Hormonal changes, physical pain and recovery, impaired sleep, spousal conflict, and adjusting to major life change can make it difficult for moms to enjoy this time. Sadly, many moms suffer in silence because they feel embarrassed to reach out for help, unsure who to turn to, or as if things should be better by now. In fact, most mamas we see in our therapy office in Yorba Linda or via online video therapy don’t know that the number one complication of childbirth is in fact perinatal depression. But the good news is that perinatal mood and anxiety issues are treatable. We know that with help, moms can heal, turn things around, and truly thrive in their parenting. One important step toward healing can be working with a mental health therapist or joining a support group for moms. Read on to learn more.

When something triggers our anxiety or we feel flooded with emotion, it may be helpful to act like we’re on fire. What do I mean by this? I mean we need to: Stop. Drop. & Roll. In our therapy office in Yorba Linda, we often work with teens who are struggling to manage big emotions, and who feel overwhelmed by life’s stress. This is why whether we meet in person or online for telehealth video therapy appointments, one of the first things we do is teach teens how to regulate their emotions in moments of high distress.

In our work with teens, we focus on creating a safe space in order to help them feel comfortable opening up and making the most out of their time in therapy. At the beginning of therapy, whether we’re meeting online for video therapy appointments or in our Yorba Linda therapy office, we work to establish a genuine connection so that teens can come to know that their therapist is in their corner every step of the way. While therapy does take time to work, the good news is it often does work. And in our experience, we tend to build connections with teens pretty quickly, setting us up for success throughout our work together. Learn more about the therapeutic relationship and why establishing a connection helps therapy work.

When I work with people who are experiencing high levels of anxiety, I love to help them understand the physiological impact of anxiety, what anxiety is, where it comes from, how it is managed in the brain, and what it does to the body. Whether working with someone in my Yorba Linda therapy office or online through a telehealth video therapy appointment, I find that helping clients gain a clearer understanding of anxiety’s physiological impact helps them in their work to overcome it. One of the ways I teach this concept is through using the metaphor of a fire alarm.