peripartum mental health Archives

13 04, 2023

Home/ Work for a Reproductive Psychotherapist

By Abigail Burd|2023-04-14T09:54:50-07:00April 13th, 2023|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Practice Updates|Tags: clinical hypnosis, perinatal mental health, peripartum mental health, reproductive loss, therapy for postpartum anxiety|0 Comments

I met my friend Catie through the San Diego birth community. Back when I had my little ones and started my private practice focused on perinatal, or reproductive, mental health, Catie was one of San Diego’s most sought after birth photographers. In addition, she was influential in co-leading a local birth network and meet ups of birth professionals.

When Catie shared about her latest project, featuring women working from home, in black and white, with all the tools of their trade, I signed up. When I’m not in one tiny corner of my bedroom for my video sessions with clients from all over California, my private practice office comprises the corner of the playroom/ laundry station/ multi-purpose storage dump-all room.

22 02, 2019

Preventing Perinatal Depression [TV News Clip]

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:27-08:00February 22nd, 2019|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health|Tags: depression during pregnancy, fox5, maternal mental health, media, mental health, new mom, perinatal mental health, peripartum mental health, postpartum, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, pregnancy, pregnancy resources, press, psychotherapy, san diego therapist, therapy for postpartum depression, tv appearance, video|0 Comments

Here’s some big news for perinatal mental health: a national panel just released a report that depression during pregnancy and postpartum can be PREVENTED with evidenced-based counseling. KSWB-TV brought me back for a sixth time to explain. You can watch a clip here.

Perinatal depression is a big problem

Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum is a big problem, not just for 1 in 5 women, but for their partners and children as well. We’ve talked before about stigma – that’s the fear of embarrassment that keeps us from telling our friends, “this is tough” or “I’m struggling.” Fortunately, more new parents have been getting real and sharing openly and honestly about their struggles.

Even […]

18 02, 2017

Abby Burd, LCSW, San Diego Psychotherapist Talks with New Moms March 3rd

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:35-08:00February 18th, 2017|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Mental Wellness, Parenting|Tags: maternal mental health, mental health, mental wellness, new mom, parenting, perinatal mental health, peripartum mental health, positive parenting, post traumatic stress, postpartum, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, pregnancy resources, san diego, therapy for postpartum anxiety, therapy for postpartum depression|0 Comments

Catch Abby in a free speaking engagement on March 3rd.

Maiden to Mother Group for New Moms in San Diego

Abby is honored to speak to new moms in San Diego on Friday, March 3rd, at the Maiden to Mother group at Nature’s Whisper. Abby is an LCSW and psychotherapist specializing in maternal mental health, which includes postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and adjustment to the new role. Years ago, she used to lead this group, which encourages new moms to find support, community and new identity.

The group has continued on robustly, but recently, the facilitator and studio director reached out to Abby. The new moms have LOTS of questions and they are hoping Abby can help ease their anxiety. Some of the things the mamas have asked include:

I think […]

23 06, 2016

Paternal Postpartum Depression [Video Clip – News]

By Abigail Burd|2018-02-28T21:10:33-08:00June 23rd, 2016|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Mental Wellness, Parenting|Tags: depression during pregnancy, fox5, maternal mental health, mental health, mental wellness, new fathers, parenting, perinatal mental health, peripartum mental health, san diego therapist, therapy for postpartum depression, tv appearance, video|1 Comment

Yesterday Fox 5 San Diego brought me back for a third time to talk about Depression. This time they wanted to hear more about Paternal Postpartum Depression. They were surprised to know that dads and partners are at risk for PPD, too. Many thanks to co-anchor Shally Zomorodi for helping raise awareness. You can watch the clip below:

Thinking About Getting Help for Paternal Postpartum Depression but Not Sure if You Have the Time?

One thing that I did not get a chance to say was that many parents think it is selfish or self-indulgent to spend time and money on themselves. But numerous studies have shown that fathers’ and mothers’ mental health greatly impact a child’s well-being. In fact parental depression affects emotional and intellectual development and has a lasting […]

11 06, 2016

Postpartum Health Alliance Update

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:36-08:00June 11th, 2016|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: perinatal mental health, peripartum mental health, postpartum therapy, san diego|0 Comments

The other night I enjoyed an evening of catching up with the executive board and members of the Postpartum Health Alliance. PHA is a San Diego non-profit that provides resources and support to new families and to the providers and agencies that serve them. The members and volunteers also happen to be lovely and fun people.

Gretchen, who remains the board’s President, surprised me with an award recognizing my year of service as the Communications Chair. Although I am not serving on the board this year, I stay connected as a vetted provider member and volunteer.

I have also enjoyed sharing the privilege of hosting the rotating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) study group this year. If you are a provider, student, […]

15 10, 2014

Culture and Language in Therapy with New and Expecting Parents

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:57-08:00October 15th, 2014|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health, Postpartum Health Alliance|Tags: evidence based practice, mental health, perinatal mental health, peripartum mental health, postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, pregnancy, psychotherapy, san diego therapist, therapy for postpartum anxiety, therapy for postpartum depression|6 Comments

Recently I attended a lecture sponsored by the Postpartum Health Alliance on “Cultural Considerations when Working with Expecting and New Parents.” The lecturer happened to be an old friend of mine, Dr. Mariela Shibley, Psy.D. She shared with a group of maternal mental health practitioners, First Five home visitors, and other professionals interested in helping pregnant and postpartum women. As I focus on helping women of childbearing years in my psychotherapy private practice in San Diego, I always look forward to learning more and connecting with other practitioners at the PHA lectures. You can see more posts inspired by the PHA lectures here: Postpartum Couples and the

24 08, 2014

Social Change on a Policy Level is Needed to Ease Pressures on New Moms and Dads

By Abigail Burd|2019-11-18T14:30:58-08:00August 24th, 2014|Categories: Blog, Maternal Mental Health|Tags: new fathers, perinatal mentl health, peripartum mental health, policy|0 Comments

The American Sociological Association recently released a paper: “Nature and Culture: Lay Accounts of Perinatal Mental Health Disorders.” In it, Carrie Wendel-Hummell, a University of Kansas doctoral candidate in sociology, reports that it is not just hormones playing a role, but societal factors. She presented her study on perinatal mental health disorders at the 109th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association.

For more, see this article adapted by Medical News Today from the original press release.

My two cents?

I majored in both psychology and sociology in college, and tend to look at a person in the context of their world, so this resonates with my view. I love that she mentioned the pressures on not just moms but dads as well. Also discussed are the various pressures on both working class and middle class families. There is an utter lack […]

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