Supporting New Moms: Counseling and Postpartum Anxiety Treatment in Houston, TX
”Asking for help is admitting that I’m struggling, and that makes me a bad mom.”
This was the thought that kept me from seeking help when I was suffering during my postpartum period. Maybe your anxious thought is, “What if I drop the baby while I walk down the stairs?” or ”I feel miserable. This is not what moms on Instagram are talking about. Maybe I’m not cut out for this.” Whatever the exact phrasing is for you, the bottom line is that your postpartum anxiety may be keeping you from enjoying your time as a mom or seeking the help you need.
While many moms experience the typical challenges of adjusting to life with a newborn, some face deeper emotional struggles that can make this transition feel particularly overwhelming. For new mothers, dealing with anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns during the postpartum period is not uncommon - research shows that 1 in 5 women may experience postpartum anxiety or depression.
My experience with postpartum anxiety, and the subsequent help I received, has inspired me to help other women struggling in new motherhood. If you’re a new mom in Houston, TX, and struggling with postpartum anxiety, you are not alone. In this blog post, I’ll review what postpartum anxiety is, how it affects new mothers, and how postpartum counseling can offer the support you need.
What is Postpartum Anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety refers to feelings of intense worry, fear, or unease that occur after giving birth. It’s different from the “baby blues” that many moms experience in the first few weeks following childbirth, as postpartum anxiety lasts longer and can be more intense. Common symptoms include:
Constant worry about the baby’s health or well-being
Feeling restless or on edge
Racing thoughts that make it hard to concentrate
Trouble sleeping or feeling exhausted, even when you’re resting
Physical symptoms like dizziness, nausea, or a racing heartbeat
These symptoms can make it hard to enjoy life with your new baby or feel like you’re “getting it right.” But it’s important to understand that feeling anxious or overwhelmed is normal—what’s crucial is reaching out for support and finding healthy ways to manage those feelings.
The Role of Postpartum Anxiety Counseling in Supporting New Moms
For many new mothers, postpartum anxiety counseling can be a safe and supportive space to process the rollercoaster of emotions they’re experiencing. Therapy helps moms explore the emotional, psychological, and physiological aspects of this life transition, offering ways to cope with the stress and find peace amid the chaos. While all therapists are trained to explore these territories with their clients, It’s important to choose a therapist who has knowledge of the unique changes that happen to a woman in her postpartum period so that you can begin to feel better faster.
At Sarah Duran Psychotherapy, my approach to therapy doesn’t only focus on the symptoms of anxiety; we encourage moms to engage with their emotions, embrace their experiences, and develop a deeper sense of meaning in their lives. Let’s break down how some of these therapeutic approaches can help new moms in Houston navigate the challenges of postpartum anxiety.
Acceptance and Commitment
1. Acceptance: Embracing Difficult Emotions
Instead of avoiding or trying to fight against uncomfortable feelings like anxiety, I encourage you to lean into them. Importantly, this doesn’t mean you have to “like” the feelings, be complacent, or avoid changes, but you can learn to be present with them without letting them control your behavior. This presence helps you to see your way forward more clearly, without the baggage of self-judgment or blame.
For new moms, this could mean acknowledging feelings of anxiety or guilt without judging yourself for having them. Instead of thinking “I shouldn’t feel this way,” acceptance helps you say, “It’s okay that I’m feeling anxious right now.” You’re a new mom, and the journey is bound to bring some tough moments. Accepting those moments as part of the process allows you to be kinder to yourself.
2. Cognitive Defusion: Detaching from Negative Thoughts
In postpartum therapy, cognitive defusion refers to the practice of “unhooking” from negative thoughts. For example, if you’re a new mom and you keep thinking, “I’m a terrible mother because I’m feeling so anxious,” we would help you see that thought as just a thought, not a reflection of reality. You might reframe it as, “That’s an anxious thought, but it doesn’t define me.”
I encourage new moms to observe their thoughts without getting caught up in them. This helps you gain perspective and reduce the power your worries have over your emotions.
3. Committed Action: Living by Your Values
I also focus on identifying your values and taking steps toward living in line with them, even when anxiety arises. For a new mom, this could mean making choices that align with your values as a parent, even if it feels overwhelming.
For example, if you value connection and intimacy with your child, we might help you find ways to be present with your baby despite feeling anxious. It’s not about waiting for the anxiety to go away first; it’s about moving forward with your values in mind, even when anxiety is part of the journey.
Rewriting Your Story as a New Mom
Another approach I focus on are the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. It’s based on the idea that we are not our problems; we are the authors of our lives. This approach can be especially empowering for new moms struggling with postpartum anxiety because it allows them to rewrite their story in a way that feels more positive, hopeful, and aligned with their true selves.
1. Externalizing the Problem
One of the key principles of this approach is externalizing problems. Instead of saying, “I am an anxious mom,” I’d encourage you to say, “I am experiencing anxiety.” This shift in language helps new moms separate their identity from the struggles they face, making it easier to see the anxiety as something that can be managed rather than something inherent to who they are.
When you externalize the problem, you take away some of the shame and self-blame that often accompanies mental health struggles. It helps you realize that anxiety doesn’t define you, and with the right tools, it can be something you learn to manage over time.
2. Rewriting Your Story
I also encourage new moms to rewrite the story of their motherhood journey. If your current story is filled with feelings of inadequacy, constant worry, or even trauma, rewriting your story can help you shift that narrative.
For example, if you feel like you’re failing as a mom because of your anxiety, rewriting might help you see your strength in seeking support, learning new coping skills, and pushing through difficult moments. Instead of focusing solely on your anxiety, you start seeing yourself as someone who is resilient and committed to improving.
3. Finding Meaning in the Experience
Sometimes, anxiety can feel meaningless or like it’s just a burden. Together, we help you find meaning in your experiences, even the challenging ones. For a new mom, this could mean reflecting on how your struggles with anxiety have deepened your empathy or helped you connect more deeply with others. These shifts in perspective can help you embrace the ups and downs of motherhood as part of your unique, evolving story.
Finding Purpose and Meaning in Motherhood
Part of my therapeutic approach is rooted in exploring life’s big questions—like, “What is my purpose?” and “What gives my life meaning?” For new moms, these existential questions can often come up in the face of postpartum anxiety. Adjusting to the profound changes of motherhood can bring up feelings of identity loss or confusion about who you are outside of being a mom.
1. Confronting Uncertainty
I help new moms confront the uncertainty of life and embrace it. Becoming a mom is a massive change that can feel overwhelming. Therapy teaches that it’s okay not to have all the answers right away. Life doesn’t come with a clear blueprint, and that’s okay.
By exploring existential themes like uncertainty, freedom, and personal responsibility, you can begin to accept that life is unpredictable—and that includes parenthood. This acceptance can lessen the grip of anxiety, as you start to see that uncertainty is part of the human experience.
2. Creating Meaning in Your Role as a Mom
I also encourage moms to create their own meaning in motherhood. Instead of relying on society’s expectations of what a “perfect” mom looks like, you get to define what being a mother means for you. Therapy helps you explore what values you want to live by as a parent and how you want to shape your experience, even when anxiety is present.
For instance, if you value authenticity, therapy might help you let go of the pressure to “perform” motherhood in a certain way and embrace your authentic self as a mom. It’s about carving out your own path rather than trying to fit into an idealized image of motherhood.
3. Embracing Life’s Transitions
Finally, therapy invites moms to embrace transitions in life, like becoming a parent. Although it’s often accompanied by anxiety, change is also an opportunity for growth. Therapy allows new moms to explore their fears, desires, and hopes for the future as they navigate this new chapter of life.
Why Counseling is So Important for New Moms in Houston
If you’re a new mom living in Houston, TX, know that counseling is a valuable resource. The emotional challenges of motherhood, especially in the postpartum period, are common—but they’re also incredibly isolating. Being in postpartum counseling with a trained therapist gives you the space to express yourself, receive support, and develop strategies for managing anxiety and other mental health challenges.
Houston is home to a vibrant community of therapists and mental health professionals who specialize in supporting new moms through this transitional period. There’s no shortage of resources to help you find peace and confidence in your new role as a mother.
Moving Forward with Therapy for New Moms in Houston, TX
Postpartum anxiety can feel like a heavy burden, but it doesn’t have to be something you bear alone. With the right therapeutic support, you can learn to navigate anxiety, embrace your experience as a new mom, and find meaning and joy in this incredible life transition. Therapy offers valuable tools to help new moms build resilience, create healthier stories about themselves, and find a sense of purpose even amidst uncertainty.
If you’re in Houston, TX, and looking for support, know that there are caring counselors ready to help you through the challenges of motherhood. You don’t have to face it alone—help is available, and there is hope for brighter days ahead. If you’re ready to start your healing journey, follow the steps below. I look forward to talking with you.
Explore my blogs to learn more about postpartum anxiety, depression, and more.
Your journey is unique, and with the right support, you can embrace it with compassion and courage.
Other Counseling Services at Sarah Duran Psychotherapy
Postpartum anxiety counseling is not the only service we offer at our Houston counseling clinic. We understand that families like yours are multifaceted and may have other concerns you would like to address. Other therapy services Sarah Duran Psychotherapy provides include treatment of reproductive trauma (including infertility, pregnancy loss, and birth trauma) and play therapy.
