Transitioning To Parenthood

Even the most exciting life transitions can be overwhelming.

Whether you’re trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or recently had a child, these stages in your life can be both majestic and gut-wrenching. There is so much to process, feelings, facts, the ways in which your life has changed — figuring these things out can feel like a full-time job with little support.

You may be trying to conceive and have experienced your first or second (or third!, fourth or fifth!)) miscarriage; maybe you’ve gone months and months without a BFP and feel failure, like your body isn’t functioning the way it is “supposed” to or that you expected it would. While you are going through a common experience, whether alone or with your partner, it doesn’t really feel like it. It feels very personal, as if you’re the only one to ever experience this. But you don’t have to feel lonely during this process.

You may be currently pregnant and realizing that (oh my goodness!) you’re actually having a child! Or maybe you just had a child and are starting to feel a whole bunch of sadness and difficulty bonding, and you can’t understand it. It may be bringing up some of your own feelings surrounding your relationship with your parents and the type of parenting you had as a child. Even though you were fully prepared and planned to become a parent, you are now wondering if you’re truly ready to do this. What will this change mean for you socially and professionally, as well as for your romantic relationship — will you ever have alone time again?

All these feelings are so normal and so important. But they can be really hard to piece out and to understand by yourself. Therapy with me can help you feel understood and heard; it can help you make sense of all the pain, sadness, joy, confusion and uncertainty you’re going through.

Parents often feel overwhelmed and worried about their children – struggling to connect with, understand, and effectively set boundaries for their kids. We will talk about the ways you feel connected to your kids as well as the ways you feel you might have lost your connection to them – like there is a barrier you can’t seem to break through. This may bring up memories from your own childhood, of being a kid and being parented. We can explore the ways this might be impacting your current relationship with your kids.

Together, we will figure out what your own personal stressors and worries are outside of those you have for your kids. We will explore how your worries aren’t always their worries, and the importance of recognizing that. For instance, you might be preoccupied with how they’re going to get into college while they’re just stressed about what they’re wearing to the dance. And, this kind of disconnectedness often causes tension. I can help you bridge these gaps.