EMDR Therapy for Maternal Mental Health: Healing and Support for Mothers

By Morgan Levine and Katy Levine

May is Maternal Mental Health Awareness month, marking a time to honor, acknowledge, and explore the experience of mothering and its impact on mental health. As we celebrate motherhood in all its forms, it's crucial to recognize the unique challenges many mothers face when it comes to their emotional wellbeing. 

Motherhood is a transformative experience that can bring joy, love, and fulfillment. And yet, research indicates that up to one in five women experience some type of a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder. Seven out of 10 women downplay their symptoms (Postpartum Support International, 2024).

Regardless of diagnosis, many mothers deal with heightened or new depression, anxiety, overwhelm, feelings of inadequacy, and trauma. Mothers are uniquely burdened with physical and hormonal changes, in addition to societal expectations. The pressures of balancing childcare, work, and personal needs can take a toll on a mother's mental well-being, leading to stress and burnout. The journey of pregnancy and motherhood can be both beautiful and overwhelming, and navigating it all with a trauma-informed therapist can offer space for its complexity.

Our practice is committed to providing holistic support for maternal mental health, incorporating powerful modalities like Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and collaborating with treating physicians. In this post, we'll explore specifically how EMDR therapy can offer support and relief for mothers struggling with various mental health concerns.

EMDR Therapy:

EMDR therapy is an evidence-based approach that has been widely recognized for its effectiveness in treating trauma and related symptoms. While traditionally used to address PTSD and trauma-related disorders, EMDR therapy has shown promising results in helping mothers navigate the complexities of maternal mental health.

To read more about EMDR visit our recent blog Understanding EMDR.

How EMDR Can Help Mothers:

1. Healing Trauma: Mothers may carry unresolved trauma from their past, which can resurface during pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. EMDR therapy offers a safe and structured approach for processing traumatic memories, allowing mothers to release emotional distress and reclaim a sense of empowerment.

2. Managing Anxiety and Depression: Motherhood can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression, particularly during periods of hormonal fluctuation or major transitions. EMDR therapy helps mothers develop positive coping skills, as well as identify and reprocess negative beliefs and triggers, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression while fostering greater emotional resilience.

3. Addressing Birth Trauma: For mothers who have experienced a difficult or traumatic birth, EMDR therapy can provide a gentle yet effective approach to processing the emotional residue of their experiences. By reprocessing distressing memories and sensations, mothers can find healing and closure, allowing them to create more space for emotion regulation in the present moment.

4. Enhancing Self-Compassion: Many mothers struggle with feelings of guilt, self-doubt, and inadequacy, often placing unrealistic expectations on themselves. EMDR therapy can help mothers cultivate self-compassion and self-acceptance, allowing them to release judgment and embrace their inherent worthiness as caregivers.

Holistic Support:

At our therapy practice, we believe in the power of integrative care, combining modalities like IFS and EMDR therapy to provide comprehensive support for maternal mental health. We also collaborate with treating physicians to ensure your physical and chemical needs are being met. By addressing the underlying issues contributing to maternal distress, we empower mothers to cultivate resilience, self-awareness, and emotional well-being, allowing them to thrive in their journey of motherhood.

As we honor Maternal Mental Health Month, let us reaffirm our commitment to supporting mothers everywhere, ensuring that they receive the care, compassion, and resources they need to nurture their mental health and well-being. Together, we can create a world where every mother feels seen, valued, and supported on her journey of motherhood.

Authorship: This blog was written by Morgan Levine, LCSW and Katy Levine, LMSW. Morgan Levine (licensed in MD, DC, VA, PA, CO, and FL) specializes in using EMDR, IFS-informed EMDR, and a variety of other modalities in her work with adults who experience anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, obsessions and compulsions, relationship issues, CPTSD, use of substances or people, attachment wounds, and specific trauma events. Katy Levine (pre-licensed in PA, MD, and DC, and a supervisee in training in VA) specializes in IFS-informed EMDR and psychodynamic, attachment-informed therapy working with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, perfectionist tendencies, CPTSD, and life changes. 

*Disclaimer: The information in this blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health care nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. No claims, promises, or guarantees are made about the completeness, accuracy, currency, content or quality of information linked. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information.

IFS EMDR Therapy Group is an outpatient therapy group founded by Morgan Levine. We specialize in helping adults struggling with the effects of living in dysfunctional systems move toward healing and wholeness. We provide therapy to address symptoms such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviors including but not limited to using work, perfectionism, substances, relationships, food, etc. We offer ongoing support as well as EMDR intensives; both of which are informed by IFS, EMDR, DBT, CBT, Polyvagal Theory, trauma-informed yoga, attachment, and other recovery principles. Our therapists work virtually with clients living throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Colorado and Florida.  Morgan Levine also provides trauma-informed consultation to therapists worldwide. Connect with us through our website at https://ifsemdrtherapy.com/contact-us.

Keywords: EMDR therapy, maternal mental health, trauma healing, anxiety management, depression support, birth trauma, self-compassion, integrative care