. It doesn’t take long to feel defeated by the pressure of it all, developing the belief that we are undeserving of help, unworthy, and alone.

Yet, maternal mental health issues are incredibly common. At every stage of parenting—from conception to empty-nesting—there are obstacles that can challenge our self-esteem and sense of resilience. It’s estimated that close to 10 percent of women experience perinatal depression during pregnancy and that one-fifth of new mothers develop a postpartum mood disorder. Not to mention, one out of eight couples struggle to get pregnant in the first place.

Even if you’re aware of the statistics, experiencing perinatal or postpartum depression and anxiety can catch you off guard and make you feel like a failure. And with all of the pregnancy tips, guides, and advice out there, it can be hard to navigate your emotions without personalized care and attention.

Therapy can help you address your concerns about parenthood in a nonjudgmental atmosphere. With the support and solutions I offer in postpartum and maternal mental health counseling, you can combat the burnout and overwhelm you’ve been feeling.

Addressing Your Maternal Mental Health In Counseling Can Help You Live More Authentically

As a busy mom, you probably don’t get very much time throughout the week to slow down and calmly explore your emotions. But in therapy, you can gain the perspective needed to overcome your fears about the future and strengthen your support systems.

An Eclectic, Individualized Approach To Therapy

My approach to maternal mental health counseling involves collaboration and problem-solving in a way that honors your inherent strengths and values. Together, we will work toward immediate symptom relief so that you can slow down, achieve a healthy baseline, and prepare to address the underlying issues contributing to your distress. Eventually, I will help you examine the negative beliefs at the core of your emotions, so you can unlearn some of the self-critical thinking patterns that keep you in a cycle of grief, doubt, and worry.

In addition to elements of psychoeducation, mindfulness, and breathwork, I use evidence-based therapy that specifically targets pregnancy and postpartum issues. With my warm, pragmatic approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), you can adjust your outlook and behaviors. As you improve your relationship with yourself and your self-perception as a mother, you can build a foundation of emotional safety, stress management, and effective communication.

You have a right to a satisfying life that is not dictated by suffering, shame, and unworthiness. No matter your mental health concerns—whether maternal, personal, or professional—I will design therapy to align with your unique needs and circumstances. With newfound clarity, you’ll be able to reidentify your priorities to live more authentically both as a mom and as an individual.

Maybe You’re Not Sure If Counseling Is Right For You…

My child is the one who could benefit from therapy—not me.

If your child’s behaviors have become challenging or worrisome, they might benefit from therapy. However, it’s important to remember that as a mom, the way you respond to stressors influences your child’s behaviors. By modeling concern for your mental health, you will teach your kids the value of healthy coping and that it’s okay to ask for help.

Counseling offers you a rare opportunity to navigate your innermost feelings so that you don’t have to carry them alone. By empowering your strengths and values, you can parent with more satisfaction and confidence.

If I need pregnancy or maternal mental health support, it signals that I’m unfit to parent.

To struggle is to be human, and there is no shame in seeking the support you deserve. In fact, it takes great strength and courage to address your mental health.

A commitment to therapy is a commitment to your personal growth and an opportunity to reconnect with your most authentic self. Not to mention, your family will reap the benefits of counseling as you become a more present, empowered parent and partner.

Parenting is already so draining and expensive; I don’t have the time or energy for counseling.

Your maternal mental health issues or postpartum/perinatal mood disorder have already cost you so much—robbing you of your joy, fueling your anxiety and inner critic. You are worth the time and financial investment of your personal growth and well-being.

Therapy is especially beneficial during the postpartum period, and I tailor sessions to be as effective and sustainable as possible so that you can find lasting relief. And if cost is an issue, I am happy to provide a superbill to submit to insurance for reimbursement.