Post-Partum Depression

Pregnancy and the postpartum period is a unique developmental milestone for women and families. Western cultural traditions tend to gloss over this period, celebrating an attitude of “bouncing back” and getting back to “normal”. We tend not to take pause and appreciate the massive changes that we undergo. This can fuel distress in many forms (grief, depression, anxiety, anger). Therefore, many women and families have difficulty exploring their new, everchanging “normal” with flexibility and openness.

Occupational Therapists working in perinatal health support women by helping them to make sense of their changing hormones, brains, pace of life, physical bodies, roles, and relationships in a way that promotes SELF-COMPASSION. We help families build SUPPORT NETWORKS and explore PRACTICAL TOOLS and strategies to manage these changes and find ways to restore a sense of “FLEXIBLE BALANCE” that works for them.

I have worked for several years in community mental health programs to support individuals with a variety of Psychiatric Disorders (including Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia) using practical tools, cognitive tools, psychotherapeutic strategies and engaging community resources.

My preferred Psychotherapeutic Framework for supporting women and families during the perinatal period is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a “mindfulness-based behavioral therapy” that involves exploring strategies for relating to private experiences (memories, thoughts, emotions, expectations and physical discomfort or pain) in ways that reduce their impact. The goal of ACT is NOT to get rid of internal distress (a natural part of the human experience) but to build skills to “unhook” from it OR the fight against it, thereby enhancing your psychological flexibility in difficult moments and helping you to respond to distress in ways that are consistent with your values. Invaluable skills during this time of intense transition!

Lara Desrosiers OT Reg. (Ont.)

Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist

REQUEST CONSULT TODAY TO FIND RELIEF FROM YOUR POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION