Postpartum Counselling
You can love your baby and still find this harder than you expected.
Having a baby can change your life in ways that are difficult to prepare for. The days can feel relentless even when there are moments of joy.
You may miss your old life or feel guilty for wanting time to yourself. Some days, you may find yourself counting the hours until you can have a break.
There can also be a lot of pressure to feel grateful or enjoy this time. When you’re struggling instead it can leave you wondering why you aren’t handling things better.
Postpartum counselling gives you somewhere to talk about that honestly without having to pretend you’re enjoying every part of it.
When Parenthood Doesn’t Feel Like You Expected
Becoming a parent can change the way you see yourself. Even when you wanted this life, you may miss who you were before or wonder where that person went.
You might find yourself:
Missing the freedom and independence you had before
Feeling guilty for not enjoying motherhood more
Feeling lonely in a life that is suddenly very full
Wondering whether you’ll ever feel like yourself again
Missing parts of your old life doesn’t mean you regret becoming a parent. It may simply mean that becoming one has changed more than you were prepared for.
How Postpartum Counselling Can Help
Postpartum counselling gives you a place to talk about what life has actually been like since having your baby. That can include feelings you’re uncomfortable admitting to other people.
You may be wondering why you’re struggling so much or whether the way you’re feeling is normal. Therapy can help you understand what’s happening and begin to find ways to feel better.
At Midtown Toronto Therapy, we can help support you with:
Worrying about your baby in a way that is hard to switch off
Feeling trapped by the constant demands of caring for someone
Missing your old life and feeling guilty for missing it
Feeling resentful about how responsibilities are divided at home
Struggling with the loss of freedom or time to yourself
Wondering why motherhood doesn’t feel the way you thought it would
What Postpartum Counselling Looks Like
You don’t need to come to therapy with a plan for what you want to talk about. Your therapist will help get the conversation started.
We’re active in sessions. We’ll ask questions and share what we’re noticing rather than leaving you to do all of the talking.
As we work together, we’ll keep checking in about whether therapy is helping and what you want to focus on next.
What Begins to Change Over Time
When you’re struggling after having a baby, it can be hard to believe that things will feel different.
Over time you may begin to notice:
Feeling less overwhelmed by the day-to-day demands of being a parent
Being less frightened by your own thoughts or reactions
Trusting yourself more as a parent
Starting to feel like yourself again
Having more room to enjoy parts of your life again
The goal isn’t to get back to exactly who you were before but to begin to recognize yourself in your life again.
Postpartum Counselling in Toronto and Across Ontario
Midtown Toronto Therapy is a virtual practice based in Toronto. We offer online postpartum counselling to clients in Toronto and across Ontario.
Sessions take place from the privacy of your own space which can make therapy easier to fit into life with a new baby.
Fees and availability can be discussed when you reach out.
Common Questions About Postpartum Counselling
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Yes. Many people find the adjustment to becoming a parent much harder than they anticipated. Loving your baby doesn’t mean you have to love every part of being a new parent.
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Postpartum counselling may be helpful if becoming a parent has been harder than you expected or you’ve been wondering when you’ll feel like yourself again.
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You can talk about what life has been like since having your baby. We’ll help you understand why you may be feeling this way and what might help.
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Yes. Sessions are available virtually across Toronto and Ontario.
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No. You don’t need a diagnosis to benefit from postpartum counselling. Sometimes you just know that you’re struggling or don’t feel like yourself since having your baby.
Ready to Talk?
If becoming a parent has been harder than you thought it would be, you’re welcome to reach out. We can start with a free 15-minute consultation to hear a little about what’s been going on and see if working together feels right.