Serving Denver, CO &
43 States online
Postpartum Depression Therapy in Denver
Why don’t I feel like myself? Do I have postpartum depression?
So many things can contribute to not feeling like yourself postpartum.
You may feel exhausted, irritable, and like you’re not sure what day it is.
You may feel overwhelmed with sadness that doesn’t go away.
You may cry more or feel empty.
You may worry that you’re not a good mom.
You may feel resentful and angry if you’re not getting the help and support that you need.
If any of this sounds like your experience, you may have postpartum depression.
The Baby Blues
Many women who have just given birth experience an array of intense emotions. Up to 80% of women experience what’s known as the Baby Blues. The baby blues usually start soon after delivery and can last for a few weeks. People experiencing the baby blues can experience intense happiness, irritability, sadness, anxiety, and emotions that feel all over the place and hard to control. Interestingly, the predominant mood with the baby blues is happiness. A postpartum therapist can help you identify if you are experiencing the baby blues and can help to prevent postpartum depression.
Is it the baby blues or postpartum depression?
One big difference between postpartum depression and the baby blues is how long the experience lasts. The baby blues is transient - lasting only a few weeks postpartum, while postpartum depression will continue on past the first few weeks postpartum. The severity of symptoms can also be an indicator.
Symptoms of postpartum depression include:
Low or depressed mood, which may make it difficult to care for yourself or your baby
Difficulty enjoying things
Trouble bonding with your baby
Insomnia (trouble with falling or staying asleep, even when your baby is sleeping)
Changes in appetite
Guilt ( which may be connected with thoughts like “I’m not a good mom. I’m not doing anything right.”)
If your symptoms feel overwhelming, therapy for postpartum depression in Denver can provide you with the support you need to manage these emotions.
How do I know if I need therapy for postpartum depression?
It’s a common experience to have days where you feel low or down after giving birth. Especially when you’re really fatigued and sleep deprived. It’s also common to have days where you just don’t feel like yourself anymore. So much is new and different after giving birth.
A sign that it’s time to seek help is if you’re feeling upset by any of the changes you’re experiencing.
Other signs to look out for are: noticing yourself frequently feeling down or hopeless, and being hard on yourself for how things are going with parenting. Feeling like it’s hard to cope with your symptoms is also a good sign that it would be helpful to seek out a therapist.
Postpartum depression is treatable. Get started with therapy today.
Can postpartum depression impact my bond with my baby?
When you're dealing with postpartum depression, you might find it harder to connect with your baby in those early weeks and months. This doesn't mean the bond won't form. It might just take a little longer or need some extra support. Some parents describe feeling like they're caring for their baby out of duty rather than feeling that instant, overwhelming love they expected.
Difficulty bonding with your baby makes many new parents feel guilty or ashamed. It can be helpful to know that it’s common with postpartum depression, and that therapy can help.
Postpartum counseling in Denver can help you to:
Feel supported and connected in your relationships again
Slow down and savor important moments, which can help you enjoy and really feel things that are important to you - like bonding with your baby.
Keep anxiety and depression symptoms from going haywire and taking over
Learn how to let go of and get distance from bothersome thoughts
Improve your sleep
Don’t let postpartum depression control your life—treatment with a postpartum therapist in Denver can help you heal and thrive.
FAQs
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Our first few sessions will be spent exploring your background and experiences. We’ll also work to set goals that are meaningful to you.
After this initial phase, we will begin working toward your goals. We will spend time in session processing things that impacted your mood over the previous week, how you coped, and you’ll learn new strategies to help improve your postpartum depression (and to help you reach any other goals you’ve set). We will also likely spend time processing the big changes and shifts that have shown up in your life with adding another member to your family.
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Yes - more and more it’s being recognized that dads also experience postpartum depression. Unfortunately, as a society we haven’t done a great job with providing dads like you with support. I do also work with new fathers, so don’t hesitate to reach out!
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I'm several years postpartum, but never got therapy for my postpartum depression. Can you help me?
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Yes! If you don’t have anyone to watch your baby, you should feel free to bring your baby with you to your session.
Could there be more than one thing affecting how I'm feeling right now?
Many new parents find themselves navigating not just one postpartum mental health condition, but multiple challenges simultaneously.
There is a lot of overlap between postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, and a large percentage of women with postpartum depression also have postpartum anxiety. If you have both postpartum anxiety and depression, you may notice things like feeling depressed and hopeless about being able to care for your baby or feeling like you’re not a good mom, while also experiencing worries about your baby’s safety.
Giving birth can be traumatic, and if this was the case for you, you may notice things like memories of giving birth popping into your mind when you don’t want them to, feeling anxious or having panic attacks during doctor’s appointments, and nightmares about giving birth.
With all of the new changes in your life and all of those middle of the night wake-ups with your little one, you may also find your mind racing when you wish you could just get to sleep. Many new moms experience insomnia.
If you're experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, insomnia, or postpartum PTSD, know that you're not alone. Effective treatments exist that can help address these conditions simultaneously.
Why Choose Mindful Health Psychology for Postpartum Depression Therapy in Denver?
Compassion
We understand that postpartum depression is a deeply personal and challenging experience. That’s why we provide a compassionate and individualized approach to therapy, designed to meet your unique needs as a new mother.
Expertise
Dr. Liz Culnan has specialized training in perinatal mental health from Postpartum Support International. She also trained for many years in a reproductive health psychology clinic at a top academic medical center.
A Holistic Approach
We also take a holistic approach to postpartum depression therapy, which means addressing not just your emotional health but also your physical and social well-being. Dr. Liz Culnan is one of the few providers certified as a Diplomate in Behavioral Sleep Medicine (DBSM), giving her specialized expertise to help you improve your sleep during the postpartum period.
Flexibility
Being a new mom can be overwhelming, and finding time for therapy can be a challenge. That’s why we offer flexible scheduling options, including telehealth sessions, so you can access therapy from the comfort of your home.
You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s get started on treating your postpartum depression.
Mindful Health Psychology provides mindful, compassionate postpartum depression therapy for people in Denver, Colorado & 43 additional States online.
Other services offered at Mindful Health Psychology:
Mindful Health Psychology is a practice offering in-person and online therapy for Denver, CO. Mindful Health Psychology is also able to provide online therapy to most other states (see FAQs for details on specific states served). We specialize in therapy for anxiety, depression, distress during pregnancy, postpartum anxiety, coping with miscarriage and pregnancy loss, PMDD, coping with fertility-related stressors, birth trauma, coping with a chronic medical condition, insomnia, nightmares, circadian rhythm disorders, and hypersomnia disorders.
We provide both in-person and online therapy to give you options and make treatment more accessible, which means you can be located in Denver, Boulder, Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami, Princeton, Seattle, and beyond to receive perinatal mental health treatment!
References
Cox JL, Holden JM, Sagovsky R. Detection of postnatal depression: development of the 10-item Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The British journal of psychiatry. 1987;150(6):782-6.