Prenatal therapy

As a soon-to-be mom, you might feel tired, overwhelmed with all the things to be done before the baby arrives. We offer prenatal introduction sessions to help moms-to-be prepare for their baby and focus on self-care throughout pregnancy and newborns. During pregnancy, our therapists understand the need to be present, but other thoughts may arise such as how can I do this? Will I be an effective mom? In these sessions, we offer the mother step-by-step recommendations to be prepared for postpartum life and education on the signs of prenatal and postpartum anxiety and depression and tools to overcome them. With Prenatal therapy, you will work with our trained therapists who are moms themselves and understand the challenges and joys you are going through. Prenatal therapy is an essential benefit to help you with the next stage in parenthood. At the end of theses, sessions you will feel prepared for your new bundle of joy to arrive home. The sessions will be tailored to you and what you are needing. The therapist will provide you with insight into motherhood and coping skills. Prenatal therapy for depression or anxiety is also available. Pregnancy is tough and can increase hopelessness. Pregnancy drains you physically, emotionally, and mentally. You are likely to feel a wide range of symptoms, including hormonal shifts, physical ailments, and sleep disruptions, which can directly affect your mental health. According to NBCI, over the last 3 years there have been notable developments in screening and treatment of perinatal depression. Most importantly, the DSM-V has made only minor changes in the diagnostic criteria for perinatal depression compared to the DSM-IV; “perinatal”, as opposed to “postpartum”, is a specifier for depression with a requirement that depression onset occurs during pregnancy or the first 4 weeks postpartum. Advances in perinatal depression treatment have been made over the last 3 years, including prevention and acute interventions. Which is great news! In the past, prenatal mental health was overlooked. Therapists are now trained and understand how to recognize depression and anxiety during pregnancy. We work with you through all of these feelings during pregnancy and after pregnancy. Common symptoms of prenatal depression include: Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness, Irritability, Persistent sadness, anxiousness, or feelings of emptiness, Restlessness or trouble sitting still, Fatigue or severe decrease in energy, Aches, pains, headaches, cramps, Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities, sleep issues and thoughts of harm. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is highly recommended that you seek therapy. It is important for you to know that you are not alone. You are not to blame and you can feel better. You do not have to stay stuck with your feelings. Each client is treated as an individual with their own story. By tailoring treatment to meet the needs of the future mother, we can give you the tools to adapt to your life’s unique circumstances. Additionally, we will identify your strengths both as a mother and as an individual, so that you can feel confident in facing the challenges of childrearing and juggling responsibilities in the future.

Postpartum depression/anxiety therapy

As a new mom, are you having trouble managing your baby and your family? As a first-time mom, you might be emotionally and mentally overwhelmed by your newborn bundle of joy. Many of our therapists at our practice are moms who work with moms. Stresses are familiar to us. At Towler Counseling LLC, we get it that motherhood is a lifetime commitment and that can seem stressful. Our therapists want you to know you are not alone. We want you to know that we are here to help you through this journey of motherhood. Our therapists are trained in using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help new mothers struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety. While most women experience intense emotions or depression (often referred to as “baby blues”) for about 1-3 weeks after delivery, some women experience more persistent and severe feelings of depression. This is baby blues and theses feelings will begin to go away. What if these elevated emotions persist for a longer period of time? In that case, you are probably experiencing postpartum depression, which typically emerges over the first 2-3 months after childbirth but may occur at any point up to 18 months after delivery. Postpartum depression or anxiety is not a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's simply a complication of giving birth. Births can be a trauma, which unleashes theses feelings of sadness and anxiety. If you have postpartum depression, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms and help you bond with your baby. Talking to a licensed counselor can give you the tools to help you through this period. Postpartum depression or anxiety can be extremely challenging, and our therapists understand this. Here are signs to look for: Depressed mood or severe mood swings Crying too much Difficulty bonding with your baby Withdrawing from family and friends Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual Inability to sleep, called insomnia, or sleeping too much Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy Less interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy Intense irritability and anger Fear that you're not a good mother Hopelessness Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions Restlessness Severe anxiety and panic attacks Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby Recurring thoughts of death or suicideThere are some therapists on our team who have experienced postpartum and have the ability to relate to you. In individual counseling, we will being to explore the possible barriers keeping you from developing effective coping mechanisms to be a great mom. By digging deep and peeling back the layers of your emotions, we will be able to determine where you developed beneficial coping strategies and where your strategies may have become maladaptive along the way. While we will primarily focus on your current worries and experiences, understanding how you were parented can shed valuable insight into the areas where you’re experiencing obstacles as a mother. As a therapist, we work with you on disputing misconceptions we are given in social media or in our upbringing. Our therapists help moms in Atlanta and Sandy Springs. We offer online or face-to-face. Children and babies are welcome if you come in person.

Therapy for mothers

Often, moms need extra support and struggle with learning to care for themselves while caring for their children. As therapists, we help moms, but we go one step further and meet you where you are. As a mom, you'll face challenges, but you'll also have a lot of fun. In the Atlanta area, we help moms understand who they are and who they are as mothers. In therapy, we can help you develop coping skills to deal with depression, anxiety, and the daily stress of life, as well as work on taking care of yourself and dealing with overwhelming feelings.

Pregnancy loss therapy

Because it was traditionally a taboo topic, many women feel unable to speak about their experiences with pregnancy loss. Here at Towler Counseling we believe in talking about the loss to help you move through the stages of grief. We understand that losing a pregnancy can be one of the most tragic loss of your life. We believe we can help you though this loss. Pregnancy loss can be traumatic, lonely, and scary for many women. However, discussing your grief with a counselor can be an incredible healing experience. In therapy, we can help you healthily process your loss. It may feel impossible but you can with help grieve.

Depression and Anxiety therapy for women

We work with you on where you are and assist you in understanding your depression and anxiety triggers. Depression is a common and serious illness. A CDC study shows that about 1 in 10 women in the United States reported symptoms that suggest they experienced an episode of major depression in the last year. Our therapists uses CBT, DBT or person centered to work with women clients who are having depression or anxiety issues. We use a variety of techniques to aid patients in reducing symptoms and improving functioning. Therapists employing CBT may encourage patients to re-evaluate their thinking patterns and assumptions in order to identify unhelpful patterns (often termed “distortions”) in thoughts, such as overgeneralizing bad outcomes, negative thinking that diminishes positive thinking, and always expecting catastrophic outcomes, to more balanced and effective thinking patterns. These are intended to help the person reconceptualize their understanding of traumatic experiences, as well as their understanding of themselves and their ability to cope. We will help through this process, tailoring each step to your unique needs and circumstances.

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