Parenthetics
Perinatal Mental Health
and Parenting Support
Solution-focused Mental Health Support and Prevention Planning for Parents and Parents-to-be
Are you struggling because the transition to parenting is not what you thought it would be? Are you worried about a subsequent pregnancy because you had high levels of postpartum stress, feelings of sadness or anxiety with a previous baby? Are you concerned about the transition to motherhood because of complicated feelings you have around your own or your partner's childhood? Are you affected by previous pregnancy or birth trauma? Do you want to get your new family off to a resilient, peaceful, thriving start, but aren't sure how to go about it?
If so, you are not alone! If you are concerned about your perinatal mental health, please know perinatal stress and mood disorders are common, highly treatable and also significantly preventable! We provide evidence- based mental health interventions, support for the perinatal period and prevention planning.
Early Motherhood Stress Statistics
If you are fearful about birth, worried about your capability of being a mother, overwhelmed, feeling guilty, struggling with your relationship with your partner or your baby postpartum, please know you are not alone! All of these things are highly treatable and with the right planning they are often preventable.
Research has shown that prenatal mental health interventions
can reduce these statistics by as much as 80%!
20%
1 in 5 women experience a mood disorder during the perinatal period
80%
4 in 5 women report feeling very overwhelmed in the first six months after giving birth
33%
1 in 3 women report their births were traumatic
67%
2 in 3 couples report a decline in relationship satisfaction after the arrival of their first baby
60%
3 in 5 women experience a period of time where they worry that they aren't capable of being a mom
40%
2 in 5 women don't talk to anyone about their worries because they don't want to be thought of as failing or to admit they are struggling in their new role
Prevention Planning
Prenatal preparation can help babies sleep more, cry less, and have been show to reduce postpartum depression and anxiety by up to 50%.
Parenthetics has a unique approach to perinatal health. When possible, we work with you to optimize emotional resources before postpartum mood disorders arise. We conduct a comprehensive assessment of all potential risk factors for postpartum stress and work with you to fill in the gaps. Parenthetics provides specific, evidence-based, short-term therapeutic interventions, skill formation, developmental information and lifestyle habit creation to significantly reduce the likelihood of dealing with mood-related issues and overwhelm in the postpartum period.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Many women spend hours and hours preparing for childbirth, which is one or two days of their life and while very important, it generally doesn't impact the future trajectory of their child's well-being. Maternal emotional wellness and support, on the other hand, is associated with better longterm success for children both emotionally and intellectually. Perinatal Emotional Wellness means less developmental challenges for children including higher IQs, improved language development and better social interactions and relationships for the rest of their life. Research shows that setting up the best emotional foundations for your family will have the greatest impact on your and your child's future. Parenthetics is here to help you do this.
Services
Maternal Mental Health Therapy
$175/hr
We help you process any existing hurdles you have to your mental health and emotional wellness, providing actionable skills and comprehensive support. We take a holistic approach and include all aspects of your life (e.g. emotional, physical, spiritual) to promote comprehensive, long-lasting wellness and resilience.
Depending on your needs and preferences, a wide-range of modalities are used to help you achieve your goals and live your life to the full. Therapy may include EMDR, CBT, DBT, Mindfulness & Expressive therapies.
Some availability for in-home services and "walk & talks" with an additional travel fee.
Perinatal Stress Risk Assessment and Prevention Planning
$750+
Get your family off to the right start with the insight, support, information and skills you need for optimal maternal emotional wellness.
Our comprehensive, evidence-based assessment with a subsequent sessions to review findings and provide you with a report and a plan. We assess what processing, skills, support and habits you may need to greatly reduce your postpartum stress and improve your relationship with your baby.
Assessments can be conducted in person at your home, in our office or via tele-health at your convenience.
Please note there are additional fees for in-home services.
Early Parenting Support
$175 per hour
The early months and years of parenting can be exhausting and overwhelming.
Parenthetics works with you to determine exactly what you need - one off consultation or ongoing support to help you create the family life you desire and the simple strategies and skills to help you get there.
Some availability for in-home services and "walk & talks" with an additional travel fee.
Pregnancy and Birth Trauma Processing
$190 per hour
If you have had a recent traumatic event related to birth or pregnancy, we offer EMDR recent birth trauma services to help you process the trauma so it is less likely to cause problems for you in the future.
Birth trauma can negatively impact the secure attachment between mother and baby. Recent research has found that one or two EMDR sessions can significantly reduce post traumatic stress symptoms.
Parent-Child Therapeutic Groups
6 sessions $250
Adapt to Parenting Therapeutic Playgroups help facilitate a strong attachment between parent and child.
Learn about your child's current phase of development, acquire simple strategies to help calm yourself and your child and a range of small habits to create a strong foundation of emotional wellness for your family while building connections and community with other parents with same-age children.
Contact us for more information.
About Parenthetics
My name is Mary Anastasi, PhD, LCSW and certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, I created Parenthetics to provide a holistic, highly effective, research-based approach to Perinatal Stress Prevention and Treatment. Parenthetics offers personalized, emotional wellness planning to ensure a smooth transition to family changes so you and your new family can flourish.β
The primary goal of our practice is thriving parents who have clarity, confidence and a strong connection to their new baby. We help new parents create the best possible lives for themselves and their family.
Using an eclectic, evidence-based approach developed over 20 years working with parents and children, some of the following approaches may be used in sessions:
* Attachment therapy
* EMDR
* Cognitive and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
*Logotherapy
*Expressive Therapy
*Interpersonal Neurobiology
*Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
As a mother of four children, I am well aware of the many joys and challenges that come with every season of motherhood and am eager to help you navigate this time so you can live a joyful, fulfilling life with your family.
Contact Us
Please let us know how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to work on my postpartum mental health?
Perinatal planning can be done at any time! We are happy to work with your schedule and preferences. Some women choose to prepare prior to pregnancy. Perinatal stress prevention sessions most often begin during the second trimester and finish around six weeks postpartum. We also work with families with children ages 0-3.
Is telehealth as effective as in-person services?
Our telehealth services are conducted through a secure video connection. These services are secure, safe, HIPPAA-compliant and produce comparable outcomes to traditional in-person therapy sessions.
Many clients prefer working together from the comfort of their own home or office, particularly around the perinatal months. Research is finding that telehealth and in-person sessions are equally as effective for achieving your mental wellness goals.
Do you do Home Visits?
Yes! We know from experience how hard it is to get out of the house with a newborn and are happy to meet you at your home as needed. We prefer first sessions to be telehealth or in office to ensure that home visits are a good fit for you. There may be an additional fee for travel.
Do you offer "walk and talk" therapy?
We offer limited "walk & talks" in the North Shore and near Northwest Suburbs. This is weather and schedule dependent but some people find them to be a great option. First sessions are either telehealth or in office and we can determine if outside sessions are a good fit. There is an additional fee for travel.
What types of payment do you accept?
We accept major credit cards, bank transfer, cash & check.
How many sessions will it take?
The length of time we spend together depends on what your goals are. We offer single consultations and short term prevention planning as well as longer term support. We will work together to figure out what makes most sense for you.
Can I bring my baby?
Yes! Babies in arms at office visits are always welcome. Toddlers can present challenges both in person and telehealth but it can be possible in some circumstances. We can work together on a case-by-case basis to make sure childcare doesn't prevent you from accessing services. We also offer groups specifically designed for parent and children.