Perinatal Mental Health Therapy in St. Louis
“You’re not alone. You’re not to blame. With help, you will be well.”
If you are looking for help managing the perinatal period or need postpartum assistance and you are located in or around the St. Louis area Greenway therapy can help!
The perinatal period includes the pregnancy journey through the first 1-2 years postpartum.
So many mothers, fathers, and partners suffer in silence after experiencing challenges in the perinatal period. Society often places an unfair time limitation on loss and grief. Whether it’s a loss of a pregnancy, a child, or your expectations of parenthood, when that grace period expires, you’re expected to “get over it and move on.” Friends and family may assume “she doesn’t want to talk about it… they don’t want to bring it up.” But your story is not a taboo tale that should remain untold. While working with a perinatal mental health specialist, your experiences of pregnancy and postpartum challenges will be heard and honored without judgement, minimization, or time restrictions. Evidence based treatment models and screening tools are also incorporated to provide the most accurate assessments and determine the best path to health and wellness.
Mission Statement:
“To promote awareness, prevention and treatment of perinatal mental health issues related to childbearing in every community.” – Postpartum Support International
Common Perinatal Topics
· Infertility | · Miscarriage & Neonatal Loss |
· Adoption | · Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) |
· LGBTQ+ Parents | · Hormones and Lactation |
· Support Networks & Resources | · Medication Risks & Benefits |
· Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders | Hormones and Lactation |
· NICU Families | · Traumatic Birth |
· Father/Partner Support | · New Role Adjustment |
· Evidence Based Psychotherapeutic Treatments | · Alternative & Complimentary Treatments |
Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)
Perinatal Depression – (in pregnancy or postpartum)
Every year, more than 400,000 babies are born to mothers who are depressed, making perinatal depression the most under-diagnosed obstetric complication in America.
- Perinatal OCD
- Perinatal Anxiety & Panic Disorder
- Perinatal PTSD
- Perinatal Bipolar I & II
- Perinatal Psychosis
The Importance of Accurate Screening:
A PMH-C counselor uses evidence-based screening tools to correctly identify and implement/refer treatment for PMADs.
- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
- Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
- Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ)
- Trauma Informed Screening Tools
Birth Trauma
Up to 45% of women report that their birthing experience was traumatic.
Potentially Traumatic Labor & Delivery Events
– Emergency C-section | – Premature birth | – Stillbirth |
– NICU admission | – Forceps/Vacuum Extraction | – Witnessing partner’s birth experience |
– Long labor process | – Hyperemesis Gravidarum | – Failed/poor reaction to pain meds |
– Severe Pre-eclampsia | – Postpartum Hemorrhage | – 3rd-4th degree laceration |
– Traumatic vaginal birth | – Shoulder dystocia | – Fetal anomaly diagnosis in pregnancy |
The Impact of COVID-19
Even for parents who experienced a smooth pregnancy and delivery, coming home to a quarantined/socially distanced home life can lead to increased feelings of anxiety and depression. The pandemic has left many parents feeling cheated out of the joys of new parenthood. For these families, this meant shorter hospital stays, no visitors or only window visits with friends and family, increased feelings of isolation, lack of social support, virtual or cancelled baby showers and birthday parties, missing out on professional newborn pictures, increased fear of contracting Covid-19, vaccine side effects etc.…
What is a perinatal mental health specialist?
A counselor who is certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C), has professionally worked with the perinatal population for at least two years, completed evidence based perinatal mental health certification courses including an advanced training component, and successfully passed the PMH exam created by Postpartum Support International (PSI).
Who can benefit from working with a Perinatal Mental Health Specialist?
Individuals struggling with infertility and/or miscarriage, pregnant individuals, mothers, fathers, partners, non-gestational parents, single parents, adoptive parents, LGBTQ+ parents, adolescent parents, parents in the military, parents with disabilities…
What does treatment look like?
A perinatal mental health specialist practices trauma-informed and culturally sensitive care. Therapeutic interventions consider broader economic, geographical, and social factors that affect one’s access to services while utilizing inclusive language and providing appropriate descriptions and educational materials. Approaches are person-centered and acknowledge that context plays a significant role in how individuals perceive and process acute and chronic traumatic stress.
Evidence Based Psychotherapeutic Treatment Models
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- CBT teaches to identify, evaluate, and change dysfunctional patterns of thinking, resulting in mood and behavioral changes.
- Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
- Based in attachment theory, IPT aims to improve the quality of interpersonal relationships and social functioning to help reduce distress.
- Mother-Infant Attachment
- Focuses on caregiver/infant bonding and developing secure attachments through intervention and peer support.
- Couples Counseling
- Promotes communication, understanding, and support between partners.
- Art Therapy
- Sometimes words are not enough. Art Therapy can be used to regulate traumatic responses in the body, promote healing by reprocessing traumatic memories, and help an individual tell their story without solely relying on words.