Psychotherapy For Postpartum Depression

Unlike common conditions, a few specific mental health issues find people in particular situations. One is postpartum depression, which can be predicted, yet the cause is unknown. However, psychotherapy is always the first choice for postpartum depression, even before diagnosis, because pregnant women are the only ones who can get this kind of depression and are being observed for early signs.

What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression, also called postnatal depression, is a type of depression many women get after having a baby. The cause is unknown, but it is proof enough and believed to be related to changes in hormone levels and other physical changes as the body adjust to having a baby. Women at higher risk are those with past postpartum, major depressive disorder, or bipolar disorder episodes.

Postpartum Depression is a highly common disorder affecting about 10-20% of all new mothers. In the United States, 2/3 of new mothers experience signs and symptoms of postpartum depression three months after childbirth.

Psychotherapy For Postpartum Depression

It is now a relatively well-established fact that, despite being so prevalent, postpartum depression is one of the most neglected and underdiagnosed problems in modern times. It is sometimes erroneously attributed to other factors, but research has shown that antidepressants may help treat this disorder.
However, psychotherapies significantly impact treating postpartum depression as the therapist will work with the woman to understand depression. Also, it helps educate them about other disorders that may be related to her postpartum depression. She will also learn ways to prevent depressive episodes from happening again in future pregnancies.

There are many psychotherapies available for the treatment of depression in women.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

IPT or Interpersonal therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on how people interact with each other. It is designed to help women in relationships and their relationships with their children. The therapist will work with the woman to identify possible causes of depression, such as situational factors or relationship problems. This therapy aims to improve family interactions, increase social support, and effect lifestyle changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT is another psychotherapy used to treat depressive disorders in women after childbirth. It focuses on identifying and changing the client’s behavior that is causing the depression and helping them identify the negative thinking patterns contributing to their depression. The positive thought patterns the therapist teaches are intended to help the patient with postpartum depression feel better, get better results from psychotherapy and prevent further episodes of depression later in life.

Couples Therapy

This therapy helps the couple deal with their relationship regarding pregnancy and postpartum depression. It is designed to help pregnant women with depression learn how to express their feelings to be more open about them. They will also learn how or satisfy their partner to understand their feelings and experience postpartum depression alongside them.

EMDR

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on how previous events affect the person’s current reactions to certain stimuli. It is not a specific treatment for postpartum depression, but it is effective when associated with other mental health issues. Moreover, EMDR helps mothers to access feelings and thoughts that are positive, grounding, and healing.

Dialectal Behavioral Therapy

DBT is a form of psychotherapy that is designed to help women with Postpartum Depression. It incorporates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing the behavior causing depression. However, it also focuses on identifying what it is about the person’s environment that causes them to feel depressed. By focusing on this aspect of their lives more than their behavior, they can feel better about themselves and become better able to cope with postpartum depression through social, communication, and decision-making skills.

In A Nutshell

Postpartum depression can be treated with psychotherapy. Although medications may help, psychotherapy is usually the first choice of treatment.

Psychotherapies effective with postpartum depression include interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy. However, the impact depends on the therapist and their approach, which may differ from one focusing on therapies.

Other forms of psychotherapy, such as EMDR and couples therapy, have also been effective in treating postpartum depression when it occurs alongside a marriage or relationship problem.

If you are looking for professional assistance for depression, visit Psychotherapy Partners MN to have the right psychotherapies for depression.