Group Therapy for Women with Chronic Illness in New York

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Life for women with chronic illness in New York has unique challenges.

Living with chronic illness in New York City presents a set of distinctive obstacles that can test one's resilience on a daily basis. From navigating the bustling streets and crowded subways to accessing specialized medical care in a fast-paced environment, each day can bring its own set of challenges. However, the city also offers a wealth of resources and support networks for individuals managing chronic conditions, from world-class healthcare facilities to diverse communities that understand the journey of living with illness. Despite the hurdles, many find strength in the vibrant spirit of the city that never sleeps, where determination and perseverance are celebrated. Life with chronic illness in New York is a journey of ups and downs, but it is also a testament to the unwavering courage and adaptability of those who call this dynamic city home.

What are the benefits of a therapist led support group for women with chronic illness in New York City?

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A therapist-led support group for women with chronic illness in New York City can provide numerous benefits for its members. Firstly, having a safe space to share experiences and emotions with others who understand their struggles can be incredibly therapeutic. It can help women feel less isolated and more supported in their journey. Joining a support group for women with chronic illness can bring numerous advantages that can enhance their overall well-being. Initially, it offers a secure and empathetic environment where women can openly discuss their experiences, struggles, and feelings without worrying about criticism. This shared bond can assist in alleviating the sense of isolation and solitude commonly linked to chronic illnesses.

Additionally, being part of a support group led by a therapist ensures that discussions are guided in a constructive and helpful manner. The therapist can provide valuable insights, coping strategies, and tools to manage the challenges that come with living with a chronic illness. Engaging in a support group can provide essential emotional support by connecting women with individuals who genuinely comprehend their challenges. This connection can enhance their mental well-being and offer a feeling of validation and empathy that might be missing in their daily experiences.

Moreover, participating in a support group can lead to the development of strong social connections and friendships. These connections can offer ongoing support outside of the group meetings, creating a sense of community and belonging. Therapist led support groups often provide a wealth of practical information and resources related to managing chronic illnesses. Women can learn new coping strategies, treatment options, and self-care tips from others who have firsthand experience, empowering them to take control of their health and make informed decisions.

Overall, a therapist-led support group for women with chronic illness in New York City can offer a nurturing and empowering environment where members can find understanding, guidance, and camaraderie as they navigate their health journey. An online support group for women with chronic illness fostering a sense of community, understanding, and empowerment that can be truly transformative in their journey towards wellness.

What are the benefits of an online therapy group for women in New York?

An online therapy group for women in New York can offer a wide range of benefits. Here are a few to consider:

1. Convenience: One of the major advantages of an online therapy group is the convenience it offers. Women can participate from the comfort of their own homes, eliminating the need to commute to a physical location.

2. Accessibility: Online therapy groups can be particularly beneficial for women who have mobility issues, live with chronic illness, or have busy schedules. It allows them to access support and therapy without barriers.

3. Support: Being part of a therapy group provides a sense of community and support. Women can connect with others who are facing similar challenges of life with chronic illness, which can reduce feelings of isolation and promote healing.

4. Affordability: Online therapy groups can be more affordable than traditional in-person therapy sessions, making mental health support more accessible to a wider range of women.

What will I learn from an online therapy group for women with chronic illness in New York?

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Trauma informed CBT skills

Trauma-informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) skills are essential tools for mental health professionals to effectively support individuals who have experienced trauma. These skills encompass a range of techniques and strategies that are tailored to address the unique needs of trauma survivors.

Some key trauma-informed CBT skills include creating a safe and supportive environment for clients, building trust and rapport, validating their experiences, and helping them learn coping mechanisms to manage distressing symptoms. Additionally, therapists use techniques such as cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, and grounding exercises to help clients process and overcome traumatic experiences.

By integrating trauma-informed CBT skills into their practice, therapists can empower individuals to heal from past traumas, develop resilience, and improve their overall well-being. These skills not only facilitate healing but also promote a sense of empowerment and agency in clients as they navigate their recovery journey.

Grounding exercises to help activate your parasympathetic nervous system

Grounding exercises are a powerful tool to help activate your parasympathetic nervous system, also known as the "rest and digest" system. These exercises can help calm your mind, reduce stress, and bring a sense of presence and connection to the present moment.

One effective grounding exercise is deep breathing. Take slow, deep breaths, focusing on the sensation of the air entering and leaving your body. This can help signal to your body that it is safe to relax and unwind.

Another grounding exercise is mindfulness meditation. Take a few moments to sit quietly and observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This practice can help you become more aware of your body and surroundings, allowing you to let go of tension and stress.

Engaging your senses is also a great way to ground yourself. Take a moment to notice the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures around you. This can help bring you back to the present moment and shift your focus away from anxious thoughts.

By incorporating these grounding exercises into your daily routine, you can help activate your parasympathetic nervous system and combat effects of medical trauma on the nervous system.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, also known as ACT, is a form of behavioral therapy that focuses on helping individuals accept what is out of their control while committing to taking action that enriches their lives. This therapeutic approach emphasizes mindfulness, acceptance, and values-based living. By learning to be present in the moment, acknowledging difficult thoughts and emotions, and aligning actions with personal values, individuals can cultivate psychological flexibility and enhance their overall well-being. ACT encourages individuals to be open to their experiences, choose their actions based on what matters most to them, and take steps towards creating a meaningful life. Through this process, individuals can develop a greater sense of self-awareness, resilience, and a deeper connection to their values and goals.

How can I sign up for the next therapy group for women with chronic illness in New York?

Having the right support in place can make all the difference when navigating medical trauma with chronic illness and chronic pain. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma. Together we can work through this and help you start thriving again. By working with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC, you can begin your journey to healing. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Find support to walk with you every step of the way.

Other Mental Health Services Offered in New York by Women’s CBT

You deserve to feel understood, supported, and heard. You shouldn't have to face the unimaginable and then go through it alone. No matter what the unimaginable is, I am here to help. These services include therapy for anxiety and depression in both Individual and Women’s Support Groups. I also specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, CPT for Medical Trauma, Perinatal Therapy, PTSD Treatment, and Therapy for Chronic Illness. For more helpful information check out my blogs and videos! All services are offered online in Washington DC, Virginia, and New York

Online Therapy for Women in New York with Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain

Why do you specialize in women’s mental health in New York?

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The Importance of Women's Health and the Challenges They Face

Women's health is paramount to their overall well-being. Unfortunately, conditions such as endometriosis are still vastly underfunded and misunderstood, affecting one in ten women. Invisible conditions like adenomyosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and endometriosis have a profound impact on every aspect of a woman's life. Obtaining a correct diagnosis and the right treatment for these conditions can take years and require numerous medical providers.

Living with chronic pain can be incredibly challenging, affecting even the most basic activities of daily living like cooking and cleaning. It can be difficult to get restful sleep due to the pain's intensity. Relationships and friendships may suffer, as the chronic condition and its effects may not be well-understood by others. Accommodations in the workplace may become necessary to manage the pain and illness.

With all the changes that come with chronic illness, it's understandable that a woman's mental health may suffer, leading to feelings of anxiety or depression. Grief, pain, and adjustments are part of everyday life for those with chronic illnesses. As a women's health mental health provider, I strive to be a part of your team, offering support and guidance as you navigate through your grief and find joy in your life despite the pain.

Individual Counseling for Women with Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain in New York

Treating Anxiety When Living with Chronic Illness

Living with a chronic illness can lead to increased anxiety levels. The uncertainty of flare-ups, fear of additional pain, and anxious thoughts surrounding new medical treatments or providers are all legitimate concerns. Utilizing trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques can validate these fears while providing individuals with tools to help reduce anxiety.

Providing Support for Medical Trauma through Therapy

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For women facing chronic pain, invasive medical treatments are an unfortunate part of life. Painful gynecological exams and surgeries, as well as the trial and error of medications, can become routine. These experiences can create symptoms associated with traumatic experiences and medical trauma. To help navigate these ongoing treatments, grounding techniques, mindfulness, and trauma-informed cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may be beneficial for managing symptoms of medical trauma.

The Importance of Therapy for Infertility and Pregnancy Loss

Women undergoing fertility treatments experience significant physical and psychological stress. Pregnancy loss can be a lonely, isolating, and traumatic experience, regardless of the stage of pregnancy. During this difficult time, therapy can be an excellent source of support and a safe space to explore the pain. Seeking support from a mental health therapist with expertise in women's health can help you navigate your grief and provide the necessary guidance and assistance.

Therapeutic Support for Birth Trauma

Childbirth is generally viewed as a joyous event that results in a healthy baby and mother. However, not all birthing experiences are positive, and the aftermath can cause feelings of isolation, pain, and shame. Traumatic deliveries, stillbirths, emergency c-sections, and neonatal intensive care unit stays are all traumatic occurrences that can be difficult to process. Mothers who experience these events deserve support to help them navigate their grief and pain. Engaging in therapy can be an essential aspect of your medical team to assist you in managing the traumatic experience, processing your grief, and developing coping mechanisms.

Group Therapy for Women with Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness in New York

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Empowering Women with Chronic Illness through Group Therapy

Women who are navigating chronic pain or illness can benefit from group therapy facilitated by a licensed mental health therapist. Our six-week online group is available to women in their 20s and 30s, where they can share their experiences and develop lifelong skills. The journey through chronic illness and pain can be isolating and difficult, but these groups provide a space for women to feel seen and heard by others who understand.

In addition to finding support and encouragement, women will learn valuable skills such as trauma-informed Cognitive Behavior Therapy, mindfulness techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques, and psychoeducation on the impact of medical trauma on the nervous system.

Women Can Navigate Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness in New York with Support

Having the right support in place can make all the difference when navigating medical trauma with chronic illness or during pregnancy. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma. Together we can work through this and help you start thriving again. By working with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC, you can begin your journey to healing. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Find support to walk with you every step of the way.

Other Mental Health Services Offered in New York by Women’s CBT

You deserve to feel understood, supported, and heard. You shouldn't have to face the unimaginable and then go through it alone. No matter what the unimaginable is, I am here to help. These services include therapy for anxiety and depression in both Individual and Women’s Support Groups. I also specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, CPT for Medical Trauma, Perinatal Therapy, PTSD Treatment, and Therapy for Chronic Illness. For more helpful information check out my blogs and videos! All services are offered online in Washington DC, Virginia, and New York

Online Therapy for Women in Washington DC with Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain

Why do you specialize in women’s mental health?

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Women’s health is vital to the well being of each woman. Conditions like endometriosis affect 1 in 10 women yet it is still massively underfunded and misunderstood. Invisible conditions, like adenomyosis, endometriosis, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome impact every aspect of a woman’s life. These conditions can take years and countless medical providers to obtain a correct diagnosis and proper treatment.

Debilitating pain impacts one’s basic activities of daily living, like cooking a meal or cleaning the house. Sleep can become elusive due to the intensity of pain. Relationships and friendships can suffer, due to the misunderstandings of the chronic condition and inability to show up like she “used to”. Work accommodations can become necessities-work may look very different with disabling pain or illness.

It is understandable that with all of these changes, a woman’s mental health may suffer, feeling more anxious or depressed. Living life with a chronic illness comes with its own grief, pain and adjustments. I view my role as a mental health provider specializing in women’s health to be a part of your team-a team that can walk with you through your grief, support you and help you find your joy within this pain.

Individual Counseling for Women with Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain in Washington DC

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Therapy for Anxiety with Chronic Illness

Living with chronic illness is correlated with higher levels of anxiety. The unknown of when flare ups will occur, fear of more pain, anxious thoughts surrounding new medical treatments or providers are all valid and understandable. Trauma informed CBT and mindfulness techniques can help validate that these are real fears, while also giving tools to help turn the volume of the anxiety down.

Therapy for Medical Trauma

Invasive medical treatments are a reality for women navigating life with chronic pain. Repeated, painful gynecological exams and surgeries become routine. Painful physical treatments or trial and error of medications are the norm. These repeated experiences can create medical trauma and symptoms associated with traumatic experiences. Grounding techniques, mindfulness, and trauma informed CBT can help you navigate symptoms of medical trauma amidst ongoing treatment.

Therapy for Infertility & Pregnancy Loss

The physical and psychological toll that fertility treatments can take on women is immense. Pregnancy loss, at any stage of pregnancy, can be traumatic, lonely and isolating. For women who are trying to start their family or trying to expand their family, therapy can be a source of immense support in their grieving process and safe space to explore their pain. A mental health therapist supporting women’s health can walk with you through your grief.

Therapy for Birth Trauma

The assumption with childbirth is that all will end with healthy baby and mom. Birth trauma is not always spoken about and the events can create isolation, pain and shame. Stillbirth, traumatic delivery, emergency cesarean section or a baby’s stay in the NICU are all traumatic events. Mothers deserve support to navigate the grief and pain of these experiences. Therapy can be part of your medical team to help you navigate the birth trauma, process your grief and gain coping skills to manage the traumatic experiences.

Group Therapy for Women with Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness in Washington DC

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Group therapy led by a licensed mental health therapist can be an empowering, moving experience for women navigating chronic illness and chronic pain. In our 6 week therapist led online group, women in their 20s and 30s navigating chronic illness can join together each week to share their experiences, feel seen, feel heard and gain life long skills. Chronic illness and chronic pain is an isolating, painful journey at times. These groups allow you to find other women who just “get it”. No explanations or education is needed within that space.

In addition to finding support and sharing encouraging words, women in the therapy group gain trauma informed Cognitive Behavior Therapy skills, mindfulness techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques and psychoeducation of the impact of the medical trauma on the nervous system.

Women Can Navigate Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness in Washington, DC with Support

Having the right support in place can make all the difference when navigating medical trauma with chronic illness or during pregnancy. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma. Together we can work through this and help you start thriving again. By working with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC, you can begin your journey to healing. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Find support to walk with you every step of the way.

Other Mental Health Services Offered in Washington DC by Women’s CBT

You deserve to feel understood, supported, and heard. You shouldn't have to face the unimaginable and then go through it alone. No matter what the unimaginable is, I am here to help. These services include therapy for anxiety and depression in both Individual and Women’s Support Groups. I also specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, CPT for Medical Trauma, Perinatal Therapy, PTSD Treatment, and Therapy for Chronic Illness. For more helpful information check out my blogs and videos! All services are offered online in Washington DC, Virginia, and New York.

Why Trauma Informed CBT Helps Women with Chronic Pain: Tips from a New York City Therapist

Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness is Medical Trauma

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Medical trauma refers to the psychological and emotional distress experienced by individuals as a result of a medical event or procedure. Whether it's an invasive surgery, a life-altering diagnosis, or a traumatic accident, the experience of medical trauma can have profound and lasting effects on a person's well-being. Chronic illness or chronic pain is considered medical trauma. The body and mind respond as you would typically to other forms of trauma. This can look like heightened anxiety or panic as well as depressive symptoms.

One of the key aspects of medical trauma is the loss of control, relying on medical professionals’ expertise and decision-making abilities to navigate through critical and sometimes life-threatening situations like a traumatic birth or ongoing chronic health issues.

Furthermore, medical trauma can stem from the physical pain and discomfort associated with medical procedures. The invasive nature of surgeries or the side effects of medications can leave individuals traumatized long after the event has passed. Chronic pain and the resulting limitations in daily life can create ongoing distress and a sense of hopelessness.

An additional aspect of medical trauma is the impact on one's identity and sense of self. A sudden illness or diagnosis can disrupt a person's life, forcing them to grapple with a new reality and adjust to a different way of being. The loss of mental and physical abilities can be deeply challenging and may result in feelings of grief, shame, and a loss of self-esteem.

The impact of medical trauma extends beyond the individual. Family members and loved ones may also experience trauma as they witness the suffering and struggle of their loved ones. They may face challenges in providing care, managing their own emotions, and grappling with their own fears and anxieties.

It is essential to recognize and address medical trauma to support individuals in their healing journey. Therapeutic interventions, such as trauma-focused therapy, can be invaluable in helping individuals process their experiences, regain a sense of control, and develop healthy coping strategies. Support groups and peer communities can also provide a sense of validation, understanding, and connection for those navigating medical trauma.

As healthcare providers, it is crucial to approach patients with empathy, compassion, and respect for their experiences. Creating a safe and supportive environment can mitigate the potential for medical trauma and foster a partnership between healthcare professionals and patients. Open communication, informed consent, and involving patients in decision-making processes can contribute to a sense of agency and empowerment, reducing the likelihood of traumatization.

Medical trauma is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires attention and understanding. By acknowledging its impact and implementing strategies to support those affected, we can help individuals navigate the path towards healing, resilience, and reclaiming their lives.

Therapy for Women with Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness in New York City

There is a Connection between Trauma and Chronic Pain

There is a significant relationship between childhood trauma or adverse childhood experiences and chronic pain. It is our clinical duty to provide a safe warm therapeutic space conducive to healing childhood traumas or attachment wounds. Chronic pain and trauma often share a complex and intertwined relationship. Traumatic events, regardless of their nature and intensity, can leave a lasting imprint on an individual's physical and emotional well-being. The experience of trauma can sensitize the nervous system, leading to heightened pain sensitivity and the development of chronic pain conditions.

Moreover, chronic pain itself can be a traumatic experience, disrupting one's daily life, limiting functionality, and causing emotional distress. This reciprocal connection between chronic pain and trauma creates a challenging cycle that requires comprehensive and integrated approaches to address both the physical and psychological aspects of healing. By recognizing and addressing the underlying trauma, individuals experiencing chronic pain can find pathways towards holistic recovery and reclaim their quality of life.

the Pain is Not in Your Head

Patients may feel gaslit by medical providers (especially with chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia) by phrases like “you just need to relax” or “manage your stress” with therapy. As a clinician and an individual who has navigated chronic illness, I assure my clients that the pain is not in your head. Therapy is one incredibly important piece of the puzzle, however, there are many important team members needed to promote healing. I frequently collaborate with reproductive psychiatrists, pelvic physical therapists, physicians, specialists, nutritionists and surgeons to create a team of help for my clients. CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is a wonderful tool that I prefer to use within an integrative, individualized approach.

Integrative Therapy for Women with Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness in New York

Psychoeducation of neuroscience

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It is important to learn about the parasympathetic nervous system vs sympathetic nervous system. Before we can try reframing our thoughts with CBT, we have to learn how to calm our bodies down so that our frontal lobe (in charge of higher cognitive functions, rational thoughts, decision making & impulse control) can actually be “online”. I find that providing the science behind what is happening in their bodies and brains can be reassuring and helpful-you are not “crazy”, your body and brain are reacting as they are trained to trauma or threat.

Trauma informed CBT

Cognitive Processing Therapy is a form of CBT designed specifically for trauma. I love using this approach because rather than the traditional CBT language of irrational thoughts vs rational thoughts, we use the language of stuck points or less helpful vs more helpful alternative thoughts. This does not minimize the experience of the client-it is not irrational to fear an ER trip, medical episode during social events when these things have actually happened in the past. It’s just keeping you stuck from being in the present moment and we can work to create more helpful reframes. We love to use the phrase neurons that fire together, wire together-our brain is incredible and able to create new neural networks. This takes practice and patience.

Discover Healing and Wholeness with Internal Family Systems Therapy

Sometimes, we feel like battlegrounds of conflicting emotions and conflicting desires. Our minds can resemble a crowded and chaotic arena, where different parts of ourselves fight for control, leaving us feeling lost and disconnected. But what if there was a way to bring harmony and healing to this internal conflict?

Welcome to Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, a revolutionary approach designed to cultivate understanding, compassion, and integration within your inner world. Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, IFS views the mind as a community of distinct parts, each with unique beliefs, emotions, and desires. With this perspective, IFS guides you on a transformative journey towards self-discovery and healing.

In IFS Therapy, the therapist serves as a compassionate guide, helping you explore the various parts of your internal system. Through gentle dialogue and deep introspection, you will develop a genuine connection and understanding with each part, unearthing the underlying stories, traumas, and protective mechanisms that have shaped your life.

As the process unfolds, you will begin to appreciate that each part has its own positive intention. Whether it's the protective part that shields you from pain or the wounded part that carries past hurts, every aspect of your internal system has a purpose. Through the lens of IFS, you will learn to embrace and appreciate the wisdom within each part, empowering you to become their benevolent leader.
Through this intimate self-exploration, IFS Therapy allows you to witness the intricate dance between the different parts of your being. By embracing the qualities of self-compassion, curiosity, and patience, you will learn to navigate and harmonize the dynamics within your internal family. With time, conflicts will subside, and a genuine sense of wholeness and self-acceptance will emerge.

We explore self attachment, attachment with others and different parts of ourselves that exist and their roles. For instance, anxiety and fear may present as a protective part. In the past, perhaps anxiety has been an emotion that helps reduce risk or keep you safe. Does this part need to act in the same way anymore? Can our wise self take over?

At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for women, our compassionate and experienced therapists are here to guide you on your journey towards healing and integration. Through the power of Internal Family Systems Therapy, discover the transformative potential of unity within your inner world. Reclaim your authentic self and nurture a deep connection with all aspects of your being. Contact us today and unlock the door to inner harmony and personal growth.

Distress Tolerance Techniques: Empowering Women with Chronic Pain

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Living with chronic pain can often be an overwhelming experience, testing the limits of one's physical and emotional endurance. For women navigating the challenges of chronic pain, finding effective ways to manage distress is crucial in maintaining a sense of control and well-being. That's where distress tolerance techniques come into play.

Distress tolerance techniques offer a lifeline for women experiencing chronic pain by equipping them with the essential tools to cope with the emotional turmoil that often accompanies their physical struggles. These techniques go beyond mere pain management, offering a holistic approach that addresses the mind and body connection.

Designed to cultivate resilience, distress tolerance techniques empower women to embrace their pain with a sense of acceptance and self-compassion. By acknowledging that pain is an integral part of their life, women can unlock a new level of personal growth and resilience, even in the face of ongoing discomfort.

At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for women, we offer a range of evidence-based distress tolerance techniques tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals living with chronic pain. These techniques include mindfulness practices, deep breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and guided imagery, among others.

By incorporating these techniques into their daily lives, our clients discover newfound strength and the ability to manage their distress, allowing them to regain control and improve their overall quality of life. These tools help women develop the capacity to navigate the ups and downs of chronic pain more skillfully, reducing the impact it has on their emotional well-being.

Our compassionate and experienced therapists provide a supportive environment, helping women explore and implement distress tolerance techniques that align with their personal goals and preferences. With personalized guidance, individuals are empowered to leverage these techniques in a way that brings them relief and aids them in finding peace amidst the storm of chronic pain.
If you are a woman seeking effective strategies to manage chronic pain and enhance your distress tolerance skills, turn to Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling. Together, we can help you build resilience, embrace your journey, and unlock your potential to thrive in the face of pain.

Women Can Navigate Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness in New York with Support

Having the right support in place can make all the difference when navigating medical trauma with chronic illness or during pregnancy. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma. Together we can work through this and help you start thriving again. By working with a medical trauma therapist in New York, you can begin your journey to healing. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Feel Supported Every Step of the Way!

Other Mental Health Services Offered in New York by Women’s CBT

You deserve to feel understood, supported, and heard. You shouldn't have to face the unimaginable and then go through it alone. No matter what the unimaginable is, I am here to help. These services include therapy for anxiety and depression in both Individual and Women’s Support Groups. I also specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, CPT for Medical Trauma, Perinatal Therapy, PTSD Treatment, and Therapy for Chronic Illness. For more helpful information check out my blogs and videos! All services are offered online in Washington DC, Virginia, and New York.

Online Therapy for Women in New York and Navigating Post-Traumatic Stress

Living in New York City can be exciting. The hustle and bustle of the city can make it an ideal place to call home, but it can also leave you feeling overwhelmed and anxious. If you have experienced medical trauma, you may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms that can be difficult to manage in such a busy place. The sensory overload of a big city environment can be even more difficult to manage.

The sirens, loud noises, and crowds can be triggering and leave you feeling on edge. This can make it difficult to move through your trauma symptoms such as startle response, feelings of panic or anxiety, and hypervigilance. In this blog, we will discuss how online therapy for women in New York City can help you navigate through post-traumatic stress.

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) presents following a traumatic event or multiple events. This may include intrusive thoughts, unwelcome memories or flashbacks, nightmares, or feelings of panic and anxiety. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD, but it is possible to still experience trauma symptoms in the immediate aftermath of the event. And these are normal reactions.

If you have experienced medical trauma in Washington, DC, or trauma anywhere, these symptoms may still be lingering for months or years after the event. It can also impact your day-to-day functioning, making it difficult to manage daily tasks and activities. This is when seeking post-traumatic disorder treatment or therapy for medical trauma in NY can help you gain control over your experiences and positively impact your daily functioning.

Online Therapy For Women in New York Can Help Empower

When it comes to managing PTSD, online therapy for women in New York City can be a great option. It allows you to have access to care from the comfort of your home while providing support that is tailored to your needs and goals. It can offer a sanctuary to manage symptoms related to your PTSD and medical trauma. 

Online therapy is particularly suited to address the unique needs of women who have experienced trauma. It is a platform that encourages open dialogue, allows for personal growth, and fosters resilience. The process is tailored to your needs, utilizing methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness techniques, and supportive psychodynamic processing.

Incorporating These Techniques into Your Therapy Can Help You Navigate Your Trauma Symptoms and Take Control of Your Mental Health.

In online therapy for women in New York, you can explore your familial dynamics, relationship dynamics, attachment, and any triggers that may cause stress or anxiety. This way you don't have to navigate the bustle of the city to receive care. Your therapist will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan based on your goals and needs

Online therapy is not only convenient and confidential, it's accessible for women in New York's fast-paced environment. It's easy to schedule sessions around your work and family life, so you can manage your mental health without taking too much time away from other important parts of your life. It's also beneficial for those who have transportation or mobility issues as it provides a way to access care without having to leave their home.

Ways to Integrate Mindfulness and Stress Reduction Techniques into Online Therapy

Mindfulness can be an incredibly powerful tool for managing stress and trauma. It allows you to become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in the present moment without judgment or attachment. Exercises such as mindful breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and visualization, can help you notice patterns of thinking that may be harmful or unhelpful and can help to foster a sense of self-compassion.

In online therapy for women in New York, your therapist may suggest incorporating some mindfulness activities into your sessions. This could include guided meditations, body scans, and mindful movement practices such as yoga or mindful walks. Or, maybe you prefer mindful activities such as reading or puzzles that can help regulate emotions. These activities will be practiced together in session and audio sent to you to practice and keep forever.

Increase Your Mind-Body Connection

Somatic therapy is another way to increase your mind-body connection. This type of therapy uses physical movement and touch to access underlying emotions. It can help you relax, gain control over your body, rewire old patterns of thought or behavior, and create an overall sense of well-being. Through somatic therapy in online sessions, you can learn to become aware of your body in the present moment while gently working through any trauma or stress.

Develop a List of Soothing Activities

It's important to have soothing activities that you can turn to when feeling overwhelmed or anxious. Create a list of these activities and start implementing them into your daily routine. This could include reading, cuddling with pets, rewatching your favorite movie, puzzles, cooking, baking, etc. Having these activities to turn to can be a great way to manage stress in the moment and provide a sense of comfort and calm.

Online therapy for women in New York can be an empowering experience that helps you navigate through post-traumatic stress. Your therapy approaches will be tailored to meet your needs using a variety of techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, somatic therapy, and more. You can access care from the comfort of your home and work with a therapist who understands the unique challenges you may be facing.

Beyond Online Therapy

It's important to build a strong support network for yourself, especially when dealing with post-traumatic stress. Finding therapy groups in your area can be a great way to gain support from people who have gone through similar experiences. This could include support groups, educational workshops, seminars, or peer-to-peer therapy sessions. Additionally, reaching out to other professionals such as pelvic physical therapists or women's health reproductive psychiatrists for referrals can help you find the right treatment options that are tailored to meet your needs

A pelvic PT and a women's health reproductive psychiatrist can support you with managing any physical challenges that you may be facing after trauma, while also helping you with mental and emotional healing. For example, a pelvic PT can support you with pelvic pain, mobility issues, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Working together with these professionals can help you take a holistic approach to your care while still managing post-traumatic stress.

Ultimately, online therapy for women in New York is an empowering way to manage medical trauma and PTSD symptoms from the comfort of your own home. It is important to find a therapist who understands your specific needs and who can provide a personalized approach to your therapy. Therapy for medical trauma in NY paired with online therapy can help you take ownership of your healing journey and build a strong support network to aid in your recovery. 

Navigate New York Feeling Empowered With Online Therapy for Women in New York

Online therapy for women in New York can be a powerful tool to help manage the challenges of post-traumatic stress. Finding support in a bustling, overwhelming city can be difficult, but with online therapy, you can navigate New York feeling empowered and supported. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in providing online therapy to women to support your navigation of medical trauma and PTSD in New York. By engaging in a therapeutic relationship, I can help you feel more connected, empowered, and equipped to take on the world. Together we can develop coping skills and mindfulness practices that can help you manage post-traumatic stress and any other challenges life throws your way. By working with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC who also is a therapist for women in Washington, DC you can begin your journey to healing. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Navigate New York Feeling Empowered!

Other Mental Health Services Offered at Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women

You are an aspirational woman in New York and I understand the pressures that come with living in a busy city. Having a therapist for women in Washington, DC, or New York City to help you feel empowered and supported is essential. Hi, I'm Kelsey Bates! I specialize in women’s health, which means I offer several mental health services geared toward helping women cope with medical trauma. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I offer an array of therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in both Individual and Group counseling settings. I also specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy in addition to CBT.

Parenting After Medical Trauma: Empowering New Moms through Online Therapy for Women in New York

You're a new mother who has been so excited for this phase of your life. You've anticipated the birth of your child and have planned a beautiful life to share with them. But you had a traumatic experience during your pregnancy, during your birth, or both. You're now struggling to cope with the aftermath and find it difficult to connect with yourself, your partner, and your baby.

Being a new mother is beautiful and challenging without the added weight of medical trauma. It can be difficult to know how to navigate these experiences and find a way back to feeling empowered. You want to connect with your baby like you imagined, reconnect with your partner, and get to know yourself in new ways. In this blog, we will provide insight into how online therapy for women in New York can help with post-birth trauma. 

The Impact of Medical Trauma on New Motherhood

Medical trauma can profoundly influence your journey into motherhood. You may find an increase in anxiety, particularly surrounding your own health and the safety of your baby. Traumatic experiences often cause an elevation in cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone. Repeated traumatic events can even increase the risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For example, repeated medical interventions that impact mother-child bonding can lead to depression. 

With each passing day, your fear and uncertainty may increase. Making you doubt your motherly instincts. These fears are valid and not to be dismissed. They are genuine and valid, and other new mothers can relate to them. However, there is a stigma around talking about these experiences. Which can make it harder to feel comfortable sharing your feelings and seeking the help you need. 

Understanding Your Feelings Through Online Therapy for Women

Online Therapy for Women in New York can provide a safe space for you as a new mother to work through the emotional trauma of childbirth, pregnancy, and postpartum struggles. Therapy, specifically therapy for medical trauma in NY, can help in managing these emotional challenges. It can assist in lowering your heightened cortisol levels. Which can help you transition from a state of constant alertness and anxiety to a more restful, peaceful state. This is often referred to as the parasympathetic state. 

This state is essential for your emotional well-being and can create an environment favorable to bonding with your baby. With professional help, you can navigate your emotions in a healthy way, reclaim your inner strength, and step into motherhood with confidence. Parenthood can bring such joy and fulfillment. But at the same time, it can bring such challenges such as postpartum anxiety, difficult emotions surrounding birth trauma, or difficulty bonding with a baby. It also comes with a new identity shift. Through online therapy, you can work through the fear and confusion of these experiences and reclaim your motherhood experience. 

How Can Online Therapy Help? 

Online therapy for women in New York can offer support as you process the emotions that come with medical trauma. Your therapist will work with you on navigating your new identity, work through any fears and feelings of guilt, and provide you with techniques to help manage your emotions when they become overwhelming. In therapy, you can practice attachment exercises with your baby or even mindfulness exercises to help ground you in your home.

The emotions you may be feeling surrounding your birth and beginning to parenthood may not be linear and may often feel contradicting. It is okay to have moments of happiness, joy, excitement, and peace but also fear, guilt, and anxiety. We can hold space for these dialectical or opposing emotions in therapy. As you work through the aftermath of medical trauma, you will be able to build resiliency and strength to transition into your new motherhood journey. 

Online Therapy Has Many Benefits 

Online therapy for women in New York is beneficial for new mothers who are struggling with medical trauma. Through online therapy, you can access the care and support needed to heal from past experiences as well as provide a stable and secure environment for your baby. It provides an opportunity to connect with a therapist from the safety of your home. When you begin to heal your own medical trauma, it allows you to be more grounded and present in your day-to-day life. This can lead to stronger attachment bonds with your baby and those around you.

Online therapy for women in New York can also offer increased accessibility. You no longer have to worry about looking into childcare and transportation, or long wait times for sessions. It is a convenient way of getting help from the safety of your home. This can be beneficial if you are experiencing medical trauma or even PTSD symptoms like flashbacks or nightmares. It can be an opportunity to talk with an experienced medical trauma therapist about your experiences and provide the resources to get back on track. 

Therapy that is Tailored to Your Needs

When you've experienced medical trauma, you need a therapist who understands the complexities of your situation. Plus, a therapist can provide you with the tailored care that will help you in your healing journey. A trauma-informed cognitive behavior therapy approach to online therapy for women in New York provides a supportive, empathic space where you are welcome to express your emotions. It facilitates an environment of exploration into the traumatic experience and helps build insight into how it is impacting your life today.

Whereas mindfulness can be beneficial when you are feeling overwhelmed by your emotions. It can help in the present moment or during a flashback. By engaging in mindfulness, it will calm your nervous system and increase your capacity to tolerate difficult emotions. At the same time, it can also offer psychodynamic processing of experience to help you understand your current thoughts and behaviors in a more meaningful way. This type of therapy is particularly beneficial for those who have experienced medical trauma in their motherhood journey. This way you can begin reclaiming your story and build the confidence and resilience needed to move forward. 

Ways to Take Care of Yourself After Medical Trauma

After you experience medical trauma as a new mother, it can seem difficult to figure out what you need when it comes to taking care of yourself. There are many exercises and resources that can assist you in connecting with your body and mind. This way you can work to create a more balanced state of being. 

Connect Your Mind and Body

Somatic exercises can be beneficial in creating more mind-body connections. This can be affected after experiencing birth trauma. These exercises help to ground yourself and focus on the present moment. They allow you to connect with your physical body after experiencing trauma. Giving your parasympathetic nervous system time to calm down and help ground you. 

Another way to help connect your mind and body is pelvic physical therapy. This kind of therapy can assist in pain relief and provide you with exercises to help support your musculoskeletal system. It helps create a stronger connection between the muscles in the pelvic floor area and how they affect the body's other systems, such as breathing or movement. For example, at Solstice Physiotherapy or Beyond Basics Physical Therapy, you will find knowledgeable and experienced physical therapists who can help you achieve the goals most beneficial for your wellness. 

Just Breathe

Breathing exercises can be really beneficial in helping to decrease postpartum anxiety. This is because it activates your parasympathetic state rather than the fight/flight/freeze sympathetic response. You can try deep belly breathing, box breathing, and paced respiration to focus on your breath and help slow down your body. This can make it easier to cope with difficult emotions that come after medical trauma. 

Mindfulness

Mindfulness practices and breathing exercises can also help activate your parasympathetic nervous system. This helps to decrease your anxiety levels and decrease your heart rate. It can offer time to reflect on difficult feelings and talk through any postpartum worries. By using mindfulness techniques, it can help you become more aware of your emotions.

It also allows you to process them in a safe environment. This way you can work on understanding where those emotions are coming from and how they might be connected to your medical response. When you are in a calmer state of being, it can be easier to find moments of peace and find time to bond with your baby. These moments after practicing somatic exercises can be less stressful. as they decrease cortisol levels. 

Trauma-Informed Therapy

Trauma-informed cognitive behavior therapy can also be beneficial in decreasing postpartum anxiety or depression. It provides an opportunity to understand how your trauma is impacting you and how to re-frame negative thoughts or behaviors. This helps you become empowered in managing your own well-being and foster positive coping skills for the future. 

Another place to find trauma-informed care is with a reproductive psychiatrist. These specialists are trained in the specific needs of women. They can provide a combination of medication management, talk therapy, or other treatments to help you manage your postpartum anxiety. 

Becoming a new mother can be a difficult transition and medical trauma can make this journey even more challenging. It is important to find the resources that will be most beneficial for you in your healing journey. Whether it’s online therapy, pelvic physical therapy, or reproductive psychiatry, taking action and finding the right support for yourself is a powerful step toward reclaiming your story. 

Stop Surviving and Start Thriving with Online Therapy for Women in New York

When you're ready to take that next step towards reclaiming your story after medical trauma, online therapy can provide a safe and supportive space. It allows for flexible scheduling and the ability to connect with a therapist from anywhere. This way, you can start the healing process without leaving the comfort of your own home. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in providing online therapy to help you move from surviving to thriving. By engaging in a therapeutic relationship, I can help you understand your emotions and develop skills to increase your emotional intelligence. This helps build the confidence and resilience needed for you to take ownership of your story. I not only specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma but issues that can arise during the transition to motherhood such as postpartum depression and anxiety. Together we can work through this and help you start thriving again. By working with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC who also is a therapist for women in Washington, DC you can begin your journey to healing. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Begin Thriving, Not Just Surviving!

Other Mental Health Services Offered at Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women

You are a new mother and it can be overwhelming to take all the steps needed to help you heal. Having a therapist for women in Washington, DC, or New York City to help you feel validated, heard, and understood can be beneficial. Hi, I'm Kelsey Bates! I specialize in women’s health, which means I offer several mental health services geared toward helping women cope with medical trauma. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I offer an array of therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in both Individual and Group counseling settings. I also specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy in addition to CBT.

Therapy for Medical Trauma: Navigating the Emotional Journey of Motherhood

Motherhood can be a beautiful, rewarding experience, but the emotional journey is often overlooked. Many women, the media, and society as a whole tend to focus on the afterglow of motherhood rather than the struggles that come with it. The truth is, becoming a parent can be a challenge not only physically but mentally and emotionally.

Birth is considered medical trauma within itself as mothers are forced to go through a long and difficult process that can leave both physical and emotional scars. Women may experience extreme anxiety, depression, or PTSD stemming from childbirth. When giving birth, mothers face pain, anxiety, and the uncertainty of the unknown. Medical trauma is an often unspoken, yet significant, aspect of motherhood that can cause lasting emotional distress.

Medical Trauma in Motherhood

Mothers face medical trauma not just when giving birth but even beforehand. Women can face repeated losses during miscarriages, the repeated sadness of not being able to conceive, and then the physical and mental strain that comes with fertility treatments like IVF or IUI. Not to mention the risks of pregnancy complications that put mom or baby's life at risk. Even during the birthing process, motherhood carries with it moments of extreme stress and uncertainty such as an emergency c-section or a newborn in the NICU. 

Then there is the possibility of the mother, or baby, staying in the hospital after birth. Medical trauma can cause a mother to lose her sense of security and control. Leaving her feeling anxious, fearful, or even hopeless. Plus, new and expectant mothers face invasive procedures, such as ultrasounds or amniocentesis.

So, What Exactly is Medical Trauma?

Medical trauma is defined as a traumatic experience, either physical or psychological, that has resulted from medical care. It includes a range of feelings such as fear, anxiety, pain, distress, and shock along with other negative emotions. The experience can be so overwhelming that it affects the mother's mental health long after the event is over. It can also be caused by the mother's medical team not providing enough emotional support or understanding. 

Medical trauma is when there is repeated physical pain from complex chronic illnesses and medical emergencies. This can also occur with complications during birth or after birth, repeated invasive treatments or surgeries, and gaslighting by medical professionals. This can have a significant impact on the mother's mental and physical health. It can lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mothers who experience medical trauma may feel disconnected from their bodies, their sense of self, and their identity as a mother. In extreme cases, it can cause a woman to hesitate or even avoid future medical care, which is detrimental to her health and well-being.

The Ripple Effect of Unaddressed Trauma on Maternal Mental Health 

When a mother experiences medical trauma, it can have a profound impact on her mental health. Research has shown that unaddressed medical trauma can lead to an increased risk of postpartum depression and anxiety. Furthermore, mothers who suffer from medical trauma during pregnancy or delivery are more likely to suffer from perinatal depression and anxiety.

This is why working with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC can support new and expectant mothers. Having a safe space to discuss their feelings and experiences can help the mother process her emotions and move forward with confidence in her mothering journey. A therapist can also provide tools for coping with the trauma and developing healthy self-care practices that promote resilience and well-being. 

How Therapy for Medical Trauma Can Help

Therapy for medical trauma in New York City can help mothers in many ways. Therapy can help mothers decrease feelings of panic, intense anxiety, stressful dreams about traumatic incidents, avoidance of certain activities due to fear, and help interpersonal relationships if they have been strained by medical trauma.

Working with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC can also help with the physical symptoms that come with medical trauma. Perhaps the mother now has chronic pain from giving birth or from a medical procedure. The therapist can help her work through these physical symptoms and understand how they are connected to the trauma she experienced. Through this process, she can learn to better manage the physical pain and build resiliency against further medical trauma. She will no longer have to feel alone and without solutions. 

Therapy Can Also Help Mothers Learn to Feel Safe Again in a Medical Setting. 

Many expectant and new moms struggle with anxiety when going to a doctor's office or hospital, due to previous experiences. With therapy for medical trauma in NY, trauma-informed CBT will help the mother to reframe previous experiences and learn coping skills. She will gain a sense of safety and control when entering medical settings, which can decrease her anxiety and fear.

Therapy can also assist in replacing negative thoughts about the medical system with positive ones. This allows women to have more confidence and trust in their care providers and the health system as a whole. By working with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC new and expectant mothers can navigate feelings of depression, avoiding situations that remind them of the trauma, hypervigilance, difficulty sleeping, and catastrophizing. 

Ways to Find Support During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Having support can be key to helping a mother cope with her experiences of medical trauma. It is important for mothers to know that they are not alone. And that there are resources available to help them manage the effects of medical trauma while pregnant and postpartum. Having the right support system in place can make all the difference.

Seek Out a Reproductive Psychiatrist

A reproductive psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in medication and the use of psychotherapy during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum. They are trained to identify and treat perinatal mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Reproductive psychiatrists can provide individualized care with compassion and respect for the mother's needs. They can support new and expectant mothers with medications and therapy to help manage mental health safely during pregnancy and postpartum.

Find a Pelvic Physical Therapist 

Pelvic physical therapy can also be beneficial for new and expectant mothers in need of support. This type of therapy is specialized to help treat conditions that affect the pelvic region, such as prenatal and postpartum pain, childbirth-related conditions, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic physical therapists can help support a woman during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery with treatments tailored to her individual needs. 

Reach Out for Supportive Psychotherapy

The changes that occur in pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum can be overwhelming. Women may struggle to process all the emotions that come with motherhood. Reaching out for supportive psychotherapy that is provided in therapy for medical trauma in NY can provide a safe space for mothers. 

One where they can explore and better understand their feelings and experiences in order to move forward with confidence. Supportive psychotherapy can help new and expectant moms manage depression, anxiety, grief, fear, relationship struggles, lack of self-care practices, or just feeling overwhelmed. 

It is crucial to find the right support system during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. It can make all the difference in navigating medical trauma. Motherhood can be the rewarding, beautiful experience that it is meant to be when the right supports are in place. With support and guidance, new and expectant moms are better equipped to manage medical trauma and approach motherhood with confidence. 

Navigate Motherhood with Confidence! Begin Therapy for Medical Trauma in NY, Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland!

Having the right support in place can make all the difference when navigating medical trauma during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma. Together we can work through this and help you start thriving again. By working with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC who also is a therapist for women in Washington, DC you can begin your journey to healing. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Feel Supported Every Step of the Way!

Other Mental Health Services Offered at Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women

You are expecting or you are a new mother and this time can be filled with many emotions, hopes, and dreams. Having a therapist for women in Washington, DC, or New York City to help you feel validated, heard, and understood can be beneficial. Hi, I'm Kelsey Bates! I specialize in women’s health, which means I offer several mental health services geared toward helping women cope with medical trauma. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I offer an array of therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in both Individual and Group counseling settings. I also specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy in addition to CBT.

Supporting Perinatal Moms: How Perinatal Therapy Can Help During Pregnancy

As a woman you are sold the idea that pregnancy is one of the most beautiful times of your life. And it is, but it can also come with anxiety, confusion, and a range of other challenges. For some expectant moms, they have dealt with or are dealing with a period of secondary infertility or a history of pregnancy losses. This can steal the joy and excitement from the experience, making it a difficult time emotionally. It can feel as if you get too excited then something will happen.

In the perinatal stage there is so much to look forward to and be happy about, but with that comes other, more complicated feelings. You may feel anxious about the health of your baby, or be struggling with complicated grief if you have had a history of infertility or pregnancy loss. Perhaps, you may have experienced birth trauma from a previous traumatic delivery. And when you factor in chronic health problems that can compound the stress placed on your body. This is where perinatal therapy in Washington, DC can help you during your pregnancy.

What is Perinatal Therapy?

Perinatal therapy is a supportive psychotherapy that is tailored to the needs of expectant and new moms. It helps you process emotions related to your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. An integrative approach is taken by utilizing supportive psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness techniques so you can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression while pregnant.

The goal of perinatal therapy in Washington, DC supports expectant mothers to gain coping skills to feel more empowered and calm during this season of life. It also supports women in working with an online therapist for women in Washington, DC to create a mental health plan for postpartum care. Enabling them to be proactive and make sure they are supported throughout the entire perinatal period.

How is Perinatal Therapy Beneficial For Perinatal Women?

The perinatal phase for women lasts from conception until the first year of life. During this period, you are going through a transformation. Physical and emotional changes can be overwhelming and it is important to have a safe space and supportive people in your life. 1 in 7 new moms experience mood or anxiety disorders. This can include depression, panic, increased anxiety, obsessive thoughts, or even PTSD due to previous birth trauma. Having a therapist to assist with your mental health at this stage can benefit you emotionally.

Perinatal Therapy in Washington, DC includes trauma-informed CBT and mindfulness to help perinatal women navigate their feelings. Ones of anxiety, depression, and other challenges related to the perinatal stage. This way they will have support in this new phase of their life and learn how to have more self-compassion during pregnancy and beyond. 

Mindfulness Exercises to Help with Anxiety 

Mindfulness can help you manage feelings of anxiety in more healthy and helpful ways. You are able to become aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment. When you're feeling anxious, you can picture yourself in a safe space and be mindful of your thoughts. By engaging in different, new, and more helpful behaviors, you can create positive reinforcement and reduce feelings of distress.

Mindfulness has been researched to reduce anxiety and even depression. All due to its calming effects on our nervous system. It allows you to become more aware of yourself and your surroundings. You can practice mindfulness by engaging in mindful exercises like deep breathing, guided imagery, or progressive muscle relaxation.

Trauma-informed CBT 

Trauma-informed CBT allows perinatal women to recognize cognitive distortions and create authentic reframes that are more helpful replacement thought patterns. For example, you may have experienced a previous traumatic delivery or have had a history of infertility. This can create feelings of guilt and shame. You can use CBT to reframe these feelings as being present and understandable given the circumstances, while also having a sense of hope for the future. 

You can also practice dialectical thinking to be present - acknowledging that two opposites can be true at the same time. This helps perinatal women understand the complexities of being pregnant and new moms while also creating new neural pathways in the brain as they engage in different, new, and more helpful behaviors. This can look like increasing positive self-talk and helping to turn down the volume on unpleasant and distressing emotions. This can help to increase the feelings of acceptance of the current situation. 

Ways to Find Support

If you are feeling overwhelmed with your pregnancy, or perinatal period there are ways to find support. Gaining support that will benefit you during this season of life is important. And can be done in a few ways. 

Seek Out a Reproductive Psychiatrist

Seeking out a reproductive psychiatrist is a great way to be proactive with your mental health. A reproductive psychiatrist can help you safely manage any current medication during pregnancy and postpartum. They also can provide guidance on lifestyle modifications as well that will benefit you and the baby.

Find a Pelvic Physical Therapist 

Another great option is to find a pelvic physical therapist in your area to help support you during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery. A pelvic physical therapist can assist in helping your body adjust to the new changes that come with having a baby. They also can provide advice on positions to support an easier delivery.

Don't Do It Alone 

Finally, don't do it alone! Reach out for supportive psychotherapy to process feelings of anxiety, depression, or grief during pregnancy. An online therapist for women in Washington, DC can help you look at the situation with an objective eye. They can also provide guidance and coping skills to deal with the range of emotions associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Your therapist will also be able to collaborate with your doctor or midwife to provide referrals and care. This way you can find a reproductive psychiatrist who is an expert in using antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication safely during pregnancy.

Find Support During Your Perinatal Period with Perinatal Therapy in Washington, DC

Discover effective ways to cope with and manage the challenges of your perinatal journey. It is possible to find joy and fulfillment in your perinatal experience, even if you have faced medical trauma. Working with a therapist for women in Washington, DC can guide you in cultivating mindfulness and resilience to navigate your experience and create the life you desire. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma helping them embark on a path to healing. Together we can through this and help you start thriving again. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Feel Supported Every Step of the Way!

Other Mental Health Services Offered at Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women

You are expecting or you are a new mother and this time can be filled with many emotions, hopes, and dreams. Having a therapist for women in Washington, DC, or New York City to help you feel validated, heard, and understood can be beneficial. Hi, I'm Kelsey Bates! I specialize in women’s health, which means I offer several mental health services geared toward helping women cope with medical trauma. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I offer an array of therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in both Individual and Group counseling settings. I also specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy in addition to CBT.

Coping With Medical Trauma During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Ever since you found out you were pregnant, you have been dreaming up what your pregnancy and postpartum journey would look like. The sonograms, the kicks, the delivery, the cuddles with your baby… But for many expectant and new moms, that journey is disrupted by medical trauma. From repeated procedures such as blood tests and ultrasounds to major surgeries, medical trauma can take a toll on your emotional and physical well-being.

You may have tried talking to your doctor about this during your pregnancy or after giving birth, but were met with answers that didn’t quite make sense. Or you were met with a feeling of being dismissed. That this was just what comes with pregnancy, and you should just get used to it. But medical trauma can be incredibly difficult to manage, and it’s important to find ways to take care of yourself. One of the best ways is by learning how to effectively cope with your medical trauma.

You May Feel Isolated

You're undergoing a major transformation to your identity, your body, and your life. It can be a very isolating experience. Every birth is considered a medical trauma due to the potential risks associated with it. Then when additional trauma is introduced through medical procedures it can make the experience that much more difficult. This can feel isolating as you may have no one who understands what you are going through.

This can include if you go through the trauma of a NICU stay, a pregnancy loss, or any other medical complication. All these experiences can be incredibly difficult to manage alone. You may have a support system, but do they understand the gravity of what you’re going through?

That’s Why it is Important to Create Your Own System of Support.

Finding and creating your own support systems may seem intimidating, especially when you're feeling so isolated. But finding other women who have been in your situation or others who have experienced a similar trauma can be incredibly healing. It is important to create a supportive environment around you. One example can be joining online pregnancy and postpartum support groups so that you can gain support from people who understand what you’re going through.

Identify What You Need During This Time

There may be a lot of thoughts going through your head from worrying about your baby to processing the trauma you’re going through. It can be hard to make sense of it all and to know what exactly you need during this time. But starting with the basics can be a great way to start figuring that out.

Do you have food? Are you getting enough rest? Are you able to take time for yourself? What do you need to cope with the trauma and to be able to take care of your baby? Who can you ask for help with those things? These are all important questions to ask yourself. You may find that you don’t have all the answers and that you need help from others. This is a great time to lean on your partner, family, friends, in-laws, or a postpartum doula. Seeking support from others can be incredibly helpful in managing your emotions and figuring out what you need.

Use a Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Your medical team is a key part of managing your medical trauma, but sometimes they may not be the best at managing your mental health or stress. That is why it is important to find a multi-disciplinary approach to both your physical and mental health. Think: who is your immediate support? This might be your partner, family, or close friends. Find ways to take care of yourself beyond just your medical team.

This can also include a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC who will support you in managing the medical trauma. They will support you in identifying the underlying causes of why you are struggling. And they will help you to develop a holistic plan for managing your medical trauma and getting back on track with your postpartum journey. Plus, they can help you figure out what you need during this time and connect you with additional resources.

Perinatal Psychiatry

If you are struggling during pregnancy with depression, anxiety, or other mental health struggles, seeking out a perinatal psychiatrist is a great way to ensure you are getting the best care for yourself and your baby. Taking anti-depressants during pregnancy is safe during pregnancy. Sometimes, this can be a more effective approach than just managing things on your own. This is especially true if the medical trauma is causing major mood shifts or if you are experiencing increased symptoms stemming from your trauma.

A perinatal psychiatrist will work with you to understand what you are going through. They will help to create a plan for managing your mental health during this time and even after you give birth. This way you can ensure you are taking care of both your physical and mental health.

Breathing Exercises and Mindfulness

Having ways to take care of yourself and calm down your nervous system when you are feeling overwhelmed is key. Breathing exercises and mindfulness are great ways to help you calm down your nervous system while also helping to manage any intrusive thoughts. You can envision yourself in a peaceful environment, or start to practice deep breathing.

Distress Intolerance

Distress intolerance is also key to managing medical trauma. It can be helpful to remind yourself that “this isn’t forever,” “I can get through this,” and “this is temporary.” Reminding yourself of these affirmations can help you to stay focused on the present moment and help you to get through the tough times. Pairing these mantras with breathing exercises and mindfulness can be an empowering way to take back your power.

In the end, it’s important to understand that medical trauma is a real and valid experience that you have gone through. It is important to have compassion for yourself, as it takes time to heal and process this trauma. You are so strong, resilient, and capable of getting through this. But it's also time to stop surviving and start thriving. Take time to create your own system of support and to understand what you need during this time. Remember, you are not alone!

Learn More Ways to Cope With and Manage Medical Trauma With a Medical Trauma Therapist in Washington, DC

You can learn ways to cope with and manage your medical trauma so you can thrive during this postpartum journey. Enjoying your perinatal and postpartum time is possible, even if you have gone through a medical trauma. Working with an experienced medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC can help you create mindful ways to cope with your trauma and to start living the life you want. Your trauma and emotions are valid, and you deserve to be supported in this journey. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma to start healing. Together we can through this and help you start thriving again. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Begin Thriving Not Just Surviving!

Other Mental Health Services Offered at Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women

You are expecting or you are a new mother and this time can be filled with many emotions, hopes, and dreams. Having a therapist for women in Washington, DC, or New York City to help you feel validated, heard, and understood can be beneficial. Hi, I'm Kelsey Bates! I specialize in women’s health, which means I offer several mental health services geared toward helping women cope with medical trauma. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I offer an array of therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in both Individual and Group counseling settings. I also specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy in addition to CBT.

Why a Community of Women Who Might Not Share Your Diagnosis Can Support Your Medical Trauma Journey

You're high achieving woman, albeit anxious and a perfectionist, but that doesn't mean you don't struggle. You've been dealing with medical trauma, trying to figure out how to survive and thrive despite it. While other women you know are busy planning their next step, you achieve and smile, but behind closed doors, you're dealing with a lot of pain. You feel stuck in your medical trauma journey, and you're not sure where to turn.

This is why having a supportive community of other women who can relate to your experience can be beneficial. Joining one of the many women's support groups can seem intimidating because you might not share the exact diagnosis or the same medical trauma as other women. But that doesn't mean they can't understand and provide helpful tips. Do you have questions? Someone else might have an answer.

Having a Community to  Explore With

When you take a chance by joining women's support groups, you allow yourself to have a community to explore with. You can explore how you can continue achieving and thriving whilst still facing and dealing with all the pain. Opening yourself up to this community of women who may not share the exact diagnosis but who have been through similar experiences can be enlightening.

It helps you figure out how to have a healthy romantic relationship. They can help you navigate your marriage now that you have this medical trauma to contend with. Even if your life plan is different than you planned, you don't need to feel like you're behind other people. You will hear about the lives of many women who are dealing with medical trauma and still thriving.

Learning How to Advocate for Yourself

What is also important to recognize in a women's support group is that you are not only receiving information but also teaching others. You can learn from other women in the group how to advocate for yourself with your doctors and how to ask others how they do that. You can also teach others in the group how you manage this medical trauma journey.

Gaining Acceptance of Your Medical Trauma

When you try to navigate your medical trauma yourself, it may feel difficult to even consider self-acceptance. It's hard to accept something you don't understand or that feels so foreign. But when you connect with other women, it can be easier to accept your body isn't the only one that's been through this. You can learn how to accept your medical trauma and not feel like you're giving up. Rather you are gaining the strength to accept where you are in your journey.

Leading these groups, there are therapists, such as a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC, who can give you the tools to work on increasing that daily practice of acceptance. They will support you and the other women in the group with acceptance of your medical trauma while also encouraging you when it comes to taking steps toward growth. The trauma therapist will help you and other members by giving you tools and coping strategies to better understand and deal with your medical trauma.

Chronic Illness or Chronic Pain

Chronic illness or chronic pain can also be a part of your medical trauma journey. You may have had a child, went in for a procedure, or received an unexpected diagnosis. Finding support groups for young adults with chronic illness can really benefit you. You can connect with other women who are going through the pain or the illness and understand what comes with it.

For example, they will understand that you may not be able to do everything that you used to due to your medical condition. But they can also show you how ways to alter your activities or provide tips on how to be more understanding of yourself and your body. You don't have to smile and pretend everything is fine, women in the support group can understand and relate to your chronic illness journey.

Finding Connection

Going through medical trauma can be an isolating experience. That alone is overwhelming. For the new moms who had a traumatic birth, are going through postpartum depression, or postpartum anxiety, and trying to figure out this new identity of motherhood, is a whole other level. Medical trauma to any extent is isolating due to the fact not many people tend to talk about it. It's not easy to find people who can understand what you're going through and can relate. Perinatal and postpartum-related trauma and medical trauma can be especially isolating.

Having a support group of women going through the same or similar experiences is invaluable. It allows you as a new mother to have a community of other mothers to bond with but also to share and connect in their journeys. It's not only a place for support, it's a place where you can be heard and understood. As a new mom, you are going to be navigating a new identity, schedule, and new life. But you don’t have to do it alone. Having a community of other mothers, who share similar experiences can create profound healing and connection. Even if they didn't go through the same scenario you did, knowing another woman understands and is going through a similar experience can be cathartic.

Interested in Finding Support With Online Therapy for Women in Virginia?

You can still achieve and thrive with a medical trauma journey, and you don't have to do it alone. There are women's support groups waiting for you to join them. There are also medical trauma therapists in Washington, DC, like me, that want to support you along the way. Together we can work to heal, accept, and establish a new identity with your medical trauma. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma to start healing. I want to join you on your journey and help you take the steps to not only survive but thrive. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.

1. Get to know me here.

2. Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.

3. Start feeling supported and begin the healing process!

Other Mental Health Services Offered at Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women

You've experienced medical trauma and deserve to feel better. Having a therapist for women in Washington, DC, New York City, Maryland, or Virginia to help you feel validated, heard, and understood can be beneficial. Hi, I'm Kelsey Bates! I specialize in women’s health, which means I offer several mental health services geared toward helping women cope with medical trauma. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I offer an array of therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in both Individual and Group counseling settings. I also specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy in addition to CBT.