Why Queer Couples Benefit from a Queer Couples Therapist
Supporting queer and LGBTQIA couples as a queer couples therapist in Seattle, Washington has been some of the most fulfilling couples therapy work I’ve ever done. As the owner of Olive Branch Therapy Services, I cherish working with LGBTQIA couples to better their communication, heal from past trauma, and get underneath what is really coming up for them within their conflicts. I cherish this because I know having lived experience of being in a queer relationship helps me be able to uniquely understand the experience and feelings of my clients.
Seattle Postpartum Couples Therapist Explains: How to Support You Partner Through Postpartum Depression
Couples deal with so much change during the postpartum period. As a postpartum couples therapist in Seattle and online throughout Washington, I see couples get into conflicts or feel disconnected from each other throughout this life change for a myriad of different reasons. When couples come in for marriage counseling, one of the most common reason couples have a hard time connecting when dealing with a new baby is because of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMADS). Specifically, it is common to experience postpartum depression (PPD). While often associated with the birthing partner, both members of the couple can experience postpartum depression. PPD can profoundly impact both members of the couple and significantly strain the dynamics of a relationship. A question I get asked a lot as a perinatal psychotherapist is this: how do I support my partner and our relationship through postpartum depression?
Navigating the Postpartum Journey: Building Bridges with Extended Family
As an online postpartum couples therapist in Seattle, Bellingham, and across Washington, I’m often supporting couples in navigating family dynamics. Bringing a new baby into the world often means you need your village. If you or your partner has a good relationship with your parents, chances are they are coming to visit your new baby and hopefully support you two as you navigate the beginnings of parenthood. While this can be a lovely experience, it often comes with its downfalls as well. Here are common struggles couples face with family during the perinatal and postpartum as well as tips and strategies for fostering positive connections with your family and in-laws. Uniting with your partner on each of these strategies is integral to getting your needs met from extended family.
How to get Unstuck In a Conflict, from a Seattle and Bellingham Couples Therapist
As a queer, postpartum online couples therapist in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane and Bellingham, the topic I talk most about in my sessions is one that is key to mastering in any conflict: validation. Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a disagreement, feeling like your words are falling on deaf ears? Or perhaps you've been on the receiving end of someone's frustration, wishing they understood where you were coming from? If neither of you are getting validation of your feelings from your partner, you’re going to be unable to truly focus on listening to, connecting with, and understanding each other in a conflict, and therefore you’re going to get stuck. Validating each other’s feelings is key to getting unstuck in any difficult conflict.
Seattle Therapist Weighs in: Navigating Overstimulation as a New Parent
Seattle Postpartum Therapist Weighs In: Navigating Overstimulation as a New Parent
As a postpartum and neurodivergence therapist in Washington state (including Seattle, Bellingham, Tacoma, and Spokane), and a person with ADHD myself, I am often encountering individuals and couples who are new parents and are unsure about why they are feeling anxious, angry, or disconnected from themselves “for no reason”. But part of the answer might be very simple, actually: being in the fourth trimester is often the most overstimulating experience people have had throughout their lives.
Connecting to yourself is just as important as connecting to your baby.
In my counselling and therapy practice, I often hear expecting or new parents talk about the fear missing the connection that they have with themselves postpartum. As parents, the joy, wonder, and responsibility that come with a little one can be overwhelming, but it's essential to remember that embracing parenthood doesn't mean bidding farewell to the life you lived before. In fact, the best thing you can do for both yourself and your baby is to keep living the life you lived before parenthood
Nurturing the Flame: Rekindling Emotional Connection After Welcoming a Baby
Welcoming a new bundle of joy into your life is an exciting, joyous occasion, but it can also bring about significant changes in your relationship. The whirlwind of sleepless nights, diaper changes, and baby coos can sometimes leave partners feeling disconnected. Balancing baby, yourself, and your relationship can be difficult, but it is key in surviving the fourth trimester. Here are some tips and tricks I discuss with my couples in postpartum couples counselling to foster emotional intimacy in your relationship.
Weathering the Storm: Understanding Common Postpartum Conflicts Among Couples
Becoming parents is a monumental milestone that can bring boundless joy, but it also introduces a new set of challenges. The postpartum period, while filled with the sweet moments of baby coos and tiny fingers, is often time of heightened stress for couples. Many conflicts you had before baby can be highlighted after baby, and new types of conflicts often pop up as well. Below are some of the most common postpartum conflicts that many couples face, and our suggestions with how to navigate them.