Postpartum Can Be Joyful, and Overwhelming at the Same Time
“I feel anxious, tearful, or disconnected from my baby.”
Hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and the pressures of motherhood can make even the smallest tasks feel heavy. You might feel on edge, constantly worried about your baby’s safety or your ability to cope.
“I worry I’m not a good enough mother.”
Mom guilt can feel relentless. You compare yourself to others, replay moments in your head, or feel like you’re failing even when you’re doing your best.
“I’m struggling to adjust and feel like myself again.”
Postpartum life can feel like a constant juggling act: sleep, feeding, emotional ups and downs, and the expectations of family and society. Many women feel like they’ve lost themselves in the process.
If This Feels Familiar…
You don’t need to push through exhaustion, numb your emotions with distractions, or pretend everything is fine just to keep everyone else happy.
You need space where your feelings are acknowledged and supported.
You need guidance that helps you process postpartum challenges, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with both your baby and yourself in a compassionate, sustainable way.
How Postpartum Counselling Can Help
Postpartum counselling provides a safe space to explore the emotional, mental, and physical challenges after birth without judgment. Together, we focus on understanding what’s happening in your life and body, and developing practical strategies for recovery and adjustment. Using evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and trauma-informed care, you’ll learn to:
- Manage postpartum anxiety, low mood, and overwhelm.
- Calm your nervous system and regulate intense emotions.
- Process birth experiences, identity shifts, or traumatic moments safely.
- Rebuild confidence in your role as a mother.
- Nurture your own needs while caring for your baby.
With the right support, it’s possible to move from feeling exhausted, anxious, or disconnected to experiencing calm, connection, and renewed confidence in postpartum life.
Understanding Postpartum Stress
Postpartum challenges aren’t just about sleep deprivation or adjusting to a new routine, they also involve emotional, hormonal, and identity shifts. Many women experience heightened anxiety, sadness, or frustration during this period, which is normal but can feel isolating.
Counselling helps you explore these responses safely, identify patterns that contribute to stress, and develop coping strategies. You’ll gain tools to navigate emotional ups and downs, restore balance, and gradually feel more like yourself again.
What Research Shows About Postpartum Well-Being
Research shows that emotional support during the postpartum period is critical for both mother and baby:
- Postpartum mood changes are common. Up to 1 in 5 new mothers experience postpartum depression or anxiety, which is treatable with support.
- Support improves outcomes. Mothers who receive counselling report lower stress, better emotional regulation, and stronger attachment to their infants.
- Connection matters. Feeling understood and validated reduces guilt, worry, and isolation, improving both mental health and parenting satisfaction.
- Self-care benefits the whole family. When mothers receive emotional support, it positively impacts the child’s development and family well-being.
Counselling provides a safe, structured way to navigate these challenges and reclaim confidence and balance in postpartum life.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Postpartum counselling can help you feel supported, understood, and equipped with practical tools for this transitional season. You don’t have to navigate the emotional and physical challenges of new motherhood alone.
I offer in-person counselling in Red Deer and surrounding Central Alberta communities, as well as online therapy across Alberta, so support is accessible no matter where you are.
Take the first step today. Seeking support isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a wise and courageous choice that can help you feel calmer, more confident, and more connected with yourself and your baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Baby Blues are very common, mild, and usually peak around 4–5 days after birth, resolving on their own within two weeks. They involve mood swings, sadness, and weepiness. Postpartum Depression (PPD) and Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) are more intense, last longer than two weeks, and interfere with your daily life. They involve persistent hopelessness, intense irritability, racing anxious thoughts, or intrusive fears. If you're concerned, it's always best to seek professional assessment.
You don't need to wait at all. You can start as soon as you feel ready and able. While Postpartum Depression (PPD) and Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) often start within the first year, support is valuable anytime in the perinatal period (pregnancy through the first year postpartum). Even if your child is older, if you feel you're still struggling with issues that started after their birth, support is available now.
Yes, absolutely. Postpartum mood disorders are diverse and don't always look like deep sadness. Postpartum Anxiety (PPA), which includes overwhelming worry and intrusive thoughts about harm to the baby, is very common. So is extreme Postpartum Irritability or Rage. We'll address these specific, painful symptoms to help you regain control and feel like yourself again.
Your baby is always welcome in the session. I understand that the logistics of a newborn can be a barrier to self-care. This is a baby-friendly space—you should feel free to feed, rock, change, or comfort your baby at any point. Our focus is entirely on your well-being, and we can work around whatever your baby needs during our time together.
