NOTICE: Effective August 1, 2020 Anne Russey Counseling is not offering any support groups. If you’re interested in a support group, please contact us to be notified of any future group offerings.
Anne Russey Counseling is currently offering two support groups for moms. Postpartum Anxiety & Depression Group Counseling and Motherhood Unfiltered, a free facilitated peer support group.
Postpartum Anxiety & Depression Group Counseling
Online Group Therapy for Postpartum Depression & Postpartum Anxiety in Texas
jenna-norman-unsplash 4.30.2020
Small group counseling for postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and other forms of postpartum emotional distress. Adjusting to life with a baby is hard enough under normal circumstances. Now we’re having to figure out how to adjust to motherhood in the midst of a global pandemic. Existing support systems are being strained, if not obliterated in the wake of social distancing measures. Access to counseling and follow up medical care may be more limited than it was before. Opportunities to connect with other adults outside of our homes can feel extremely limited.
If you’re experiencing intense feelings of sadness, irritability, rage, fear and worry or hopelessness about the future you are not alone. Group counseling for postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety may be able to help.
Postpartum Group Counseling Details
- When: Saturdays from 9:30AM-11AM (90 minutes)
- Frequency: Weekly (4x/month- in the case a month has 5 Saturdays, the group facilitator will inform you of the off week)
- Structure: Commitment to 4 consecutive sessions is required. Admission is open as long as the group is not at maximum capacity. I understand life sometimes gets in the way of best laid plans, so there is no penalty for missing a session. However, payment is still required to reserve your space in the group.
- The session is comprised of two parts. During the first part, everyone is invited to share their experiences and feelings. The second part consists of a psychoeducational topic and open discussion where all are invited to talk about what they learned from the previous sharing.
- Group size: Minimum 4, Maximum 6 participants
- Platform: Online support group will meet using the Google Meet platform. You will receive an invitation with the log in information prior to the start of the first group. You must provide a g-mail address in order to access Google Meet from a phone or tablet. Any e-mail address is sufficient to access the group from a computer.
- Cost: $60 billed weekly or $200 billed once (includes 4 weeks)
Examples of topics that may be covered in Postpartum Depression & Postpartum Anxiety Support Group Counseling
- How to not loose your sh*t when your baby won’t stop crying
- Asking for what you need from your: family, spouse, providers, etc.
- Setting healthy boundaries
- When medication may be helpful to treat postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety symptoms
- How to cope with the inevitable mom guilt
- Learning to cope with sleep deprivation
- Transition and adjustment to motherhood
- Balancing the mental load of motherhood
- Taking care of yourself as a mom
- What it means and how to cope if you have scary or intrusive thoughts
- How to survive panic attacks (sometimes called anxiety attacks)
Because of the small group nature of this work, group topics and themes will vary. I will incorporate and introduce topics for psychoeducation and skills building based on the specific needs of the group.
Contact Anne Russey Counseling to find out more or to register for the Postpartum Depression & Postpartum Anxiety Counseling Group.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash 1.16.2020
Motherhood Unfiltered
Free peer support group for moms in Katy, TX
A supportive group for the messy, honest and less Insta worthy moments of motherhood. Motherhood is hard, and the comparison culture we live in along with the perfectly curated, glossy and perfect social media feeds we follow can contribute to feeling inadequate, overwhelmed and alone. Motherhood Unfiltered is a group intended to create a space where you can feel seen, heard and encouraged by listening to and sharing honestly and openly with other moms in a similar season of raising littles.
Peer Support Group Details
The group is currently meeting online due to COVID-19. The group is meeting on Thursday nights 8:30PM-9:15PM online.
Contact me to request the meeting link via e-mail.
Most participants have children ranging in age from newborn to 10 years old. If you feel you can benefit from participating in the group, you’re welcome to attend regardless of your children’s age(s).
This is not a therapy group. No treatment will be provided under the group. If you need professional mental health treatment, please seek it. If you’d like referrals, I’m happy to point you towards some options.
The group is free and open. You will need to request access to the meeting link by e-mailing me ahead of time. There is no cost for the group. Your contact information will be used to notify you of any last minute cancellations or changes to future groups you might attend.
Peer Support Group Rules & Expectations
- Motherhood Unfiltered is not group therapy or a substitute for mental health treatment.
- No mom shaming.
- Please be respectful and courteous to others.
- Refrain from using any substances including alcohol before and during group.
- Turn on your camera. Body language and facial expressions are especially helpful and relevant in an online group setting. That said, come as you are!
- Please mute yourself when you’re not speaking to cut down on background noise.
- Headphones with a microphone may improve quality and result in a better experience.
- While this is not a counseling group, it is led by a licensed counselor who is a mandated reporter of certain things where safety is a concern. Licensed counselors are required to report abuse or neglect of children and people with disabilities and plans to harm or kill one self or someone else to appropriate 3rd parties (police, paramedics, Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services, etc.)
This group may be a good fit for you if you find yourself thinking or saying any of these things:
“I feel like a terrible mom because I yell at my kids so much.”
“I feel like my kid hates me. What am I doing wrong?”
“I hate being a mom sometimes.”
“Why are my kids such jerks?”
“Everyone else seems to just ‘naturally’ be a good mom, but this is so hard for me.”
“I don’t feel as connected or bonded to my baby as I feel like I should. What’s wrong with me?”
“I haven’t felt like myself since I had kids.”
“I take out my frustrations on my kids and partner even when I know I shouldn’t.”
“Motherhood is so isolating. How does being home all day with my kid make me feel so alone?”
“I am touched out. I just want 10 flipping minutes to myself and I don’t know why my partner can’t understand that.”
“If I tell anyone how I actually feel, they’ll think I’m crazy.”
“Sometimes I miss my old pre-kid life and feel guilty for even thinking that”
Learn More
Think one of these groups sounds like a good fit for you, but want to learn more? Or maybe a group setting feels overwhelming, and you would rather meet with someone individually? Contact Anne Russey to ask questions about any of these groups or the option of individual counseling for moms.
Anne Russey Counseling specializes in providing treatment for postpartum anxiety, treatment for postpartum depression, therapy for moms, counseling for anxiety and LGBT affirming counseling.