Counseling for Postpartum Depression in Prior Lake, MN
Counseling For Postpartum Depression
The Unseen part of motherhood & Postpartum
You just had a baby — the moment you’ve been waiting for and dreaming of; maybe for years. Everyone told you it would be magical, fulfilling, and the happiest season of your life. You thought you’d be glowing with joy, soaking in sweet baby snuggles, and feeling more complete than ever. Instead, you’re feeling low, disconnected, and trapped in your own body; wanting to run away and believing “they’d be better off without me.” You find yourself crying in the shower so no one hears. You scroll through social media wondering,
“Why does every other mom seem so happy and I feel so empty?
Why don’t I feel the way I’m supposed to feel?”
You’re constantly battling the “shoulds” — you should feel grateful, you should feel like you’re overflowing with love, you should feel joy. When in reality, you feel lonely, exhausted and guilty. Even when your partner is next to you or when the room is full of well-meaning visitors…even when your baby is nestled against your chest, you feel isolated and like no one sees you. You love your baby, but some days, you feel more like a shell of yourself than the mother you thought (and hoped) you’d be. You feel trapped in a body you don’t recognize, in addition to feeling unsure of who you are. You can’t seem to shake the thought:
“What if I never connect with my baby? What if I never get back to me?”
The guilt connected to these thoughts is crushing; leaving you worried if having these thoughts means you’re a bad mom. The fear of being stuck like this forever feels overwhelming. You miss yourself — the version of you who could feel joy and was confident in who she was. And you’re terrified she may never come back. You don’t even know where to begin discovering a version of you that feels like the “old you” but also integrates being the mom you always hoped you’d be.
It is possible to find her! And I can help you in this discovery!
Click below to start your journey today! If you’re curious if you’re struggling with a postpartum mood disorder, check out my Perinatal Mental Health Disorders blog to learn more.
You Are Not Broken!
While you may feel isolated in your experience and worrying that something’s “wrong” with you, know you are not alone! Postpartum depression is more common than you think and overcoming it is possible. Overcoming postpartum depression doesn’t mean erasing your experience and pretending the season never happened — it means discovering a new way forward and gently finding your way back to yourself. You’ll begin to feel more like yourself again, not lost in the fog of exhaustion and guilt. The heaviness that once weighed you down starts to feel lighter. You’ll no longer dread the day ahead and begin to notice sparks of joy returning. You’ll find a rhythm where you feel grounded, connected, and fulfilled.
Imagine looking in the mirror and recognizing yourself agian — not just as a “mom” but as YOU!
The guilt of not bonding with your baby (and the wonder if you’ll ever be able to) begins to soften. Connection begins to grow naturally — through noticing yourself truly seeing and soaking in your baby’s smile, through the way their tiny fingers wrap around yours, through their warmth against your chest — moments that once felt out of reach are now ones filling your heart. And maybe for the first time in a long time, you catch yourself thinking:
“I can do this! I am enough. I’m me again!”
If you’re ready to discover this for yourself and to no longer feel the guilt and heaviness postpartum can bring, click below for your free 15 minute phone consultation. If you’re not quite sure yet, read on to explore what life is possible.
Picture this: mornings don’t feel impossible anymore. You wake up and while yes the baby still needs you, you no longer feel crushed by the weight of it all. You sip your coffee and actually taste it. You smile when your baby smiles back, not because you’re “supposed” to, but because you genuinely feel it.
You find yourself laughing with your partner again — those little inside jokes that once felt so far away. You notice your shoulders relax when a friend stops by because you no longer feel like you have to fake it. Even the quiet moments, like taking a walk with the stroller, feel like proof that you’re coming back to yourself.
Motherhood isn’t perfect. Life isn’t suddenly free of challenges. But now, instead of feeling trapped, you feel grounded. Instead of wondering if you’ll ever feel connected again,
you feel present not only in your baby’s life and in your relationships, but also in your own skin.
Motherhood wasn’t meant to break you — it was meant to grow you. You are not alone in this! With the right support, you can rediscover yourself and embrace this new season with strength and joy. I can help you step into motherhood feeling grounded, whole, and more YOU than ever! Click below to get started!
Find Your Way Back To You!
Right now, it may feel impossible to believe things could ever change. You may feel like you’re drowning in expectations, guilt, and exhaustion. However, postpartum depression doesn’t define you and you don’t have to keep carrying this alone. Therapy can help you rediscover who you are beyond the fog and step into motherhood with confidence and joy.
With the right support you don’t just survive — you rediscover yourself.
In therapy, we’ll create a safe space for you to share the thoughts you’ve been keeping inside — the tears you hide, the guilt you carry, the fears you whisper only to your yourself at 2am. Instead of being told to “enjoy every moment”, you’ll be met with real understanding. Instead of being told “give it time, you’re only newly postpartum”, you’ll feel seen and heard. Together, we’ll work through the thoughts and emotions that keep you stuck in the fog. We’ll gently untangle the “shoulds” that make you feel like you’re failing, and create space for something new: self-compassion, clarity, and hope.
Our work isn’t about erasing who you were before motherhood — it’s about helping you find yourself again in this new season.
Week by week, session by session, you’ll begin to feel lighter. You’ll find the guilt has become quieter, the heaviness is lifting, and your confidence is rebuilding; allowing you to feel more confident and grounded in your role as a mother and as the woman you are outside of motherhood.
Therapy isn’t about fixing you because you’re NOT broken!
It’s about guiding you back to the version of yourself you miss. It’s about helping you grow into the mother and woman you long to be. Imagine what it would feel like to wake up up without the constant heaviness, to bond with your baby without guilt, and feel joy not just in fleeting moments, but as a steady part of your life again. You don’t have to wait and hope things will get better. The path to healing begins the moment you take that first step.
Are you ready to rediscover yourself and feeling whole again? Let’s start together! Click below to schedule your free 15 minute phone consultation.
Common Questions about Postpartum Depression
“What’s the difference between the ‘Baby Blues’ and postpartum depression?”
Great question! One of the most common misunderstandings with postpartum mood disorders (or perinatal mental health disorders), such as postpartum depression, is that it gets mistaken for the “baby blues”. While yes the symptoms can be similar, the duration in which they last is a big indicator between the ‘baby blues’ and postpartum depression.
‘Baby blues’ don’t last longer than two weeks.
If your symptoms last longer than two weeks, we want to start assessing for a postpartum mood disorder/perinatal mental health disorder. For the most common screening tools utilized, view my Best Self Therapy YouTube video Postpartum Mood Disorders: Screening Tools.
“I’m having unwanted scary thoughts. Is this normal?”
This is absolutely normal! These are called intrusive thoughts and while they are scary and can leave you feeling guilty, out of control, and unfit to be a mother,
they are a natural part of postpartum.
In therapy, we can work together to take away the power of these intrusive thoughts; guiding you in regaining control of your postpartum journey and rediscovering your confidence as a mother because there is no better mother for your baby than you!
“Postpartum depression is part of my life story, not my whole story.”
Postpartum Depression Counseling can help you…
Lift the heaviness so you can feel lighter and more at ease in your day to day life
Quiet the guilt and shame that keep you questioning if you’re a “good enough” mother
Rediscover your sense of self — not just as a “mom” but as YOU
Replace the “shoulds” with self-compassion and trust in your own instincts
Strengthen your connection with your baby in natural, meaningful ways
Let's work through this together to begin instilling hope in you to live a better life as your best self! The life described above IS possible.
Let’s begin navigating Postpartum Depression Together
If you’re ready to find hope in the midst of postpartum depression, then I’d love to connect. Schedule a free phone consultation so we can discuss your questions and identify your next steps in creating the life you hoped for in motherhood.