Prenatal Therapy in Los Angeles
Serving pregnant women in Los Angeles and throughout California
Welcome to Your Journey Within
Hi, my name is Angela Yepremian, and I am a licensed marriage and family therapist as well as a certified Perinatal Mental Health provider in Los Angeles.
It’s been months of trying to conceive and with each month passing you become more frustrated and worried. You may be feeling like you are broken or it shouldn’t be this hard, and you’re beginning to feel frustrated with your partner. I’m here to help you work through these intense emotions as you and your partner continue trying. I’m here to help you bring gratitude and positivity in this time of hardship to reduce the stress on your mind and body. I understand the pressure of wanting to create a life and how it can negatively impact you and your relationships. I am here to help you find peace in this time.
You might be pregnant and you had all these beautiful expectations in your mind. You were going to finally wear the cute clothes, have the pregnancy glow, and have the perfect little bump. But if you’re being honest, pregnancy is rough!!
You might be feeling exhausted all the time and you might be hungry but your grossed out by your regular go-to foods and every smell is making you feel even more nauseous. You might be feeling unhappy with all the changes happening to your body. You might be gaining weight all around, or have aches and pains that make it uncomfortable for you to leave the couch. During the prenatal stage, we experience so many changes - mentally, physically, hormonally and emotionally.
You may be scared of childbirth and have all kinds of worst case scenarios racing through your mind. You worry about how your life will be after baby and how it will impact your relationship, your career, and your send of self. You’re excited about this journey but are also feeling a sense of sadness with all the uncertainty.
As a prenatal therapist, I understand all the changes women and couples go through during pregnancy and I am here to help you with these changes that happen mentally, emotionally and physically.
I help women learn how to navigate the rollercoaster of emotions that comes during the prenatal stage and to find coping skills that will work for you now and when you’re a mama in action. I help you explore your plan for labor and delivery, how to know when to ask for help and how to prioritize self-care with all the responsibilities that get added on to your plate. Most importantly, I am here for all the scary and anxious thoughts you are having about pregnancy and motherhood.
If you are ready to start exploring your feelings about your pregnancy, schedule a 20 minute free consultation with a prenatal therapist today.
My approach to Prenatal Therapy in Los Angeles
Pregnancy is a mixture of beauty, some nausea and stressful thoughts. Pregnancy is everything in between. We are always quick to begin physically prepping for motherhood. We take Lamaze classes, have lactation consultations, prepare the nursery, and learn how to be active while pregnant. These are all great things to be doing while during the prenatal stage, but we also can work on mentally prepping for motherhood by exploring all the thoughts and feelings that come up during pregnancy.
Deciding to start a family can be one of the hardest decisions a couple can make. There is no perfect time to start a family and there are so many changes that take place. Whether you are trying to conceive or are currently pregnant, prenatal therapy has many benefits in supporting the expecting mother and child.
Prenatal therapy is about nurturing maternal mental health and addressing potential stressors that come up during pregnancy.
While you explore your stressors and find ways to cope with the changes, this one hour dedicated to just YOU can help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. These steps can help lower your risk for postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. These benefits are not only for the immediate well-being of the expecting mother but also for the long-term health for mother and child.
As a prenatal therapist, my goal is to provide a non-judgmental space for you to explore your scary and anxious thoughts about your pregnancy. We explore your feelings about your relationship with your partner and loved ones. I help you cope with these changes that take place with your body, your emotions, and your relationships.
I will educate you on the importance of self-care including sleep, physical activity, and making time for yourself. I will help you explore all your concerns about motherhood and work through your own attachment with your immediate family. This might be essential for you to know what kind of mother you would like to be to your child.
How working with a prenatal therapist can help you:
Learn communication skills to improve your relationship with your partner
Improve symptoms of depression & anxiety
Learn the importance of self-care
Process the changes with your body
Process your anxious thoughts about childbirth
Process your feelings about your relationship with your own mother & immediate family
Explore fears of motherhood
Recognize unhelpful thoughts and learn how to break through them
FAQs about prenatal therapy in Los Angeles
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Prenatal therapy is a specialized form of therapeutic support designed to address the emotional, psychological, and social aspects of pregnancy. Prenatal therapy aims to provide a safe space for expectant mothers to explore and address any emotional challenges, fears, or anxieties they may be experiencing, ultimately enhancing the overall well-being of both the mother and the unborn child. It helps prepare individuals for the emotional demands of parenthood.
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At any point in your pregnancy you can begin therapy. However, to fully benefit from the therapeutic experience, its best to make sure you have at least 3 months of time in therapy before giving birth. This recommendation acknowledges the time needed for individuals to engage in the therapeutic process, build a rapport with their therapist, and gain the maximum benefits from the counseling experience before the significant event of childbirth.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something Anyone can benefit from therapeutic counseling because you learn how to cope with all the changes that are taking place and learn how to navigate the upcoming challenges as well. It is especially important for those with high risk pregnancies to be in prenatal therapy to reduce any postpartum risk factors. . Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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The primary goal of prenatal counseling is to provide:
- Emotional support for the expecting mothers and to create a safe space to explore all their fears, anxieties, and concerns about their pregnancy and parenthood.
- Help reduce stress by creating coping skills and grounding activities to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges.
- Help strengthen the relationship with their partner and loved ones by working on healthy communication, communication of needs and concerns, and communication of boundaries.
- Educate and prepare expecting mothers by providing information and resources on childbirth options, birthing plans, postpartum plans, and early stages of parenting.
- Assist individuals in preparing for the emotional and lifestyle changes that come with the transition to parenthood, reducing the likelihood of postpartum challenges.
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Prenatal counseling is generally considered a safe and beneficial practice, but like any other form of therapy, there are some minimal considerations.
- Emotional intensity: Prenatal counseling may involve discussions about emotionally charged topics. While the goal is to provide support and coping skills, some individuals may find these discussions intense.
- Opening past wounds: Exploring emotions and concerns might unintentionally bring up past traumas, wounds, or unresolved issues.
- Discomfort with Vulnerability: Sharing personal thoughts and feelings can make some individuals feel vulnerable. Establishing a trusting relationship with your therapist is crucial to minimizing discomfort.
A trained prenatal therapist is able to guide these conversations with sensitivity and gently provide check ins as difficult topics arise. A prenatal therapist can help individuals navigate these emotions during sessions by engaging them in grounding techniques to then use outside of session if charged emotions arise again.
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Prenatal therapy occurs during the pregnancy until birth. It is focused on challenges and concerns related to the pregnancy, and helps the couple navigate the transitions in the pregnancy. While postpartum therapy occurs after the birth of the baby. It focuses on the emotional well-being of the new mom as they adjust to motherhood, cope with the changes in their hormones, their responsibilities, their identity and the new routines.
Get in touch for a free 20 minute consultation.
Click below to schedule your consultation. I will be happy to answer any questions you have about starting therapy for pregnancy, postpartum, and parenthood.