Scottsdale Mental Health and Trauma Recovery was founded with a goal of supporting mothers as they navigate pregnancy, postpartum, adjusting to new motherhood and beyond. All of our therapists at SMHTR are mothers themselves. We understand how navigating becoming a mother, and the joys and challenges that it brings, can feel overwhelming at times. Our goal is to support mothers throughout their parenting journey. We provide a safe and nonjudgmental environment for mothers to express their thoughts and feelings.  We are strong advocates of the importance of developing your own self-care, because caring for self is one of the most important factors in caring for children! By learning skills to assist in regulating your own nervous system, you can become more confident in managing the stressors of parenthood and being the mother that you want to be. 

We support mothers in...

• Preparing for labor and childbirth, with visualization, somatic techniques, and coping plans
• Navigating the transition into parenthood
• How to build a self-care routine as a parent
• How to manage our own nervous system while parenting
• How to change thinking that leads to "Mom Guilt"
• Maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner after becoming parents
• Learning about your child's developmental stages
• Teaching Gentle parenting techniques and attachment parenting strategies

Information on Post Partum Depression:

It is completely normal, and common for mother's to feel down, overwhelmed or anxious after giving birth. We just went through a major physical trauma for our bodies as well as a major life change! The "baby blues" are caused by hormones as well as other factors, and will generally improve over time as the mother adjusts to this life changes and her hormones begin to re-regulate. However, post-partum anxiety and depression involve symptoms that can be difficult to control or navigate on your own. These symptoms can make it difficult for a person to feel present and engaged in the daily activities that parenting requires. Having support in therapy to treat post-partum depression and/or anxiety is so important.