Kendra Olson, MSW, LICSW, PMH-C
I have been a therapist for nearly 20 years, and have specialized in perinatal and maternal mental health the last number of years. This shift in my career to focus on this demographic was largely inspired by my own transition into motherhood, and how life-changing this was and continues to be. Now having supported numerous other women through this transition called “matrescence”, I identify three crucial practices or approaches any therapist should use when working with this population.
#1 Get additional training on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). Being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression, bipolar, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and psychosis is crucial in providing effective care. Assessment of symptoms must be done in the context of the postpartum period, meaning that you account for how things such as hormonal changes, family role changes, feeding issues and their support system (or lack thereof) contribute to what they are experiencing. Postpartum Support International’s website is a great resource (https://www.postpartum.net/learn-more/).
#2 It is likely a safe assumption that if you see a new mom in your office or through your screen, she is vulnerable to feeling excessive guilt and responsibility for what she is experiencing. While we don’t want to tell our clients how they feel or make assumptions, encouraging exploration of these topics specific to new motherhood is important. It can allow you to access some deeper internalized beliefs, as well as challenge unrealistic expectations and shame.
#3 Check your own beliefs and assumptions about motherhood. If you are a parent or mother yourself, countertransference is bound to happen when doing therapy with the perinatal population. Whether we relate to what our client is feeling because we experienced it as well or we find ourselves judging how they show up as a mother to their children, we need to allow our clients to choose what works best for them and their families. Recognizing some of our own internalized beliefs that are really myths about motherhood is important. Read more here about my thoughts regarding the myths of motherhood ( https://www.pfmwellbeing.com/blog/blog-post-title-three-flxck). Working with the perinatal population can be very rewarding, but it is important to recognize the need for specialized care. The above points are helpful to incorporate into your work, though it is not an exhaustive list. Fortunately, there are great resources to learn more about mental health in the perinatal period and best practices!
Kendra Olson, MSW, LICSW, PMH-C is owner and psychotherapist at Psychotherapy for Maternal Well-Being (pfmwellbeing.com), which operates in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. As a therapist for nearly two decades, and specializing in maternal mental health, she’s found that moms do best with specialized care. Kendra works with moms-to-be and moms who are struggling with getting pregnant, pregnancy or motherhood. Her hope is that every mom that works with her improves her confidence and coping tools to navigate the rich and challenging road of motherhood. When Kendra is not working, she enjoys being a mom to two daughters, spending time outdoors with her family, and cooking/baking.