Preconception+
Pregnancy+Postpartum
+Beyond
Specialized Mental Healthcare for Moms and Moms-to-Be
Evidenced-Based Treatment For Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, Postpartum Adjustment, and More
Rachel M. Menge, LCSW, PMH-C
Rachel Menge is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), specializing in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. As a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Counselor (PMH-C), she provides preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum counseling and treatment for postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety + OCD, postpartum PTSD, and other maternal mental health concerns. Rachel is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as well as Cognitive Processing Therapy (used for PTSD) and Exposure Response Prevention (used for OCD).
Want to learn more? Click below to request an initial session or to schedule your free 15 minute consultation.
Expanding a family is an exciting time. However, for many new parents (1 in 5 moms and 1 and 10 dads), preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum come with a sometimes unanticipated complication - mental health concerns.
Mood changes, increased anxiety or panic, scary thoughts, sleep or eating disruptions, self-blame, doubt, and guilt are all some of the symptoms new parents may experience.
You may be experiencing some of those complications yourself, or seeking help for a loved one who is. Although mental health complications are indeed quite common, they are also treatable.
Perinatal Mental Health (Pregnancy and Postpartum) refers to the specialized care tailored to parents undergoing one of life’s most wonderful and stressful transitions: parenthood.
Rachel is fully certified in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International, the world’s leading certification body for maternal mental wellness and postpartum issues.
Perinatal (Pregnancy + Postpartum) Services Offered
Therapy is a personal process, and treatment is always individualized to the needs and preferences of the person receiving care. Below are some of the common types of therapy offered.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a semi-structured therapy that focuses on how our thinking patterns effect our day-to-day life. CBT has been shown to be an effective treatment method for both postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. Sessions are generally weekly and taper as the you begin to feel better.
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Exposure Response Prevention/ Counseling for Perinatal OCD
Someone with PPOCD can have repetitive, upsetting and unwanted thoughts or mental images (obsessions), and sometimes they need to do certain things over and over (compulsions) to reduce the anxiety caused by those thoughts. These individuals find these thoughts very scary and unusual and are very unlikely to ever act on them.
Exposure Response Prevention is an evidence-based, structured therapy that helps the person experiencing OCD change how they respond to their intrusive thoughts. Sessions are typically once or twice per week to start. -
Cognitive Processing Therapy is a highly-structured, evidence-based therapy that is used to treat PTSD. Perinatal PSTD may occur following a miscarriage, stillbirth, early infant loss, or a traumatic labor and deliver experience. CPT has been shown many studies to be helpful in reducing the symptoms of PTSD. Sessions occur once to twice per week. Average length of treatment is 12 sessions.
Journey to Well
When I became a new mom in 2019, I quickly realized how difficult being a mom could be. With that realization came a lot secondary emotions: this was supposed to be the best time of my life. What did it mean if it wasn’t? It wasn’t what I expected, and that was hard.
Through my own journey, I realized the importance of a safe space for moms to process both the good and the bad of motherhood and to receive competent, gentle guidance from someone who gets it. I combined my personal experience with my ten years of professional experience as mental health therapist, and my practice, Mind Made Well Counseling, was born.
Since then, I have made it my mission to provide the most competent, evidence-based care for new moms that I can. Trying to conceive, pregnancy, and postpartum are unique experiences that require specialized knowledge and care. I also know that your time as mom or mom-to-be is limited, and it is my goal to ensure our time together accomplishes your treatment goals as efficiently as possible.
I am certified in perinatal (pregnancy and postpartum) mental health (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International and treat Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders including Depression, Anxiety, OCD, and PTSD.
I am also trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Exposure Response Prevention (ERP). CPT is evidence-based for treating PTSD. I use CPT to help mothers who have experienced traumatic births or infant loss. ERP is an evidence-based treatment for OCD, and I use that to help moms who have found themselves trapped in cycles of intrusive thoughts and compulsive actions.
I know how hard it can be and how awful that can feel. I also know that there is a way out, that change is possible, and that you don’t always have to feel this way. I would be honored to partner with you on your journey to well.
Learn More:
If you’d like to learn more about perinatal mental health and treatment options, I highly recommend Postpartum Support International.