Susan Stone, who heads up the Presidential Advisory Council of Postpartum Support International, has written two pieces on therapy for postpartum depression and other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders that will be very helpful to women who are interested in reaching out for therapy but don’t know who can help or how it works.
The first, Postpartum Depression Therapy: Who Can Help Me and How?, goes into the types of healthcare providers who can offer therapy and the kinds of therapy approaches they use.
The second, Postpartum Depression: Questions to Think About When Seeking Therapy, offers a list of questions you can consider in advance and bring in to your therapist when choosing who to see.
For more on this, you might check out:
5 Common Concerns About Therapy for Postpartum Depression
How Does Psychotherapy for Postpartum Depression Work Anyway?
I don’t know how many states do this, but in Minnesota the Postpartum Support chapter has a website and publishes a Mental Health Resource List. The list is available online and in many clinics (I received it from a psych nurse). It lists therapists and psychiatrists who have identified themsleves as specializing/having an interest in perinatal mental health (also includes support groups and classes).
This is how I found my therapist, and she is fantastic (has been counseling women with these issues for many years). I think all states/cities should have something like this!
http://www.pregnancypostpartumsupportmn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/6-09-Resource-List.pdf.pdf
Actually, if you go to my link here you will be able to find lots of state organizations that offer provider lists or very specific local resources: http://postpartumprogress.typepad.com/weblog/postpartum-depression-support-organizations.html
Thanks for sharing the info from MN, Laura!