FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 17, 2008
Contact: Dave Wellman, Director of Communications, (304) 696-7153
 

Therapy group for new moms experiencing depressive symptoms
offered at Marshall University Psychology Clinic

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – “Baby blues: A baby friendly therapy group for new moms experiencing depressive symptoms” is a service offered by doctoral-level psychology students working at the Marshall University Psychology Clinic.

Meetings will take place beginning Thursday, April 3 and continue on Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for six weeks at the clinic on the Huntington campus.

The therapy group is designed to help mothers that experience the “baby blues,” depressing feelings that don’t go away after delivery.  The group is targeted to mothers of infants from four to 16 weeks old and the mothers are encouraged to bring their babies with them. Potential group members will meet individually with a therapist prior to beginning the sessions to ensure that the therapy group is appropriate for their needs.

Those that may consider joining the group have recently given birth and notice a loss of pleasure or interest in activities they once found enjoyable, have difficulty sitting still or getting motivated to be active or have difficulty concentrating on a task or making decisions. Potential participants also may feel sad most of the day for many days or have excessive feelings of worthlessness or guilt.

“Postpartum depression not only affects the mother’s well-being, but the new baby’s well-being also. It is important for new mothers experiencing these symptoms to talk to their doctors about how they are feeling,” said Dr. Patrick Ryan, a pediatrician who will be available at one of the group’s sessions to address new moms’ concerns. “A therapy group is a great way for new moms to gain social support and to understand their feelings in an environment of others who are experiencing similar symptoms.”

The goals of the meetings are to educate mothers about baby blues and postpartum depression, to raise awareness and to educate new mothers about common difficulties they will face. They also hope to provide new mothers with a safe environment in which to express new and foreign emotions and to provide a warm environment to break the isolation that so many new mothers feel.

“The psychology clinic tries to meet the needs of the community with our various services. We feel that the impact of a baby on a new mother has often been something that has been neglected or minimized,” said Dr. Keith Beard, Director of the Marshall University Psychology Clinic. “The hope is that this group will normalize some of the feelings that new mothers are experiencing and help them gain support and skills to deal with problems that have developed or have worsened since giving birth.”

The sessions are free for mothers wanting to join. For more information, persons may contact Sarah Setran, M.A., psychological trainee at the Marshall University Psychology Clinic, or Lisa Ryan, M.A., psychological trainee at the Marshall University Psychology Clinic, at (304) 696-2772 or by e-mail at babybluesgroup@yahoo.com.

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