Here for you, Mama

06/02/2020

05/18/2020

❤️❤️❤️

For all new moms in quarantine, you're not alone. Visit our Parents Support Hub: fb.com/parentsupport

05/16/2020

Self-disclosure. A controversial topic when it comes to therapy. Some believe it shifts the focus away from the patient, while others believe it can demystify the therapeutic relationship, build trust and rapport, provides validation and can help the client feel that they are not alone.

I remember the first time I decided to self-disclose while running a group therapy session. I was about 7 months pregnant, and, as you can imagine, my growing belly became the elephant in the room.

“When are you due?”
“Are you having a boy or girl?”
“Do you have names picked out?”

It became impossible for me to simply shut down all of the questions and move on. Instead, I answered them. And I have to say, it was relieving and heartwarming. The support I received was comforting and it allowed the group members to open up with their experiences of pregnancy or their partner or friend being pregnant. I knew after that moment I was not going to dodge questions anymore.

When I decided to build my own private practice helping expecting and new moms cope with their transitions into motherhood, I knew I wanted to share my story of surviving postpartum anxiety after the birth of my daughter. Much like the story of disclosing my pregnancy, I felt a sense of relief and calm when I shared my PPA with the support group I attended. It was like a huge weight was lifted. To know that other moms can empathize and say “we get it and you are not alone.” If self-disclosing can help even just one mom, I know I’ve done my job.

So if you are looking for a classically trained psychoanalyst who believes self-disclosure is counterproductive, I am not the therapist for you. If you believe hearing my story can help you process and heal from your postpartum depression/anxiety/OCD/birth trauma, I am the girl. You are not alone. I am here.

05/15/2020

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05/14/2020

Find me on Psychology Today and schedule your FREE 15 minute consultation. Mamas, it's ok to ask for help. I am here.

Elizabeth Veltrie, Trumbull, CT, 06611, (908) 224-4808, Prenatal and postpartum women, couples and families.

05/14/2020

05/13/2020

Let's Dance!

Don't forget to register for the next mommy and me movement class on May 15th at 11:00EST for $10! You will receive Zoom invitation once payment is processed. Looking forward to movin' and groovin' with you!

Click here for an update from Here for You, Mama!

05/12/2020

Mamas, think about some of the things you say to yourself throughout the day, especially during these weeks and months of this pandemic. What does that internal dialogue sound like and how does it make you feel? Here are examples of some inner thoughts I’ve experienced during this quarantine:

“It’s not fair that other people can relax and binge watch Netflix while I’m running around entertaining the kids.”

“I can’t believe I just let my daughter eat Cheese Doodles.”

“This is not how today was supposed to go. Why can’t anything go as I plan?”

Those thoughts I had circulating in my mind were not happy or encouraging thoughts. As a result, they affected my mood and my entire day in a negative way. Because no matter what we say to ourselves, whether it’s true or not, we believe it. I walked around all day feeling like a crappy mom, when I know in my heart of hearts that is not true.

Luckily, we are in control of our thoughts and we have the power to change them. Filling our mind with positive, encouraging thoughts and messages is extremely powerful. Personally, I have experienced how repeating a positive thought in my mind or out loud can turn my entire day around and directly influence what actions I take. One tool you can use on a regular basis as an aid to feel more confident and loving toward yourself is positive affirmations.

Using affirmations on a regular basis is a powerful technique for change. Your subconscious mind does not recognize the difference between an actual experience and a positive or negative thought, so you have the opportunity to re-program your subconscious mind and remove negative or limiting beliefs using positive affirmations. Some suggestions for how to use them are:

-Choose positive affirmations that resonate with you
-Write your affirmations out on paper
-Say them with feeling any emotion
-Focus on a few affirmations at a time and practice them daily

05/08/2020

Dance/movement therapy is a well-suited modality to address the body-based physical, cognitive, social and emotional symptoms affecting women who experienced birth trauma.

You might think to yourself…how could dance and movement treat birth trauma? Here is why.

When a threat is perceived during a trauma or when internal or external cues symbolize a traumatic events, one’s nervous system initiates the protective “fight, flight, or freeze” response that overrides higher cognitive functioning and decision making (Rothschild, 2002).

Physiological processes take over the body causing over and/or under arousal changes in sensory awareness, heart rate, breathing, cortisol and other stress hormone levels. These physiological changes allow the body to activate defensive and protective reactions to dangerous threats to oneself or another when actually experiencing a trauma.

Following a birth trauma, the brain and body still experience the world through a chronic state of hyperarousal. Dance/movement therapy can empower women to use these experiences as a tool for establishing a new found sense of mind-body connection and internal control. Bringing a body-based process to cognitive awareness, grounding in present moment experiences, and using tools to regulate arousal levels can help return the nervous system to a state of balance (Rothschild, 2002).

Quoted American Dance Therapy Association

05/08/2020

Thoughts like these are completely normal, but many new moms feel ashamed of having them. Here’s how to let go of self-judgment and too-high expectations, from reproductive psychiatrists Alexandra …

05/07/2020

Elizabeth Veltrie, MS, BC-DMT Anxiety Depression Couples Therapy Adolescents / Teenagers (14 to 19) Adults Online Services Available Sliding Scale Credit Cards Payment Plans PayPal Yes - Accepting New Patients Female Provider Cash Check Infants & Children Other Perinatal Mental Health Training Venmo...