How to Find the Right Therapist for Maternal Mental Health
How to Find the Right Therapist
Finding the right therapist for your mental health needs can make all the difference on your healing. It's not as simple as looking up a therapist in the Yellow Pages. You have to be aware of a therapist's specialties to get a better understanding of how they can help you. For new moms seeking help for their mental health after having a baby, a therapist who is familiar with maternal mental health would be your best choice.
Maternal mental health has its own characteristics, which means a specialist would be the right plan of action. If finding a therapist sounds a little intimidating to you, then use this step-by-step guide to help you through the process. Your mental health will be all the better for it and you deserve the best care.
What is Therapy?
Therapy is commonly known as a form of medical treatment. It is an attempt to help individuals get to the root of mental health issues that can be negatively impacting their daily lives. This usually leads to a diagnosis and a treatment plan such as taking medications or coming to therapy appointments on a more frequent basis.
Therapy is an attempt at understanding mental health disorders. This is typically done in a one-on-one session with an expert who assesses the information you provide in your verbal language and even body language.
6 Steps to Find the Right Therapist
Keep in mind that finding the right therapist could take a few tries. If you follow these steps, you could help the process along for your maternal mental health recovery.
Ask Your Doctor for Recommendations
Your doctor will have first hand knowledge about your health history and should be the best person to consult with first. Doctors also have a network of referrals to help you find the right therapist for your needs. Ask your doctor for more information so that you can have a solid starting point to finding a mental health professional that is right for you.
Doctors also understand how therapist appointments can get set up and can often put a referral in for you to get treatment. Never hesitate to inquire with your doctor to begin your healing.
Use Online Mom Groups or Forums to Inquire
Online mom groups like on Facebook or other forums will have references for you based on other moms’ experiences. You are not alone in feeling symptoms of postpartum depression. Chances are you will find a great therapist who can help you in your current state of life from a mom who was willing to share her experience with you. Sharing experiences on how other moms were helped by a specific therapist will make you feel more confident that this therapist will be able to help you as well.
Just like reviews when you shop online, the more positive things you hear, the higher your chances are of buying the product. Same goes for a therapist that comes with high recommendations from others.
Reach Out to Organizations that Are Familiar With Postpartum Depression
There is tons of community support in every area. It can be a good idea to reach out to organizations in your area that are associated with supporting moms and/or postpartum depression. Use those organizations to gain knowledge about resources you may not know about such as preferred therapists.
Anything those organizations give you, you can keep as resources to refer to when you’re ready to find the right therapist for you. The most important thing to remember is that you have to take action to start the process of partnering with a therapist.
The two best resource directories for maternal mental health are Postpartum Support International. Also, Pregnancy and Postpartum Alliance of Texas is a great option for individuals local to Texas.
Certifications to Look for in Therapists for Postpartum Depression
When you are looking through therapist options, you’ll notice each therapist has a series of letters following their name. This tells you what kind of certification a therapist has. To find someone specific to postpartum mental health, you will want to look for the PMH-C letters, which stands for Perinatal Mental Health Certificate.
Currently, this is the only distinction therapists like myself have from other therapists. While you can go to a therapist without this certification, it’s best to find someone who is truly trained to help you.
Make an Appointment
Test drive a new therapist and request a consultation with one to begin a conversation into how they could help you. The best way to know if someone is a good fit and the right therapist for you is to meet them and talk with them.
Get to know their therapy style and see if there is a connection between you and the therapist. There is no point in continuing a partnership with a therapist if you don’t feel comfortable enough to open up to them and be honest about your experiences.
Determine if it’s a Right Fit
Finding the right therapist isn’t an exact art, but there are things you can do to help the process. Determining if it’s a right fit will depend on how comfortable you feel with a therapist, the homework you did finding a therapist, and your willingness to commit to your mental health progress.
It could take a couple of tries to find someone who is right for you, but is worth it to get your mental health on track. You are important and you have a right to pick the best person for you.
Therapists Aren’t Scary
Contrary to what society might tell you, therapists aren’t scary at all. We actually want to help you and we believe in you. The goal in our profession is to help others and make a difference in their lives. This wouldn’t happen if we scare everyone away.
Perinatal and postpartum therapists are becoming more available. Unfortunately, maternal mental health is an understudied topic and there is still so much we as therapists want to learn. But there is help now for anyone who is struggling with a postpartum mental challenge.
Take your first step today to find the right therapist for you and book a free consultation with me. Let’s chat about your current struggles, what your goals are, and how I can help get you there.