Mental Health and Parenting
Mary Congrove, Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
1 Understanding Moms’ Mental Health: Post-Partum Depression and How Therapy Can Help
Struggling during or after pregnancy? Post-partum depression is REAL. Learn the signs and causes of postpartum depression, and how therapy can support your healing journey. You’re not alone.
By: Mary Congrove, Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
What Is Postpartum Depression?
Welcoming a new baby is both awe-inspiring and challenging, especially when balancing mental health concerns. Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious but treatable mental health condition that affects up to 15% of women after childbirth. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, sad, or unlike yourself after having a baby, it’s important to know: you’re not alone, and help is available at REAL.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
PPD can feel different for everyone, but here are some of the most common symptoms:
Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Fatigue or lack of energy
Anxiety or panic attacks
Changes in appetite or sleep
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Feeling like you're a "bad mom" or not good enough
These feelings can begin shortly after birth or emerge weeks or months later. If these symptoms last longer than two weeks or interfere with daily functioning, it may be time to seek support.
What Causes Postpartum Depression?
There’s no single cause of postpartum depression, but several factors may contribute:
Hormonal changes: A dramatic drop in estrogen and progesterone after childbirth can trigger mood shifts.
Emotional stress: Adjusting to motherhood, sleep deprivation, and pressure to "do it all" can lead to emotional strain.
History of depression: If you’ve experienced depression or anxiety before, you're more likely to develop PPD.
Lack of support: Isolation or strained relationships can increase vulnerability.
Remember: PPD is not your fault. It’s a real medical condition that deserves care and attention.
How Therapy Can Help with Postpartum Depression
Therapy provides a safe, non-judgmental space to talk about your feelings and learn healthy coping strategies.
Process difficult emotions
Rebuild self-esteem and confidence
Improve your bond with your baby
Learn stress management and mindfulness techniques
Involve your partner or support system in your healing journey
At REAL Psychological Services we provide affirming and empowering therapy to help you feel like yourself again. As a mom myself, I know how difficult it can be to adapt to being a new parent, especially while managing other responsibilities like work or the other people you are caregiving for.
2 The Mental Health of Fathers: Why Dads Need Support Too
Fatherhood comes with big emotional changes. Learn how becoming a dad affects mental health and how therapy at REAL can help fathers feel supported and understood.
By: Mary Congrove, Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
Fatherhood and Mental Health
Becoming a father is a life-changing experience. While much of the focus is placed on mothers during the postpartum period (rightfully so), many fathers quietly struggle with their own mental health.
Men’s mental health matters, especially during fatherhood. Whether you’re a first-time dad or adding another child to your family, it's normal to feel overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally off balance and REAL is here to help.
Yes, Dads Can Experience Postpartum Depression Too
It may surprise some people, but research shows that 1 in 10 new fathers experience paternal postpartum depression. Some studies suggest this number could be even higher.
Fathers are often expected to "be strong" or "hold it together," but emotional struggles during this period are common and valid. Mental health challenges in new dads can include:
Depression
Anxiety
Irritability or anger
Withdrawal from family
Feelings of inadequacy
Increased stress or substance use
Why Fatherhood Can Trigger Mental Health Struggles
While every dad's experience is unique, here are some common stressors that can affect mental health:
Sleep deprivation
Financial pressures
Changes in identity and roles
Strained relationships
Lack of social support
Feeling excluded or disconnected from the baby
Unresolved trauma or childhood issues resurfacing
These challenges can build up, especially when a dads busy schedule makes it hard to find the time.
The Silent Struggle: Why Men Often Don’t Seek Help
Men are often conditioned to suppress emotional pain, leading many fathers to suffer in silence. Common barriers to seeking help include:
Fear of being seen as weak
Belief that therapy is "not for men"
Lack of awareness about what they’re experiencing
Not wanting to add “more stress” to their partner
But here’s the truth: asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
How Therapy Supports Fathers’ Mental Health
Therapy offers fathers a confidential, supportive space to explore their emotions, understand their new role, and develop healthy coping strategies. Working with a therapist can help you:
Normalize the challenges of early fatherhood
Manage stress, anxiety, or depression
Improve communication with your partner
Navigate identity shifts
Strengthen your bond with your child
Prevent long-term burnout or relationship issues
You don’t have to navigate this alone. When fathers take care of their mental health, the entire family benefits. Taking care of your mental health is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself and for your family. At REAL, we prioritize men’s mental health, including support for new and expecting fathers. Whether you’re struggling in silence or just need someone to talk to, therapy can help you feel grounded, confident, and connected.
3 NICU Parents and Mental Health: Coping with the Emotional Toll of a Challenging Start
By: Mary Congrove, Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW)
Having a baby in the NICU is often an unexpected, emotional journey. Learn how NICU parents can protect their mental health, manage anxiety, and find support through therapy.
The Unexpected Journey into the NICU
No parent expects their baby to need intensive care. But every year, hundreds of thousands of families are introduced to the NICU, suddenly, and with little time to prepare. Whether due to premature birth, medical complications, or unexpected trauma, the NICU experience can turn a joyful moment into a whirlwind of fear, stress, and uncertainty.
As a therapist and a former NICU parent myself, I know that having a child in the NICU is one of the most difficult experiences life can bring. When my daughter was born early, everyday was filled with joy of holding her and celebrating her smallest milestones while also filled with the dread of wondering if my little one would come home.
Your feelings are valid. Your experience is real. You are not alone.
The Emotional Impact of the NICU on Parents
Having a baby in the NICU can be one of the most emotionally intense experiences a parent goes through. Research shows that parents of NICU babies are at higher risk for:
Postpartum depression (for both parents)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety and panic attacks
Chronic stress and sleep issues
Feelings of helplessness, guilt, and isolation
These emotions don’t just go away when the baby comes home, and it can lead to loneliness as others don’t understand the experience you have gone through.
Signs You Might Be Struggling with NICU-Related Stress
It’s common for parents in the NICU to go into “survival mode,” pushing their own needs aside. But here are some signs it might be time to seek mental health support:
You feel emotionally numb or disconnected
You’re constantly on edge or overwhelmed
You cry often or feel hopeless
You're struggling to sleep or eat
You feel guilty, like you did something wrong
You're having trouble bonding with your baby
The experience replays in your mind like a trauma
Why the NICU Is So Emotionally Challenging
The NICU is not just a medical setting, it’s sometimes the home where parents make their first memories together. Parents often describe feeling like they’re living in limbo, trying to be strong while fearing the worst.
Here’s why it’s so mentally taxing:
Lack of control: You’re not able to care for your baby the way you imagined.
Medical trauma: Alarms, wires, and medical procedures can be overwhelming.
Separation: Being physically separated from your baby can disrupt bonding.
Uncertainty: Not knowing when your baby will be okay or come home adds constant stress.
Isolation: Friends and family may not fully understand what you're going through.
How Therapy Can Help NICU Parents Heal
You don’t have to carry this burden alone. Therapy offers a space to process your emotions, develop coping tools, and heal from the trauma of the NICU experience.
In therapy, NICU parents often work on:
Processing grief, guilt, and trauma
Managing anxiety, panic, or depression
Rebuilding confidence and self-trust
Navigating relationship strain
Learning tools for stress regulation
Preparing for life after discharge
Many parents feel a huge sense of relief simply from being heard and validated by someone who understands trauma and the NICU experience.
Support, Now and After the NICU
Even after your baby is discharged, the emotional impact of the NICU doesn’t disappear overnight. Therapy can help you process what happened, adjust to new routines, and reduce long-term effects on your mental health. At REAL, we understand how important this process is and remind you. Strong parents ask for help. Your baby is a fighter and so are you.
Get Support from a Therapist Who Understands NICU Trauma
After 4 months in the NICU, my child is three now and she is a beautiful, flourishing little person with a sassy attitude. Now I aim to use my therapy skills to help others going through a NICU stay of their own. Whether you’re in the thick of it or adjusting to life after the hospital, we’re here to help you feel more grounded, supported, and emotionally well.
