Postpartum Depression Therapy in Philadelphia: Prenatal and postpartum depression are considered to be a type of mood disorder.
Prenatal depression and postpartum depression are caused by a combination of hormonal changes and life stressors.
During pregnancy women’s bodies experience a tremendous amount of physical change, including a steadily increasing amount of hormones. The increase in hormones, causes some women to experience rapid mood changes. Physical changes include on average, gaining 25-30 pounds of weight, which makes it harder to physically move. Furthermore, many women experience morning sickness, swollen feet, forgetfulness, exhaustion difficulty walking and an increase need to urinate. All of these physical changes can make a woman feel physically uncomfortable, physically out of control or have a sense of pending doom (e.g. change). These factors may contribute to feelings of depression. Life stressors during this phase also contribute to women feeling depressed. For example, she might be in an unhappy marriage. She might be single. She might have a partner who does not believe the physical changes she is experiencing are real. She might have a partner who expects her to continue doing all the same chores around the household and work full time. She might feel worried about her financial situation. Lastly, she might be starting a new job, moving or simply not having enough friends who can relate to the struggles and joys of pregnancy and childrearing.
After birth, women, regardless of how they experienced pregnancy are at risk for experiencing postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is common. The causes are often multifaceted. After the birth of a child many changes occur simultaneously. After the birth of the child and more importantly the placenta, women experience an abrupt drop in hormone levels. As with an increase in hormones, a decrease in hormones can cause depression. In addition, the very process of labor and delivery is physically exhausting. If that was not enough, after birth the focus of attention often shifts from mom to baby. While the newborn needs attention, most moms are in need of being taken care of so that they can take care of their child. Sometimes mom is left to fend for herself. Lastly, once the baby is born, mom’s have an enormous amount of life changes to cope with. For many people the combination of hormonal shifts, physical exhaustion, the physical changes to their bodies, the lack of attention and the demands of motherhood are too much.
The combination of all of the changes make it easy for a person to start feeling sorry for themselves. Worse yet many moms then feel guilty for not being overjoyed by the miracle of life. Given that pregnancy wrecks havoc on a woman’s body (gaining 25 pounds), destroys flat stomachs, and giving birth is one of the most exhausting experiences of a person life, not to mention that in the immediate weeks afterwards, sleep becomes a memory of the past, it is no wonder that studies show that up to 70% of postpartum women experience some degree of baby blues.
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360 West Ave, Floor 1, Ocean City, NJ 08226 - Mechanicsville Therapy Office
9044 Mann Drive, Mechanicsville Virginia, 23116 - Providence Therapy Office
173 Waterman St. Providence, RI 02906 - Society Hill Therapy Office
233 S. 6th Street, C-33, Philadelphia PA 19106 - Art Museum / Fairmount Therapy Office
2401 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 1a2, Philadelphia PA 19130 - Santa Fe Therapy Office, 2204 B Brothers Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505
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The Center for Growth has offices in multiple states. We offer both in person as well as virtual mindfulness therapy appointments.
The Center for Growth Therapy Offices in PA, NJ, VA, RI, NM, CT
Therapy Services Offered in Philadelphia, Ocean City, Mechanicsville, Providence, Santa Fe:
Individual Counseling and therapy
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Teen Therapy and Adolescent Therapy and tweens and child counseling
Family Therapy and multi-generational counseling
Art Therapy and Counseling no art skills needed
ADHD Therapy and ADD, Dyslexia, Autism, Tourettes counseling
Anxiety, Panic, OCD Therapy and worry and fear support
Breaking the cycle of Codependency and being your own person
Overcoming Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain .
Depression Therapy and sadness, gloom, and upset support
- Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Therapy is a particular style of therapy designed for people with problems affecting their nervous system, how the brain and body send and receive signals.
- LGBTQIA+ / Queer Community Therapy Services
Grief Therapy and loss, End of A Relationship, rejections, pregnancy and loss and therapy
Mindfulness Based Therapy and spirituality based therapy
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Sex Therapy and sexual function & dysfunction, sex addiction, sexual orientation and gender identity support
Shame and Blame
Trauma Therapy both emotional and sexual abuse, complex trauma, PTSD counseling
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Affairs, Infidelity, Unfaithful, Cheating counseling
Parenting therapy Parenting therapy
Personality disorder therapy Personality disorder treatments
Anger Management Therapy anger therapy
Setting Boundaries and identifying ones own Core Beliefs
Just name some of the Mental Health issues that we work with. Our goal is to help you Change and Achieve Your Dreams