Therapy for Parents and Expectant Parents
Becoming a new parent can feel exciting and also overwhelming.
It is not unusual for new parents to feel anxious, and exhausted. Determining how to make space for this new addition, and the child’s impact on the couple relationship, are some of the areas where we focus our work.
If there already is a child in the family, how will the birth of new child affect your family, as well as their sibling? How will we address the needs of the baby, and have a career at the same time? How will we handle childcare? How will we work out chores at home but also make room for ourselves individually and as a couple?
As children age, there are new challenges and responsibilities. Often due to our own experiences and roles in our own families, parenting takes on different meanings for each person in the couple.
I work with parents to acknowledge these differences while trying to work as a team.
Some parents notice that something does not seem right with their child, and they are unsure what to do.
They enter therapy telling me, my family believes that I am overreacting; however, I cannot help but notice how my child struggles to speak and relate to his/her peers in social situations.
Do I wait it out or should I speak with my pediatrician? Should I have my child evaluated? It can feel unsettling to notice that something is not right with your child.
I have experience working with parents who have a special needs child, as well as working with young adults who have special needs.
Parents of special needs children often feel overwhelmed with caretaking, coordinating and overseeing all the services that their child needs.
Sometimes, one parent is onboard with helping their special needs child, while the other is coming to terms with their child’s needs. This can make parents feel isolated and alone.
I help these parents sort through the range of feelings they experience about having a special needs child, and the impact that the child has on the family.
Some of the areas we address include taking care of yourselves as a couple and, individually, identifying the strengths of your special needs child, and being there for your child who does not have special needs.
