Individual Psychotherapy Support
As a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a Nurse Psychotherapist, I have had the honour of working with the perinatal population for the last 15 years.
We live in a culture that holds the narrative of the journey through parenthood with unrealistic positivity. We are often told that becoming a parent is the best time of our lives and that we should enjoy every minute of it. This leaves many people wondering why they aren’t enjoying every minute of it. Many parents wonder why they are feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed, or having scary thoughts about their baby. Or perhaps wondering why they are having a hard time conceiving when it seems that everyone else around you is expecting. Or perhaps you are experiencing grief after losing a baby or struggling with your experience of being in the NICU? So many of these feelings can leave you feeling isolated and that you are the only one experiencing these feelings.
I am trained in Perinatal Mental Health which includes the prenatal, pregnancy and postpartum periods. I work with clients who are living with a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder, including depression, anxiety and trauma. I also have training in reproductive trauma including fertility, termination, birth and the NICU. We can work together to work towards managing your symptoms in a warm, non-judgemental, practical way.
I am an Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed therapist having completed the Stepping Stones and Stepping Deeper. I have also had the opportunity to create a core curriculum using IFS in the Perinatal Population. I believe that IFS is a natural fit for the Perinatal population.
Know that Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders are common and that you are not alone. Please feel free to contact me by email to schedule a free video consultation. I look forward to speaking with you.
The cost for Kelley's services are $130 per 50 minute session. We offer both virtual and in person sessions at our office at 372 Hollandview Trail in Aurora.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR GRADUATE NICU FAMILIES
Having a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit can be an extremely isolating experience. This 6-week, closed therapy group will connect you with others with similar lived experiences. You will learn about common experiences during and after a NICU stay, including Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders, Trauma and Grief and develop strategies and tools for coping.
The group is facilitated by Christine, a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional and RSSW, currently working as a therapist in private practice with a focus on people in the perinatal period experiencing mental health issues and Kelley, a Registered Nurse & Psychotherapist with over 15 years’ experience working in the NICU, as well as education in Infant & Early Child Mental Health & Perinatal Mental Health.
The objectives of this group are:
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Normalize NICU experiences
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Understand what happened in the NICU
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Learn to trust yourself and your parenting abilities
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Recognize the signs & symptoms of a Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorder
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Develop tools to manage fear, anxiety, and depression
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Understand the signs and symptoms of trauma and grief and develop coping strategies
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Receive peer support from other families who have had similar lived experience
Eligibility Criteria:
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Baby must have been discharged from the NICU a minimum of 3 months ago
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This group is not suitable for bereaved parents (*case by case basis in incidence of a surviving multiple)
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This group is open to Ontario Residents as per College regulations.
Our Spring group is now full. Please send us an email to be put on the waitlist for our fall group.
What is a RN Psychotherapist?
As per the Regulated Health Care Professionals Acct (RHPA), certain regulated professions (nursing being one of them) are allowed to practice psychotherapy with clients. As a Registered Nurse (RN) who is registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), I must identify to clients that I am a RN Psychotherapist when practicing psychotherapy.
Several extended health care benefit plans are now updating their policies to include coverage for RN Psychotherapy.
At Parenting From Within, Kelley (RN, Psychotherapist) uses psychotherapy in many of our services - our Build Your Village Groups, Group Therapy for Parents of Infants who were in the NICU and a small number of individual psychotherapy clients.
If you have any questions about RN Psychotherapists, please feel free to reach out!