Postpartum Therapy in North Carolina
Becoming a parent changes everything, and not always in the ways you expected. Somewhere between the sleepless nights and the constant stream of advice, you might find yourself feeling anxious, disconnected, overwhelmed, or not quite like yourself. If you’re having a hard time after having a baby, you’re not broken and you’re not alone.
Postpartum mental health struggles are common, and they don’t always look like sadness. Sometimes it’s anxiety that won’t let up. Sometimes it’s intrusive, unwanted thoughts you’re afraid to say out loud. Sometimes it’s a version of you that feels far away.
With the right support, you can start to feel more like yourself again.
At Origins, we treat postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, and birth trauma using evidence-based modalities, and we have a provider on staff who specializes specifically in perinatal mental health.
Signs You Might Be Struggling with a Postpartum Mental Health Issue
Postpartum struggles get reduced to “baby blues” a lot, but for many parents, it’s something more, and it can look like:
- Feeling persistently sad, numb, or disconnected from your baby, your partner, or yourself.
- Anxiety or racing thoughts that don’t let up, even when the baby is sleeping and nothing is actively wrong.
- Intrusive, unwanted thoughts about something bad happening to your baby, which lead to compulsive checking, avoidance, or seeking constant reassurance.
- Replaying your birth experience over and over, or feeling triggered by reminders of it.
- Feeling like you have to be in control of everything related to your baby’s care, and panicking when you’re not.
- Difficulty bonding with your baby, or guilt and shame about not feeling the way you think you’re “supposed” to feel.
- Irritability or anger that feels bigger than the situation calls for.
- Feeling like you’ve lost your sense of identity outside of being a parent.
If any of this sounds familiar, it doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means it’s time to get some support.
How Therapy Can Help
We use a combination of approaches depending on what you’re navigating:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is often used to process a difficult or traumatic birth experience so it stops feeling stuck and ever-present. EMDR can help you sleep at night or find a moment of calm during the day without constant reminders of the experience.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) builds practical skills for managing intense emotions during a period of life that asks a lot of you all at once.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) helps you build a life that feels like yours again, alongside difficult thoughts and feelings, instead of waiting for those feelings to disappear first.
ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) is used specifically for postpartum OCD, helping you respond differently to intrusive thoughts so they stop running the show.
You Don’t Have to Push Through This Alone
Struggling after having a baby doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent, and it doesn’t mean this is just how it’s going to be from now on. Origins Counseling and Wellness is here to support you. Start today by booking a free 15 minute consultation!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to have scary thoughts about my baby?
Unwanted, intrusive thoughts about something happening to your baby are more common than most parents realize, and having them doesn’t mean you’d act on them or that something is wrong with you as a parent. When these thoughts become frequent, distressing, or lead to compulsive behaviors, it may be postpartum OCD, and it’s treatable.
How is postpartum depression different from the baby blues?
Baby blues are common in the first two weeks after birth and typically resolve on their own. Postpartum depression lasts longer, tends to be more intense, and can affect your ability to function day to day. If it’s been more than two weeks, it’s worth talking to someone.
Do you offer virtual postpartum therapy?
Yes. We see clients virtually anywhere in North Carolina, in addition to in-person sessions at our Elkin office, which can matter a lot when getting out to appointments with a new baby is its own challenge. It is 100% okay to have your baby/new born/young toddler with you while in appointments if someone isn’t there to support you in having privacy.